The Republican journal., 1898-04-21

order, carried to the grave on the shoulders
OF thelr comrades and inferred with myster-
lons rites. Several "swelr' funerals dashed
merrliy by, each with its gorgeous hearse,
decked with plumes, and gliding. the horses
canopied with cloth of gold and driv.r
slttlng aloft in scarlet coat, knee breeches.
anu cocKed-hat-almost fac-simile of one
OF our continental soldiers, as shown in the
old portraits. Anon it was the white bearse
with snowy plumes of some child of wealth
horses covered with white netting and
silver trappngs; but always the driver in
MS gaudy costume of scarlet and yellow,
1ollowed by train of carriages filed with
men, Occasionally the dead cart rumbled
by on smart dog-trot-a closed black box
not unlike the bakers wagon, with nothing
TO indicate It's gruesome purpose but the
cabaistic red letters painted on the rear.
I'e cemetery of Christopher Columbus
was established about 90 years ago, bv re-
moving the bones from an ancient graveyard
near by 1t is an imposing place, with thons-
ands of sky piercing monuments, enclosed
within massive stone walls topped with an
iron railing. The lofty gates at the entrance
are closed and locked at nightfall; but more
than once | have arrived after the closing
hour and found that dollar would ,nbar
the gates and keep the custodian waiting an
indefinite time. A wide driveway. between
rows OF pine and Indian laurel trees runs
from the entrance straight through to the
dead-house against the farther wall, inter
sected midway by another avenue of equal
width and crossed at right angles by narrow
pathways. Exactly in the centre stands a
handsome circular chapel, and at one side
very large space is covered with marble
slabs laid fiat on the ground, above the bones
OF thousands of unclaimed dead from the
older cemetery. Among the most notable
monuments is that of the Bomberos, fire
men)-a magnificent work of art, erected in
memory of fourteen gallant men who lost
their lives in saving others. AS in most
Spanish American countries, the Bomeros of
Cuba are a rather swell organization, COM
posed of young men in the best society. They
are not remarkably efficient in subduing
fagrations-generally taking things leis-
urely and riding to the scene of disaster in
their carriages-but when lives are in dam
SOi eAOie NtIoi 10 uhiueobiOueu
Another striking monument is of purest
white marble, in the form of temple, from
whose open door the angel of Innocence,
beautiful life-sze statue, is flying 1t com
memorates tragedy essentially Spanish in
character Beneath the Temple lie the bones
of seven young medical students, beween
the ages of fifteen and eghteen-sons of
ya11 fn-An II fo,a ,lv tIo
medical college stood near the cemetery and
the students used frequently to walk and
study under the shade of its trees One day
it was discovered that the tomb of some
noted Spaniard had been "desecrated" by
being marked with a lead pencil There
upon great was the Indignation of the Span
ish government and satisfaction for outraged
"honor" was demanded. 1t was taken for
granted that the mischief was wrought by
the medical students, although there was no
way of proving who We're the culprits 80
the whole school was put into prison, and
finally it was determined to make an ex-
ample of seven. Lots We're cast, and the
seven thus designated were led out and shot.
The grief-stricken parents, whose sons We're
NtAe
fense they had probably not committed, re-
ceived universal sympathy-even from the
Spanirds after their honor had been vim
dicated. The boys We're buried in one grave
and over them The government caused this
costly monument to be erected with its APP
propriate symbol of the angel of Innocence
flying out of it! A parallel example of the
generosity of Spain's paternal government
was the gorgeous funeral of the murdered
men of the "Maine,'' paid for with Spanish
gold.
The graves of our sailors lie IN the newest
and least populous portion of the cemetery,
equi-distant from the ar stocratic section of
splendid monuments and the crowded cor
ner of the potter's field. 1t looks very hare
and desolate, compared to our Northern
cemeteries, or the care which each grave
would receive from loving friends could the
boys have been buried at home. The large
space of reddish-yelow, gravelly earth is
not marked off into regular mounds, no
blade of grass grow in it, and there is no
attempt at decoration beyond a few faded
flowers left by American visitors and the
the last man who died in San Ambroso.
Perhaps fine monument may be erected
here when peace is restored but how much
better, it seems to me, would It be to devote
the money which pile of chiselled marble
would cost toward taking home the remains,
after the time required by Cuban law has ex-
pired, and turning them over to their friends.
Could the men themselves have voice in
the matter, they would not wish to rest
among their murderers.
l have in mind at this moment one of those
who died in the hospital after several days
of intense suffering, George Koebler of
Brooklyn; bright young fellow with true
blue eyes, who looked up with such an ex-
preston of pride and love on his face when
he said ito my wife" in reply to my ques-
ton if it was his sweetheart to whom [ had
been writing. At his dictation l had writ
ten words of love and cheer to "Maggie,"
and the assurance that he would soon be
with her. Poor hoy He seemed too young
to be married--and much too young 10 die.
AS L stood in the cemetery, making men
tai as well as mechanical photograph of the
scene, light wind swept through the near