The morning call., 1893-09-02

of the First Regiment Of Infantry-a cap
tain's escort-to which the dead mans
rank entitled his remains according to the
army regulations.
Awaiting the arrival of the Rescue with
its somber cargo was a battery of the
Fifth Artillery, drawn up upon the Pre-
sidiO wharf.
At o'clock sharp the tug was alongside
the wharf and the company of infantry
marched ashore and drew up in line with
the waiting artiIlerymen.
Then the casket was reverently carried
off the vessel, pas: the bare-headed crowd
of officers and friends Of the deceased, and
placed upon gun-carriage drawn by six
horses. The American flag, which the
dead man had saIuted for 30 many years,
was wrapped around the casket.
Immediately after came a closed car
riage, into which the officers weeping
widow was handed by Colonel Shafter,
and the funeral cortege was formed.
AT the head of tie procession was the
band OF the First Infantry. next q firing
party from the same regiment, followed
by the post chaplain in an army wagonette.
Then came the gun-carriage with the
casket envelOped in the stars and stripes,
then Mrs. Armstrong as chief mourner
The balance of the company from the
First Regiment followed and then doZen
ofhcrrs OF the troops stationed at the
Presidio, with Colonel Barry and staff Of
the Third Regiment, y. &. c., Colonel
OCOnnOr ot the National Guard and others
The procession moved at the quick march
up the long road until the stables were
reached. Then General Ruger and his
staff joined it. the band played the Dead
March" ard the men fell into a slow stem.
l0np walk frnfn tha -
the cemetery. and some carriages had been
provided for those officers who preferred
to ride.
AT length the burial ground was reached,
where so many good men lie under the
turf, marked only by The severe-looking
headstone of plain granite.
The firing party of the First, numbering
about sixty men, was drawn up at the font
of the grave In double line. The heavy
gun-carriage with its mournful load was
dragged up the hill by its six stout horses,
and the procession came 10 a halt.
Then the officers selected to act as nall
bearers carried their dead cOmrade to the
brink of the grave and gently and silently
lowered him into his last resting place.
The scene was peculiarly impressive, and
there was not one of the hundreds assem-
bled who did not feel deeply the awful
! SOemnty of the moment.
For few minutes there was profound
stiffness, broken only by the fiapping OF
! flag halliards against the staff, as the
| breeze fiuttered the half-masted emblem
| of American liberty.
Every head was barred as the chaplain of
the post commenced the Episcopalian
/ burial service.
The gallant officers heart broken widow
wept quietly at the side of the grave. sun
rorted by Colonel Shafler, her late hus-
| bands chief; the officers of the First. who
were seeing the last of their old comrade.
stood with bowed heads in the presence of
the great tyrant death, and tear trembled
on many an eye that NO foe could make
Quali.
Earth to earth. dust to dust" said the
chaplain, and The last prayers were
solemnIy uttered, and the ecclesiastical
part OF the ceremony was over.
| Then In startling contrast came the clear
sharp tones of Ca tain EdmOnds in charge
OF the escort: Ready. Present, Fire !" and
the company fired three volIeys over the
| grave of its late captain.
| And all was over. The bugler sounded
TAPS" The troops fell in four deep and
marched off the ground, the band playtug
lively air as soon as the cemetery
gates were passed. The Rescue was wait
ing at the wharf, and the men of the First
Infantry were marched straight aboard.
Mrs. Armstrong returned to Angel Island
with Colonel Shafter and his staff.
| Ihe pall-bearers were: Captain O'Con-
nor, Lieutenants Brand, Cloman and Car
rlngton of the First Infantry Regiment.
and two officers of the Fifth Artillery.
| Captain Armstrong had only been mar
! lied short while, which makes his loss
the more regretted. 1t was during leave
OF absence in the East that he married the