Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-08-20
I'LL uOWE DHlNU.
The Crack Musical 0rganiza-
ton of Togus Home.
Prof. Theme Has Made Its Name
Famous--Its Personnel.
II Plays the Farewell Dirse Over Remains Of
Many Brave Solder.

Hiusic oI his orRaHlZatlOn up 10 hlgn or
der, both as regards the selections and the
execution of the same. OF course he is
not fully satisfied yet, but he has no reason
to feel otherwise than proud of the Home
band and orchestra. Flrst-class theatrical
organizations which play here during the
winter season are all enthusiastic in their
praises of Themes orchestra.
The personnel of the band as now consti-
tuted may not be uninteresting; B. w.
Theme, leader and conductor; native of
Germany; aged As; lives here with his
family; plays E-fat cornet, fugt thorn and
first violin.
Edward Porter of South Framingham,
Mass; plays flute and piccolo; age 81.
Thos. Phasey of London, England, E
flat clarinet and first VIOLIN age 81.
John Barrett, Lawrence, Mass solo
clarinet; age SO.
Heinich 2. Werrs, first clarinet and
bassoon; age "a.
Balvino Gaco, second clarinet, Spain /;
age 40.
Bernhard j. Salstrom, solo cornet; Bos-
ton, Mass. age 25.
Edward A. Ratigan, Worce ster, Mass.
uTsl COTuCl III DdLu, SeCUuu COIutl Ill VI
chestra; age %.
Joseph L. Goodwin, Pawtucket, r. l. ;
second cornet; age n.
Herbert A. Gillespie, Calais, Me. frs
French horn; age %.
Frank f. Tirrell, second French horn
Naugatuck, CT; age 2l.
Frank III. Wheeler, third French horn
Newport, Me-. age 20.
Fritz Ritzdorf Germany; baritone and
oboe; age %.
Thos. p. Holt, first slide trombone; Dix
field, Me. age 10.
Charles Baas, Easton, Penn; second
slide trombone and first violin; age 81.
Geo. Seifert, bass trombone and first vic
lin; New York city; age 23.
Paul Winkler, Germany; first E-flat tuba
and bombardon; age 80.
julius Goss, Germany; double B-hat
bass and contra bass; age As; was in the
regular army five years as musician.
Samuel l.. Newcomb, Bath, Me-. small
drum, tympanies and traps; age AS. =.
Charles w. Knowlton, bass drum, Gym.
balls and violin; age G2. Was in Gilmore's
band and went out with it in the 9th Mas
sachusetts in 1851.
Rswlins 7. Atkins, cymbsls and musical
librarian; is a veteran of Co. G., let Massa-
chusetts, as orderly sergeant; commissioned
| st lieutenant in 56th Massachusetts,
sounded at Charlottesville made quar-
termaster of the regiment and served as
! such till close of the war; age 5S.
Robert II. Black, drum major; veteran
of Co. X, sgd n. Y. Infy.
The band gives outdoor concerts every
tau Monday in and nynbpe
trail concerts in Opera house, every evening
except Monday, in winter. 1t plays for in
spection on Sundays and at funerals.
A funeral of one of the members here is
conducted as follows A detail of 80 men
is made from the different companies, and
they report in dress suits with white belts
and gloves to the captain or lieutenant. who
IS to command the detail, at 80 P. M. AT
l.45 the funeral call is sounded by the
bugler, and at 2 o'clock the remains are
brought from the morgue, the funeral de-
tail of eight men and corporal, having
lready entered the chapel. The band
plays short dirge, and then the service for
he dead is read by the Catholic or Protes.
ant clergy man, as the case may be, or in
.heir absence, by the governor. At the
conclusion of the service, the cortege
forms, the band first, firing squad, hearse,
with bearers, and then the detail.
To the slow music of the dirge the pro-
,ession moves through the streets and ur
IN the hill to the National cemetery. Here
At the open gate they halt and to the salute
,f the band, the casket is lowered to its
last resting place, three volleys are fired
over the open grave and thus, nearly thirty
years after the close of the war, he who has
suffered for years is laid to
rest. All the funeral arrangements are
under the charge of Serg't. Carver. who is
at the head of the police department.
There are 1876 graves in the cemetery
and in its rustic simplicity and extreme
neatnesss it is beautiful spot. Each
grave has at its head plain, marble slab,
numbered, with the name of the company
and regiment, age and date of death.
In the northern part of the cemetery, is
a plain granite monument with first base
l2 feet square and 6 feet high, second
base about feet square and 6 feet high,
surmounted by plain shaft Is feet high.
The design was drafted by Gov. Stephen
son, and the monument is built from
granite found on the Home reservation,
and was erected by the labor of members
and is dedicated to the soldiers and sailors
who fought for the Union.
Scattered among the graves, upon neat,
wooden tablets, are found short poetical
extracts suitable for the place.
"ou fame's eternal camping ground.
Their silent tents are spread,
AID glory guards with solemn round
The bivouac of the dead"
Hugh Riley, a veteran of the 56th Mass,
has had charge of the cemetery for over 10
wears, and under his supervision the leafy
city of the dead has become beautiful
place.
cemetery with a capacity of S2 caskets,
used for the receptacle of bottles during tie
winter months. There is also band stand
and platform on the Eastern side used for
the exercises on Memorial day.
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