New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-28
RECOTEPING Mr.. FISH'S BODY.
THE DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED TOLD
By !. c. BURTON-ARRANGEME
FOR THE FUNERAL

The arrangements for the funeral OF Sergeant
Hamilton Fish. jr.. have not yet been completed.
So far however II has been definitely decided that
the services will take place in ST. Marks Church
tomorrow morning at ll:3o. and that the burial
Will be In the family vault at Garrisons. ~ Y.
The members Of Troop anxious that the
funeral shall be military one. but whether or not
their wishes will be acCeded to will probably not be
known until to-day. II has been determined. how
that sixteen men Of the troop will accom-
rany the body from the church TO Garrisons. The
societies 10 which Mr.. Fish belonged during his
college life will be represented at the funeral
Tie story OF the recovery OF Hamilton Fish's body
told yesterday by j Charles Burton. OF No l07
"est Eeventh-st.. who accompanied Nicholas Fish
on his Journey 10 Cuba TO bring back MS sons
body. When the transport upon which the two
travelled reached Slboney the water rough
that IL was not possible TO make a landing until
July s. When We finally got ashore" Mr.. Burton
said. Mr. Fish and A. w. Cooley. who was with
him, a. reported TO General Shafter and ar
Engagements were made 10 obtain possession OF the
body. We had to use pontoons 70 get the colin
ashore. and then secured team OF six mules
an Army wagon and a guard OF ten armed men
We set off for the scene Of the battle where HamiI-
ton Fish killed the morning OF the sth
After raversng roads so rough that II was more
comfortable % walk than to ride In tho wagon.
reached the spot where young Fish was buried. II
was about Fl z miles from sboney. and about two
hundred yards from the spot where the battle took
place
In the burial OF the bodies in the trench where
Sergeant Fish laid every precaution had been
taken for the protection Of the remains The
trench was dug 70 a depth OF six feet. and each
body was carefully marked for Identification. The
bodies ware covered with blanket, over which
were laid sapngs and palms. When number OF
bodies are buried together battlefield II Is the
custom 70 place the officers az the end This aided
Us greatly in exactly locating the body. II took us
about three hours 10 reach the remains ana Wfnle
the men who were with us were willing 70 DO a.
the digging necessary they could not be persuaded
10 help In removing the body. That lad 10 90
myself. and arduous labor n proved. as sergeant
flsn large and aeavy man IL was linpos-
siole 10 recognize the features. Sergeant fl.h had
no uniform on but clothed In q blue manner
shirt crash trousers, and the regulation army
leggings"
Nicholas Fish was present during the exhumng
OF The body and ia sympathetic words NJ. Burton
described grief Of the fathc for his heroic son
Continuing. Mr. Burton said: The BODY was roIed
N an antseqtic blanket. fastened with tape, ana
The return journey for Siooney which was reached
on July 8. at 10 O'Clock At night The coffin was ana
Under tent on The pier and The next day We SCI
uul 70 ob ain he body Of Captain Capron, wnch We
Secretary Algor
Captain Capron had Oe,n buried but snort dis
.aaiioe rom the saoIe. HIS remains had oecli IN.
WIN ne CAPTAINS NAM cut IN small holes WIN
~ snap Instrument. Our WORK WAS coHlp.c.eu
On JuIE 10 but T. not until the lS'h mat "
iIA,u ma transport We nHaHy ooaluee ,nc
luI.on On that date. aTrving ~ Newport EcWS
IN M1ncay and We reached this city late on Iues-