The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-29
THREE ROUNDS BLANK"
Burial of q Brave American Boy on the
Shore of Manila Bay.
warren and Broadway.
Prince and broadway.
Thirty-seoord and Broadway.

Burial of q Brave American Boy on the
Shore OF Manila Bay.
CAvITE. July 27.-The Quavering wall Of q
| fife! Curious time for a man to be playing q
fife. 1 o'clock in the afternoon. It's oming
down the navy yard street. and other instru-
ments are with it. Odd for a band to be out
now. with the rain pouring down as II Cavit6
were the cistern for all the gutter pipes Of
the heavens. They come nearer. and the
tune rises to the point Of accountability.
Now it is plain. They're playing the funeral
march. Some poor fellow has nswered his
last ~rolcall. and they are going to bury him In
the new national cemetery over on the DESC
late sand spit OF Point Sanglei.
Down the street comes the little procession,
to the slow time Of the mournful march. and
heads for the dock where lies the gunboat
Leyte. waiting to carry the body and the fune-
raj party across to the burial place. The
sullen sky hangs Just over the treetops and
sends down its unceasing flood upon the sod
den ground. which refuses to soak up moro and
turns it of In rivulets to the sea. For three
full days 1t has rained this way. and the earth
is sick with the deluge.
At the dock the band halts. The musicians
are wet through now. and it is not wise to send
more men than are necessary. over to the grove
to risk themselves in the terrific rain. They
stand there playing the march. and the sob
Dilk luhO LlSGS anu lull5 an NIlo llILlo IuuOGol
party goes by to the ship. A new flag covers
the body. its bright red and blue in sharp con-
trast with the gray. leaden day. Behind the
body march the dead mans comrades. the
members Of his company, with arms reversed.
At the ships side they halt. The body is taken
aboard. Washed-out wreaths Of flowers lie on
the dripping flag. The Captain is In his blue
uniform with white gloves. His sword swings
by his side.
1.-Two squads from the left for the firing
party he says. .
The two squads fall out and climb aboard the
little steamer. The rest fall In behind the
silent band and march back to their quarters.
The rain drives down with undiminished
force. 1t carries through under the awning
over the quarterback and splashes against the
soaked flag and bedraggled flowers. The
Chaplain climbs aboard with the Captain and
the bugler. and away the Leyte goes. Under
the dreary sky, in the pelting rain. the little
procession. much smaller now than at the
start. forms again on the pier by the come
terry. the Captain. the Chaplain and the buRler.
the body under its new flag. bright as II snap
ping in the breeze and the gay sunlight at the
head Of its company swinging into battle. then
the firing party. with trailed arms. The last
mournful march Ia soon ended, and by the
open grave the Chaplain bares his head to
the sweeping storm.
Man that Is born OF woman Ia OF few days
and full of trouble. ' = " He cometh up
like a flower and Is cut down " " = Earth
to earth. dust to dust. ashes TO ashes"
Slowly the body Is lowered into the new.
made grave. still under the beautiful flag. The
bareheaded musician lifts his bugle to his lips.
and across the dismal waste Of sand and over
the bay to the quarters OF his comrades there
float the notes OF taps" the last call for
Sergt. Watson. The firing squads fall In.
With one impulse the fingers move the trig-
gers, repeat and fire again. "ISree rounds.
blank" the salute to death.
Lights out for Sergt. Watson! On this
point the spanlards had their best battery.
Here they made their best fight that glorious
day when Dewey overmastered them. Here
many a brave man died defending the:sover-
eighty this brave young American same to
attack. Side by side they lie In the sleep that
shall not be broken until the last great revsilO
us all 70 the final muster.