Straits Times Weekly Issue, 1 March 1892, Page 126
Death of Mr. Tan Kim Cheng.
At 9.30 p.m. of Saturday there died after a very short illness Mr. Tan Kim Cheng who for many years has held a high position in the community. Mr. Kim Cheng was born in Malacca and at the time of his death was sixty four years of age. His father Mr. Tan Tock Seng was a prominent man and will be long remembered as the founder of the Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Mr. Tan Kim Seng Cheng defrayed one third of the cost of the hospital. Mr. Kim Cheng came to Singapore at a very early age a number of years ago. He was appointed Consul for Siam and subsequently and special Commissioner for the Western Provinces. He was also a J.P. Mr. Kim Cheng has at various times been of considerable assistance to the Government; and for services rendered during the Perak War he received a special letter of thanks from Sir Andrew Clarke. During troubles in the Royal Family in Siam Mr. Kim Cheng accompanied Sir William Robinson to Bangkok and was instrumental in bringing the matters of dispute to a settlement. He also received the 3rd class order of the Rising Sun from the Mikado of Japan in acknowledgement of his part in the reception of Prince Komatsu in Singapore. He was a Municipal Commissioner for the first year following the passing of the Municipal Ordinance. Mr. Tan Kim Cheng had three sons who all predeceased him. He leaves numerous grandchildren. The remains of the deceased gentleman will be interred in his private cemetery in about a month.
THE LATE MR. TAN KIM CHING. The remains of the late Mr. Tan Kirn Ching were this morning removed with more than the usual pomp and display from his residence in North Bridge Road for interment in his private burial ground at Changi. Judging by the long lines of spectators and the throngs of Orientals at all the windows and street corners all along the route of the procession, the ceremony was one of more than ordinary interest to the many sections of the Chinese community who were thus represented, and who had assembled in thousands to do honour to the head of the Seh Tan, the deceased having been for years one of the leading citizens in Singapore. Mr. Tan Kimn Ching was during his lifetime Consul-General for Siam, and as representing His Siamese Majesty there were in attendance three Siamese priests, who took part in the unwieldy yet orderly procession, which covered more than a mile in length. Leading the procession, which was unusually picturesque on account of the numerous, costly and rainbow tinted presentation banners freely subscribed for by the deceased's compatriots, was a gigantic figure, value $40, some 15 feet or more in height, by name the Kye Loh Sin, a kind of Chinese Beelzebub whose function was to act in some sort as a scarecrow for devils. And sufficiently terrible for this purpose he looked with his stark, staring red face and huge rolling eyes in violent oscillation with every jolt of his wooden car. Following these were the bearers of the titles of the deceased, which were apparently many and varied, other Mandarin monstrosities, painted Klings, Malay and Malacca bands, and innumerable detachments of discordant Chinese with a never ceasing rumble of drums and banging of brazen instruments. The coffin accrding to custom was carried in a most elaborate palanquin with a highly decorated canopy, the whole structure being carried by a band of 72 coolies in mourning costume. In the rear were the females of the deceased's family, clad in sackcloth. The funeral cortege left the house in North Bridge Road shortly after eleven o'clock, and proceeded slowly along, via the Rochore Police Station, past the Gas Works to the thirteenth milestone on the Changi Road, the great body of the procession, however, dispersing at a refreshment booth on the line of the route. The interment proper, all things being favourable, and the astral influences sufficiently benign, will take place this evening about eight o'clock. Inspector Bugden was in charge of the Police arrangements, which were admirably carried out, no accidents, in spite of the dense crushes in the streets, occurring in town.
The family were very much disappointed at the absence of a Band. The Director of the Christian Brothers' School had promised to send the Boys' Band from the school, and indeed had given a written undertaking to do so. But at the last moment the Bishop came to the school just as the boys were ready to start, and objected to their going. As notice was not given therefore, until the last moment, there was no time to make other arrangements, and it caused a great deal of annoyance. Only yesterday evening the family were asked whether they would like the Sultan's band to attend, which His Highness was so kind as to suggest; but as the other band was engaged this very kind offer was not taken advantage of, which is now very much regretted.
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (Weekly), 26 April 1892, Page 5
https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/singfreepresswk18920426-1.2.24
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