The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-11
WITH MARTIAL HON0RS
The Body of Robert d. Lenning-
ton Was Laid at Rest.
WHOLE CITY TURNED OUT
To Do Honor to the First Montana Sol
der Who Has Died in the Present
War With spain-A Most I'm
posing Funeral.

The body of Robert d. bennington
wal laid in it's final resting place yes
terday afternoon. He was the first
Montana volunteer to die in the Span
fish war. He was the first Anaconda
soldier to die for his country. All the
citizens of his home town seemed anx-
ious to do honor to the dead warrior,
and the funeral was as imposing as
any ever held in the city. A universal
desire was manifested on all sides to
show respect and offer a tribute of
esteem to the memory of the first Mon
tana soldier to fall in the present war.
It was a spontaneous outburst of popu-
lar feeling that the funeral must be
made a marked event in the history of
Anaconda, and 1t was.
Sometimes large funerals seem but
a cold display of respect. possibly occa-
stoned by the social position or wealth
of the dead, but yesterdays tribute to
Robert d. bennington sprang from
none of these causes, but was a tribute
dictated by the fullness of the public
heart. The public recognized the sac
rifce the young man had made for his
country and it united to find some
means of showing that 1t recognized
this, and chose the only way that
seemed open, and that was to give the
volunteer a public funeral. There were
hundreds of people in the line of the
funeral procession yesterday. Many of
the secret and fraterral orders that at
tended and marched to Gods acre over
looking the city never before attended
the funeral of any person who was not
a member of their order. These orders
waived technicalities and recognized in
<ho man riofhad in the uniform of his
country, a brother who needed no lodge
room initiation for them to respect him.
IT was a kind. warm-hearted thing for
the societies to do, and II was a credit
TO them. Besides the hundreds that
marched in lin there were thousands
of men, women and children who
walked out to the beautiful cemetery
on the hill. 1t seemed as though the
whole town had turned out. The serv-
ices were held in the NJ. E. church, and
long before the cortege had reached
that building every seat with the ex-
ception of those reserved for the
mourners had been taken. The church
could not hold more than a tenth part
of those who attended the funeral. In
consequence of this. Rev. w. t. Custer,
the pastor, considerably made the
services in the church brief, so as to
keep the vast ~concourse of people out
side waiting only a few minutes. 1t
was a sad day for the sorrowing aged
father and the brothers and other rela-
tives of the dead soldier, but IL SYM
patty can relieve sorrow and suffer-
ing: IL public testimony of respect and
honor to those who have passed be-
fore can assuage grief, then the burden
should have been tempered as it fell
upon the father and brothers of Robert
d. bennington.
Lying I'm State.
The remains of Robert D.. bennington
lay in state in the district court room
in the city hall throughout Saturday
night and until a few minutes before
the funeral procession was formed. The
members of the old volunteer fire de-
partment, of which, in the old days,
the dead man had been a member took
turn about through the long vigils of
the night in standing guard over the
body. The casket was placed inside
the railing of the court room directly
under the judges desk. The chamber
was handsomely decorated by the regu-
lar fire department, the walls being
strung with bunting and crepe. On
the judges stand stood a large fire.
mans horn tied with crepe. over the
coffin was thrown a handsome silk flag.
The casket was covered with black
cloth. mounted with silver. The lid,
covering the upper portion of the body,
was removed and thousands of people
wendell their way to the court house
" III sNSNNl N"F NV AAAAAc
and until a few minutes before the
procession formed to take a last look
at the dead soldier. He lay in his mar
tial uniform as though asleep. The
face bore a peaceful, contented look, as
though the spirit had been tired and
had welcomed rest. On the left arm
between the shoulder and elbow, was
the nit badge with the red eros:
upon it of the ambulance corps, Il
which branch of the service the dead
volunteer had been transferred jus
prior to his death. Grouped about th'
coffin were many beautiful floral offer
ings from relatives. riends and asso'
ciates. These were too numerous Il
mention in detail. Among the mos
beautiful, however, was an American
flag fully three feet in length and II
regular proportion. made out of natura
lowers, white and red roses n car
nations forming the stripes. 1t wa
presented by the citizens committee II
charge of the funeral in behalf of tn
citizens of Anaconda. There was ais
beautiful bunch of white lilies sen
from California by Company X, Is
regiment of Montana volunteer in
fantry. the company in which, as
member, the dead man went to Sal
Francisco. There was a fine gift from
the ladies of the w. r. Morley assem-
bly, X. of L. 1t was in the shape of
triangle and circle, emblematic of tn