Transcribed without making changes to spelling and grammar. Transcribed by Joyce Robinson The Portsmouth Times Dated: June 12, 1880 DUST TO DUST! Death of Miss Mattie Wheeler. Impressive Funeral Ceremonies. Miss MATTIE WHEELER, the victim of the late picnic disaster at Unionville, died Sunday morning at three o'clock. For several days prior to her death hopes of her recovery had been entertained, but Friday morning she began hiccoughing, which continued all day, accompanied with severe stomach derangement. During Saturday nothing would stay upon her stomach, not even a piece of ice, and Saturday vomiting set it, which contained without intermission until death came and ended her suffering. Her funeral was set for Monday afternoon at Bigelow Chapel, as announced from the various pulpits Sunday. The public schools were dismissed at 12 o'clock Monday to give teachers and scholars alike an opportunity of attening the services. At the church the altar had been beautifully festooned and draped with flowers, the work of willing heands, prompted by loving hearts. All the teachers of the city met at the Fourth street building, also the scholars of Miss Wheeler's school, and the members of the Board of Education, and marched in a body to the residence of Mr. Wheeler, and thence to the church, seats for a hundred having been reserved in the body of the church for them. The edifice was literally packed with people who had come to pay a last tribute to the memory of the popular but unfortunate teacher. The funeral cortage entered the church in the following order. First, Rev. J. W. PETERS and the attending physician, Dr. T. F. DAVIDSON; second, the undertaker, Mr. J. B. NICHOLS; third, the coffin, borne by pall bearers, as follows: Messrs. S. G. McCULLOCH, VINCENT BRODBECK, G. D. SELBY, JAMES WHITNEY, Superintendent, W. M. FRIESNER and H. P. PURSELL, fourth, the mourners; next to the mourners walked Miss ALICE BURT, Miss Wheeler's companion at the ill-fated picnic, and who was so severely injured at the time. Miss Burt carried her arm in a sling, and bore the evidence upon her face of the terrible ordeal through which she had passed. This was her first appearance in public since her injury, and her presence there, pale and feeble, following the bier of her unfortunate friend, was not the least touching incident of that sad ceremonial. Fifth, the members of the Board of Education, walking in twos, with black mourning rosettes on the lappel (sic), tied with white ribbon, sixth, the city teachers, also in twos. The members of Miss Wheeler's school in chrage of Miss INEZ SPRY, unarched in at the south door and took seats reserved for them. The girls were dressed in white, and all, boys and girls, wore breasts knots of black crape, tied with white ribbon, and nearly all carried flowers. In the lead was Miss SUSIE LYNN, wearing a special badge of mourning. In the pulpit were Rev. Dr. PRATT, and Revs. PETERS, DILLON and WALLACE. Prayer was offered by Dr. Pratt, after a voluntary by a specially chosen choir. The funeral sermon was delivered by Rev. J. W. PETERS, the pastor in charge, with supplementary remarks by Presiding Elder J. W. DILLON. Both Ministers dwelt with special fervor upon the character of the departed. They preached from no text, and mentioned the fact that Miss Wheeler's life and works were a sufficient sermon in themselves. After the services Miss Wheeler's scholars were permitted to march past the coffin and take a last look at the face of their departed and beloved teacher. They filed past the coffin, passing down the aisle, through the vestibule and back to their places. This was a very affecting scene, and the grief of the children moved the vast audience in a manner scarcely describable. Miss Wheeler was born in Harrisburg, Va., but came to this city with her parents in her infancy. She was educated in the Portsmouth schools. The writer remembers her as a bright, handsome scholar in the school of Miss E. RANKIN, in the old Fourth street building. She advanced through all the grades, and took all the honors that were to be obtained in the schools of our city. She began teaching when quite young, and persevered in her profession until she arrived at the proficiency for which she was noted, previous to her and taking off. She put her whole soul into her work, and it is no wonder she obtained so completely the love of her school and the respect and confidence of her co-laborers and the Board. The floral work on the altar rail at the church was the contribution of the teachers of the Union street building, the ornamentation being principally alder bloom, tastefully twined with arbor vit??. On the right was a beautiful cross of Cape Jessamine and arbor vit??, and aon the left a tasteful cluster of the same beautiful combination. Suspended from the front of the sacred desk was a beautiful wreath of white and green, surmounted by a harp of the same material, in the center of which was a magnificent calla lily. The part of the decoration was the work of Mrs. O. C. McCALL. The teachers of the Fourth street building contributed the floral coffin ornaments, which were beautifl, artistic and appropriate.