The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-19
MESSAGES FROM sIGsBEE.
The Captain Gives Details of the Bu-
rial of His Dead Seamen.

nineteen or the Maine S dead were buried
this afternoon, with great civil ecclesi-
astical, naval and military ceremonies. and
with all Of the resources of Havana brought
into requisition. The Spanish government,
under express directions of General Blanco,
the Bishop of Havana, General Parade and
Admiral Manterola and the mayor of Ha-
vana, took complete charge of all arrange
ments. The bodies were first laid in state
In the building of the city government at
Havana, where they were covered with TO-
raj and other enblems suitable to the occa-
sion, which were presented by officials and
other persons of Havana of all shades of
political opinion. They were escorted to the
cemetery by representatives of all the mil
1tary naval and civil organizations and for
eign consular officers, and through vast
concourse OF people, spreading over routes
General Lee, myself and officers and men
of the marine now here, together with
tenant Commander Cowles and MEM
be- of the Ferns crew, had special car
rial es and conveniences. Ground for the
burial of all the Names dead had been pre-
| sented by General Blanco and the Bishop
of Havana in the beautiful cemetery of Ha-
vana
The utmost sympathy and respect has
been shown. am informed by the authori-
such demonstration having been shown
to foreigners In the history of Havana. 1t
| is lnconceivable that a greater demonstra-
| ton could have been made. To me, person.
ally, great number Of people have ex-
pressed sympathy for the Maine and for
the United States government and people.
The remainder of the dead must perforce
! be buried with brief ceremony, which will
be conducted by ourselves, but the care and
| preparation of the remains will be with the
| Spanish authorities.
About forty dead bodies, in addition to
tnose buried, have come ashore to-day
| very Few are now recognizable. Even in
| the case or some of those who are hurt but
live, recognition was difficult I have NOT
Tor moment lost sight of the grief of the
families and friends OF the members of nv
crew, but / beg the department to explain
to them that it is impracticable-in fact.
| lmpossible-to send the bodies home Facil-
tiles are lacking, and embalmment is neces-
sary to secure shipment even under the
most favorable circumstances. Embalmment
is only imperfectly done here. Will wire
all cases of Identification
Il maintain an organization among INV
small force here, but it can be we'll under
| stood that the execution of the work with
|
tan and difficult of execution 1t is believed
that all Of the departments kilograms have
| reached me-
am deeply grateful for the helpful
sentiments and directions telegraphed bv
the president and the department l have
the earnest help Of all the officers of the
| Name now here, which was to be expected
under all circumstances. A previous fele-
| gram, sent to-day, gives the names Of those
| buried by the Spanish authorities.
| The flags of all vessels, naval and ner-
chant in Havana harbor have been at
half-mast yesterday and to-day. Shall
send the Mangrove back to Key West to-
morrow with eight wounded VIII give
names later. DR.. Cledening of the army
will remain with the wounded. Assistant
| Surgeon Speare also came with the Man
| grove, but will be detained here on board
the Fern. to accompany others of the
wounded when they are ready to be re-
moved. Will put some divers at work to-
morrow. Divers requested Of Admiral
| Sicard will be here Saturday morning by
the Olivette. Recovery of Names battery
impracticable, except by regular wrecking
outfit"
Late in the day Captain Sigsbee tele-
| graphed as follows: $50 far 125 have been
buried. Identification very difficult. VIII
wire names later. In regard to telegram
| (of inquiry of to-day cannot furnish fur
ther information. Names read: "A HaIlon.
| William Anderson, A. Johnston, Henry
Williams, who was cabin cook, and James
Meriniere. SenetaPs name wired by mis-
take"
The answer as to names was due to the
Navy Departments doubts as to initials
etc. To the list of unidentified lost was
added during the day Albert Wilson, sea-
man, next of kin, Anna Wilson, II Bond
street. Chicago
The Navy Department tonight received
The following from Captain Sigsbee at
Havana:
with Generals Lee and Cowles, to-day
visited Captain General Blanco and other
chiefs Of civil and military branch of gov
ernment and returned thanks for great
demonstration of sympathy yesterday, for
their continued care for the dead ard for
| other good offices now being exercised in
our behalf Received additional assurances
of sympathy and desire to help. Spanish
authorities feel situation acutely. l have
promised to maintain official character of
all work done on wreck of Maine No fric-
ton anywhere"
The reference to the official character of
1
partment to mean that no divers hired by
newspapers will be allowed to investigate
the wreck. AS to the published statements
that Spain intends to claim a joint interest
in the work of the court Of inquiry, the de-
partment says that under the harbor reg
ulations Of any civilized port the local au-
thorities are bound to make an official in
vestigation of any wreck occurring in their
jurisdiction, irrespective Of the nationality
of the vessel or of any investigation by an
other government in case it is a craft
owned by a foreign power AS the matter
is understood here, this is the only right
Spain has in the case and 1t is considered
to be entirely fair. This statement of the
case was confirmed at the Spanish legation.
message was received this afternoon
from the coast survey officials that the
steamer Bache, with divers and apparatus
aboard, had sailed from Tampa for Havana
General Lee was heard from in the shape
of the following cablegram to the State De-
partment at 1:06 o'clock this afternoon:
Great popular demonstration at funeral
yesterday. Military and naval, firemen and
civil organizations generally represented.
Bishop OF Havana, General Parade, next
in command TO governor general, auton-
omistic Cabinet, civil governor, mayor and
other prominent persons walked in process
sion part of route in accordance to custom
80. ft.rr