The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-08-19
MILITARY FUNERAL IN PONCE

Ponce Porto Rico, Aug. & Especial cor
respondence of the New York JournaD.-
A company of regular infantry marched
into the plaza at Ponce, halted, stacked
arms and broke ranks. In the cool shade
of the trees the men loafed carelessly
while the natives, always intensely inter-
ested in the soldiers. gathered near and
began their comic, good-natured panto-
mime The lazy, still, tropio afternoon
drifted slowly. hour by hour. with only
the rumble OF passing carriages to inter
rupt its profound serenity.
The captain Of the regulars went down
the street to where. before the door OF
a house waited a hearse. There was
carriage containing two American women,
and on the pavement stood a little group
of officers with their battered old hats
in their hands. The natives began to &C
cumulate in a crowd, and from them
arose a Sigh-pitched bable Of gossip con-
corning this funeral They stretched their
necks, pointed lodged those who would
interfere with their view. Amid the chat
ter the Americans displayed no signs OF
hearing it. They remained calm, s:ocial,
superior. wearing the curious. grim dig
nifty of people who are burying their dead.
The company Of regulars swung down
the street, drew up in front of the house.
and presented arms with a clash. Six
big blue-shirted privates paced Out with
the coffin. The throng edged up suddenly,
lodging and peering. The 1ittle band OF
Americans seemed like beings OF another
world, with their gently mournful. i'm
passive faces. during the display of
monkeyish interest.
The cortege moved of, preceded, accom-
panied, followed by the crowd Of natives.
Ponce, a large city, drowsed on peacefully
in the sun, and the passing Of the small
procession brought no particular emotion
to its mind. In the suburbs women hur-
ried out to the porches OF the little wooden
houses, and naked babies, swoolen with
fruit strutted out to see, sucking their
thumbs man walking directly behind
the hearse was hailed interrogratively
from a distance. He answered loudly.
waving his arm toward the graveyard.
A girl called greetings to some friend
in the crowd Suddenly. close to the road.
a woman broke out in a rancous TRADE
at some of her children. The crowd still
babbled. All these sounds beat like waves
upon the hearse; noisy, idle. senseless
waves beating upon the hearse, the invul-
nerable ship OF the indifferent dead man.
And the Americans moving along behind
Il. were still calm. stoicai. superior. The
spray of the chatter wfirled against them
and they were bronze men going to bury
their dead, and the cumming and swish
ing and smashing were only as important
as the rafting OF so many pebbles in a
tin box.
The graveyard was circled by a high
wall which was surmounted by broken
bottles sunk into the mortar. The inter
Tor presented the appearance OF misused
potato patch were II not for the gaunt
wooden crosses which upreared here and
there The crowd OF natives ploughed
through each otherln order to reach che
gate.
The troops marched forward and faced
up sharply before an open grave. A
chaplain appeared. The Americans. bar
ring the infantry. stood bareheaded. The
natives noting this. took of their hats.
There was moment Of intense expect
ancy.-
Il am the resurrection and the life
The chaplain's words were quite smoth,
cred in the Calculations, Inquiries. com
ments which came over the wall where
many people were pushing toward tbs
gate. An enterprising lot had cliube1
a bit OF Old wall which overlooked the
cemetery wall. ard upon Il they shrilled
like parrots. The chaplain besst. badger
ed drowned out. went on imperturably.
The first voley OF The firing party Gre
ated great CONFUSION IN the crowd out
side. who could not see the proceedings
and were taken by surprise. As the sound
crashed toward the hills many Jumped
Ike frightened rabbits and t.en q mo-
ment later the whole mob seeing the Joke,
burst Into Wild laughter.
A bugier stepped forward Into med
ley OF sounds such as would come from q
combined baseball game and a ciambake
ne sent the call OF taps" that extraordi-
nary vail OF mourning and song OF rest
and peace. the soldiers goodbye. hiB
night, tie fall OF eternal darkness. toe I
end
The sad. sad. slow voice % The buEis (
called out over the grave. a soul appeal 1
ing 10 the sky. a call of earthly anguish Z
ard heavenly tranquility. a solemn heart /
breaking song But = this farewell % re /
solder 20 the sky. ths flowers. The bees +.
and all Mte was heard oy re natives 4
:hel- manner did not betrsv &
STEPHEN CRANE.
Were you an eve witness 20 this Affair." f
asked the prosecutor Il don't Knox what 4
yoG'd call n "a witness. bat warn I more'n 4