The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-05-19
GREENSBORO INCIDENTS At SEA.
a Naval Ofhcer's Relation OF How . Meas.
mates Rody Was Buried.

Naval Omcers Relation or HOW Mess.
mates Rody Was Buried.
81 was nearly scared ont of my
senses once" remarked an officer Of
the United States navy whose name is
synonym for ali that is courageous
on land and sea-
There was an immediate demand
from the Washington Star reporter for
the story and the accommodating OFF,
Ger proceeded with it.
1T happened on the old ship Powhat-
an" he said, several years ago, and we
were anchored off West India port.
One day a young sailor, general fa-
vorite with officers and crew, fell from
a mast and broke his neck. He was
dead when we picked him up, and We
at once prepared the body for burial,
the ships carpenter making wooden
coffin, which he nailed together, as
there were no screws suitable in his
kit. We had expected to take the body
ashore, but the authorities refused per
mission, and we were forced to q sea
burial. and had placed couple of shot
inside the coffin at the foot to sink 1t.
The body lay in state on deck that
night. and the next day all hands were
called to attend the funeral The cap
tain began reading the burial service,
very solemnly and with much feeling,
for all Of us felt the loss of the young
fellow keenly. He read along quietly
until it was about half through. when
all at once there came a fearful rasp-
ing, screeching sound from the coffin,
and the lid began to rise. The super
stitious sailors fed in dismay. the cap
tain's face bianched, the other officers
stood irresolute, and / grabbed the
wheel and held On 20 it with all my
strength TO keep from running clean
away. Scared? Why, vss 50 scared
/ didn't know where / Was But ia .
minute we began TO realize that the
swelling of the decornposing body
had forced the nails out and 1t was
their giving wsy that had made the
fearful noise. In few minutes tho
sailors were recalled. the coffin was
nailed up again and dashed with ropes
and the last sad rites were fnishsd
without further incident.
That is to say" continued the off,
Ger, there was no further incident on
deck. II was my duty TO go with
boats crew some distance from the
ship and sink the body in the sea, and
/ can tell you now did not relish the
job at all 1t was duty, and that
must be done whether one Likes il or
not By this time the sun had set the
sea was quite rough and the men 20 60
with me were badly ratified At .
suitable distance / stopped the boat,
committed the body TO the deep and.
with feeling Of the mos. intense re-
lief. ordered the crew to give way 70
return TO the ship i sat in tie stern
of the boat facing the crew, and they
had not taken dozen strokes until
noticed something was wrong. Their
faces began 20 take Oh the color OF
ashes and IN . minute the bow oars-
man stopped 'It's after Us. SIR. he said
in . tone that made al ,ny blood so
clean down TO the solss of my feet
cast quick glance backward Right
on our heels. apparently. AID end on.
jumping o1. of the water IN weird.
fantastic leaps. came the eo.dn IN ouf
wake Then Il (. as n ICY Nervousness.
! wanted - scream. o- fat o. %
and for Al inst1u; i = gss.1
have been positive relief - s-ac -
have done al three Ia rapid succession.
and wound j; UP BY plGnziEg ss.io Ia
sea. but tie eyes Of The EDeD SER On
ne. and TREY WERE worse scared than l
Vas. and couldn't do that 10 pa.
hack uAs a. ikcxe xxs 70 90. ed -