Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-16
NAMES NEGLECTED DEAD
Movement to CreateEa Fund for Protection of
Their Graves.
Initial Steps Taken, by Union Veteran
Observation-Disclosures Adopted and
Committee Appointed.

The movement to- create fund for the
protection of the graves of the men who
were killed in the Maine disaster and now
buried at Key West without proper regard
Tor the prophecies. is well under way, The
disclosures concerning the condition of
these graves, recently made. have aroused
much feeling among people who remember
the Maine" 1t is recognized that the state
of affairs is unavoidable, under all the cir
cumstances but that something corrective
can be done with a comparatively small
effort, while the minds of the citizens are
directed toward patriotic affairs.
The great difficulty in such enterprises
has always been to find a nucleus for ac-
tioE, for some person or organization to
take the initiative.
Locally the matter is of no more moment
than 1t would be to the people of New
York, or Kalamazoo or San Francisco. But
the people of Washington always take Il
national interest in all affairs concerning
the men who have suffered for country's
sake, and in the present instance the first
steps toward securing In appropriate desig-
nation for the neglected graves of the
Maine dead have been taken in this city.
Saturday night, at fully attended meet
ing of Encampment 60, Union Veterans
Legion. in this city, the matter was placed
upon definite basis and started toward
success. The meeting, which was held at
the hall, DO Pennsylvania avenue, develop
ed an unusual amount of enthusiastic in
terest among the members.
Resolutions Adopted.
Capt. G. A. Lyon presented the follow
ing resolutions, which were unanimously
adopted:
Whereas there has been brought to the
attention of this encampment, No. 69,
Union Veteran Legion, through our COM
rade, Major Frank A. Butts, who has re-
Gently returned from Key West, Fla, the
deplorable and sadly neglected condition OF
the last resting place of the gallant seamen
and martyrs of our noble battle ship Maine,
SO foully murdered by the hands of the
Spanish assassins, together with the heroes
slain at Cardenas and who will repose I'M
I'll the final trump shall sound, in the di-
lap1dated cemetery, known as the Citizens
cemetery, at Key West, Fla; and
whereas we feel it is duty we owe to
these, our honored dead, that proper and
suitable attention should be given to pro-
tectlng as well as identifying and improv-
ing the appearance and condition of the
hallowed spot, therefor be it
resolved, That an earnest appeal be
mace TO inspire in the hearts Of the pa
trlotlc c1t1zens of our land a disposition to
cheerfully and freely contribute toward a
luna sufhcient and adequate to meet the
expense incident to the erection of an iron
renee or Enclosure around the graves of our
naval heroes, the first to fall and shed
blood for holy cause, the freedom of an
oppressed and outraged people,
BE IL further resolved, That a committee
oi nVe pc appointed from this encampment
70 receive said funds SO contributed with
directions to turn the same over to such
person or persons may be designated or
selected by the honorable the Secretary of
.le navy, and such person persons so
Seiected OF designated aforesaid shall
nave full power and authority to make and
execute all necessary and proper arrange
ments TO carry out the purposes herein ex-
pressed.
nlryal
these resolutions be forwarded to The
evening Star, with the request that the
same be published in said paper. and that
ILL me name OF each person contributing to-
"aiu Saio iund and the amounts so contrib
day" oih udS "
resolution was also unanimously adopt-
t ~ eA.snulhg 10 Major Butts the thanks of
tne encampment for calling public atten-
ton through The Star to the condition If
the graves Va
Committee to Receive Funds.
After this action the encamnn,.n+
pointed as committees to take CHARGE of tho
matter the following members of the or
sahlZatlon: Capt. Gideon A Lyon. chair
man. COL M j. Foote, w. w. Brown. audi
tor for the War Department; Col. I,uke
heily and Major Frank A. Butts Major
BUTTS was designated secretary and treas
urer OF the committee, and will receive such
as may De sent.
contributions are already hepinping 70
come In from outside of the CITY Comics
OF Inc Star containing the original article
ABOUT this matter, printed last week. were
energetic in the movement and the results
began to show in this mornings mail
winch brought to Major Butts the Follow,
ing letter from Col. Henry Huss Of Nv
FORK city, VINO is actively interested in pa
triotic endeavors " ~
Enclosed please find my mite $500 for
the good work you are interested in. 50 flat
no blot of shame shall rest on the Ameri
can people, and to show the rising genera
ton that the old Boys who stood bv tiIe
Union In the dark days, stand ready to per
petuate me memories of those who do their
duty today. May you meet with success
In anticipation of the action of Saturday
night, Major Butts consulted Friday with
Dr. van Reypen, surgeon general of The
navy, who took a deep interest in the ,ro.
)ect OF providing some method of nrnserv
ing and protecting these graves. DR. Van
keypen then talked with Secretary Long
ABOUT the matter, who gave mig hearty APP
proval to me project, and gave permission
to Major Butts to correspond with CGm
mander Forsyth in charge of the naval sta
ton at Key West, in regard to making all
necessary arrangements for Carrying out
the project
Meeting Called.
meeting of the committee DESIGNATED
Saturday night will be held tomorrow to
take further action looking toward the
prosecution Of the plan. 1t Is hoped that
several hundred dollars will soon be in
hand. in order to secure at once the neces-
sary railing to surround and protect the
graves. That this is necessary is shown nv
the fact that the graves were tramplnd
upon regardlessly the other day when the
Sailors who were killed in the enhancement
at Cardenas on the Winslow were buried in
the immediate vicinity. Great crowds visit.
ed the spot during the ceremonies, and the
graves OF the Maine men We're rushed over
without heed for the paltry marks that
now denote them.