The evening times., 1898-09-09
MOURNING At MONTAOK
Solemn Scene of Death in the
Great Camp.
GEN. WHEELER IN TEARS
T|T---Il
Impressive Ceremonies Attending z
the Funerals of His Son and Lieu
tenant kirkpatrick-NIili Flu
neral for the Soldiers Who Lost
Their Lives in the Surf.

Camp Wikoff, Montauk Point, \. Y,
Sept. 9.-The most impressive scene which
has been witnessed here since the camp
began took place this morning when Chap
lain Bradshaw, of the Hist New York
Volunteers, read the ritual for the dead
over the bodies of Cadet Thomas E.
Wheeler and Lieut.. Norton II. Kirkpat-
rick, who We're drowned day before yes
terday.
1t was hardly light this morning when
Troop A OF the Third Cavalry, armed and
mounted left its camp and preceded the
mounted band of the Second Cavalry slow
ly TO the little row of tents near the
ocean, which are the headquarters of
Major General Wheeler.
The clanking of sabers and stamping of
horses as the troops drew up opposite the
row of tents, woke those within and re-
| minded them of the sad duty awaiting
them. Soon the camp was active, making
preparations for the funeral services.
Two rough wooden benches were placed
side by side in front of the tent, where
young Cadet Wheeler had slept with his
companion in death. The bodies had been
ldhtI tHSIt NISii II4tS were ItSCuGu, anu
ii was there that the funeral was TO be-
over Lieut.. Kirkpatrick coffin there
| was draped a flag, which completely COW
cred the oak box containing the casket
over young Wheeler's bier lay a silken
| banner fringed in gold.
Gradually officers and enlisted men
| came from all directions, and rapidly
| filled the little square where the coffins
stood. Gen. Sumner, with Capt Howse
| and Lieut.. Andrews, of his staff took a
place to the right of the cavalry troop
| Next came six of Lieut.. Kirkpatrick s
| classmates. who were the pallbearers for
| both the dead. They were Lieuts Yates.
| Adams, Williams, Christian, Orton and
| Reisinger, all of cavalry regiments
| They dismounted and stood in group.
with barred heads, near the caskets. A
! quartet of singers from the tents of the
| Y. NJ. c. A. came and as two artillery
| caissons, drawn by six black horses, roll
ed up and stopped in the middle of the
square; the singers began, Nearer, My
God, to Thee"
General Wheeler, his two daughters and
| his one remaining son. Lieut.. Joe Wheel
! er, took their places beside the two cas-
| ketsa and remained there standing
| throughout the entire ceremony.
Il am the Resurrection, and the Life -
read the clergyman, the solemn words
| group of pallbearers and sobs from the
| group at the coffin side. General Wheeler
| stood at the head of the casket in uni
| form, and wearing his sword. He broke
| down only once and Wept when the chap
| lain read: oh death, where is thy sting,
| oh grave, where is thy victory?"
| Then he bowed his head upon the folds
| of the silk flag and remained in that po-
sition until the singers began Lead,
| Kindly Light
Then he raised his head, and during the
singing of the hymn looked away over
the hills where the reveille bugles were
sounding.
A prayer followed the hymn and then
| the singers sung abide With Me-" When
| this had been completed the chaplain ad-
| dressed a few brief words of comfort to
| the little group.
Then the cavalry retreated few PAGES
| and the scarlet-trimmed artillery horses
drew the caissons up before the tenn
porary, bier. The cavalrymen lifted each
coffin upon a caisson. Then the cavalry
wheeled 'twos, front and filed past them
| to the road where they formed fours and
| waited.
Two army stages carried the general
! his daughters, and woman friend who