- Title: USA: Edgar Allan Poe gets proper funeral 160 years after his death
- Date: 12th October 2009
- Summary: VARIOUS OF THE FUNERAL PROCESSION DOWN STREETS OF BALTIMORE WOMEN IN PERIOD COSTUME WATCHING VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN PERIOD COSTUME WALKING BEHIND HEARSE COUPLE STANDING WAITING FOR CASKET TO ARRIVE
- Embargoed: 27th October 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVA55NZBC4OSVFL9TAVJ8151JP27
- Story Text: American writer Edgar Allan Poe, who died a penniless man 160 years ago, finally got proper send off in Baltimore on Sunday (October 11).
An elaborate funeral service was organized for the master of the macabre whose original funeral was attended by only seven of people.
The author of works like 'The Raven' and the 'The Black Cat' was found unconscious at a bar in Baltimore and died in a city hospital a few days later at the age of 40 in 1849.
A life-size replica of Poe's body was on display in a pine casket since October 7 for visitors to pay their respects at the Poe House. An estimated 375 people have stopped by since then, according to the curator of the Poe Museum Jeff Jerome.
"Well this actually is the bicentennial of Poe's birth and there was very little we could do with the birth. So we thought we would recreate Poe's funeral since his original funeral was very quick, there were only seven people in attendance. So I thought this would be Baltimore's chance to make it right, to do it the right way"," Jerome said.
The casket was loaded onto an old fashioned hearse and taken down the Baltimore city streets to Westminster Hall where the writer is buried.
Many Poe fans gathered to bid a proper farewell to the writer who's life had been a struggle. He had made very little money from his own writing.
But he continues even today to be celebrated as the master of horror writing.
"I think its great because he didn't really have one back then. It's about 160 years late and is long overdue. I am glad they are having it," said Robin Rider, a Baltimore resident who had come dressed for the occasion.
Another Poe fan, Roger Bow, had come down from New York to be a part of this special occasions.
"Personally Edgar Allan Poe has meant so much to me as far as his creativity and originality. So it is great to be here. It's a privilege to be here and honour him," Bow said Many other people in period costumes joined the funeral procession. Many of them were dressed as famous people who had either known Poe or had been inspired by him. Some of them, dressed as Walt Whitman, Charles Baudelaire, or Sir Alfred Hitchcock, spoke at the service.
Hundreds attended the two services that many felt finally paid proper tribute to the writer's genius. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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