Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-06-01

y
Washington, May 31.-Memorial day
was generally observed in Washing
ton. The Senate adjourned over for the
Gay and the House held only a 10 min
ute session. All the departments and
the business houses were closed s1d
the day was given up to patriotic obser-
vance and tributes TO the heroic dead.
The bronze statues Of the nations he
roes on land and sea in the govern
ment reservations and parks were
shrouded in the flags under which they
fought. At 10 o'clock there was an i'm
pressive parade of the G. A. R. and
other patriotic organizations, which at
II o'clock broke up the several bodies
holding memorial exercises in the var
iouS cemeteries. The most imposing
ceremonies, of course, were held at the
National cemetery at Arlington, on the
Virginia side of the Potomac. opposite
Washington, which was before the war
the magnificent estate of Robert Il.
Lee the Confederate chieftain. This
beautiful property had been sold lit
tie over century ago to John Alex
ander for six hOgsheads Of tobacco. and
was inherited by Lee from John Parke
Curtis, the son of Martha Washington
by her first husband, who served as an
aide on Washington's staff. Ii was
purchased by the government from the
Lee heirs in 1883 for $150,000, after
having been held as National cemetery
since the close of the war. Here lie
almost $4,000 of the nation dead. 1000
whose identity will never be known
being buried in a single grave. Among
the most famous Of the heroes buried
beneath the spreading oaks and elms
are General Sheridan, the great cav
airy leader; Admiral Porter, the hero
of Mobile; Brigadier General Harvey
and General Ricketts,
The exercises at Arlington to-day
We're made particularly memorable by
the presence of President Mckinley.
They began at u o'clock with a ma
tionsl salute of 81 guns from the light
battery, 4th artillery, L. S. A. The
beautiful ceremony Of strewilg flowers
on the graves followed. Led by the
Marine band the G. 4. r. and other
organizations which had formed in front
Of the old Lee mansion marched
10 the tomb of the unknown dead,
where the band played q dirge while
the massive monument was being deco
rated. After this the procession sep
arated. With gentle hands and loving
hearts the graves Of the vast army be-
meath the trees received their tributes
of flowers. The humblest of the coun-
trv's defenders was not neglected. The
organizations and guests afterward
Gathered at the amphitheatre, which
was impressiyely decorated. where the
exercises took place. The programme
at the amphitheatre opened win
buqlers sounding "Assembly.@ After
the funeral march" by the Marine
band the Burial of the Dead was sung
bv the choir. Thomas S. Hopkins, de-
partmen. commander, called the as
semblv to order and the Rev. w. II.
Black invoked divine blessing. Ihe
choir sang again and then Representa-
tive Dolliver. of Iowa, delivered the
Grafton Of the day
The oration was followed by music
and poem delivered by DR. Thomas
Calver Hon. Webster Davis, assistant
Secretary of the Interior. followed with
an Grafton. and the exercises concluded
With Reethoven's Funeral March OF
Dead Hero. played by the Marine band.