The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-12
A SAILORS BURIAL.
a Graphic Account OF a Funeral at
SAR.

A Graphic Account of a Funeral at
Lieut.. J. D. H. Kelly in the Neto York Tablet.
When maritime Jack dies he is buried
without much undue ceremony. A brief
prayer, a shotted hammock. the lee rail :,
and all is over. But on board a ship-of-
war a sailors funeral is pathetic in its dig
nified simplicity. No muster of the ships
company is, naturally, 80 sad as this, and
you can see 1t on the faces Of all when the
subdued shrilling of the bo'sw'n's whistle is
followed by the long drawn out and
modulated call of T'An hands bury
the deadn The men once aft quietly
and take their allotted stations. To lee
ward, IL it be at sea, or upon the port side
of the quarterdeck II not In port, the sea-
men are ranged in the front rank; behind
them are the ordinary seamen, and in rear
of both the apprentices aud the landsmen.
In the gangwsy forward OF the mainmast,
on such ships as still have sail power, senior
petty officers stand at attention. Around
the coffin, folded in the jack or national en-
sign, are grouped the pail bearers, selected
usually from the dead mans mess or gun
division, and close at hand, resting on arms,
the marine guard is paraded. Nearest the
coffin are the chaplain and the captain, and
then, in order OF their rank, stretch aft the
| other officers of the snip.
The ensign at the peak or staff hutters
trembhngly at half mast aud from overhead
the yard and stay tackles swing laziIy,
ready to lift the coffin cupboard. When the
weather permits the way of the ship is
stopped, and. it may be. little fickers of
| idling steam curl upward and to leeward
| like incense, and the wind in the backed aud
frettiug topsails murmurs a dirge. The or
| der to uncover" is passed gently, and while
| the beautiful words of The burial service
| are being read the hush Of the living is
accentuated by the low accompani-
ments Of sea sounds-by the rumble
of eager waters eddylng sternward, and by
| the surging Of the breeze in the hollows OF
the canvas and through the rigging aud
gear. When the closing prayer is said, the
last blessing given, the tackles are manned,
the coffin Is stripped of its flags and slung
In straps, and slowly, reverently is hoisted
above the rail and clear of the ship until 1t
is poised over the pillows. The marines
load, aim, lire, ia all three voleys that
awaken ratLling echoes in the hidde q
spaces OF the ship; the bugle sounds taps
tenderly and sweeJly, with newer meaning
of sleep and rest; the coffin swings further
out, and is lowered gently until the foam
and spoondrift moisten it; the tackles are
detached with sudden jerk and in an instant
the weighted box shoots downward, bedded
| in foam and bubbles, aud all is over until
the sea gives up the dead.
In little while the cherry whistles trill
out a call TO duty, the half masted engine
climbs to the dasher block, the ship is
brought to her course and dazedly the men
take up the wearylng routine of
the lives so sadly broken. An unusual
quiet rests upon the vessel and around the
mess tables; but in the groups gathered to
smoke during the supper hour and after til G
hammocks are piped down the virtues
those heroic and honest sea virtues-of the
dead sailor are recalled aud with tender
ness born Of a comradeship closer than any
other men except soldiers may know.