The age-herald., 1898-07-16
As 7aa'--SE SOLEMN RITES
 AT MIAMI CAMP 8E-14Es Two Soldiers Are Laid to Rest in
 DOWDpOur Of Rain. WERE NO TEARS OF MOTHER Shed Upon the Graves, But Heaven
 Supplantod Them. A VERY IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY Is Described by the Age -Herald's Staff Corre- spondent Equipments Are Being Re-
 ceived- Officers Are
 Numerous Notes. .
A VERY IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY
BY sEwELL HAGGARD.


 Bureau of the Age Herald, at Colonel 1Iigdon's Headquarters, Camp First Ala bama Volunteers, Miami, Fla, July b. Chaplain Fitzsimmons waited in his tent, with Bible in hand, for hours. The rain came down in torrents upon the men, who scampered here and there about their quarters. A typical day of the rainy sea- son in Florida. Early in the morning the heavy clouds gathered to hide the sun all the day long. At intervals the downpour checked, and the clouds receded for mo- ment the sand, as though by special dis- pensation, absorbed the water, and then the earth and the tents were drenched again.
 Two miles off in a grove of pine trees, and with palmetto shrubs stretching away in every direction, a detail from Company M yielded picks and shoVeis with a will, little needing the downpour that drenched them to the skin. For hours they worked, cutting hole in the coral, which offers an equal obstruction to limestone rock. A big fire was built near newly made mound--a nameless graVe-and the soldier grave diggers stopped to dry their wiring ing garments.
 As they stood, a somber sight with their tanned skins and downcast expressions, big army wagon started from camp, rumbling over the rocks and stumps. In front was the proVerbial regulation detail of armed men covered with pouches Be- hind slowly trudged Company M, in com mand of Captain Boyd. Then came Colo mel Higdon Chaplain Fitzsimmons, Ma jors McLoud, Kernahan and two newspa- per correspondents
 On moved the melancholy procession, The wagon carried as it's burden cheap poplar box, with very ordinary trim mings The wealthy United States of America never spends more than the niG- gardly sum of ten dollars to bury its dead. When the big wagon crossed a rock the coffin josted from side to side, with noth- ing to stay it.
 Every sentinel recognized the import of the procession as 1t passed through the lines and stood with uncovered head and arm presented perfectly. Officers, for merly governors and representatives, patted their horses dropped their hats and did honor to the dead as the march pro- ceeded under the beating rain. Only for a moment, then the incident was forgotten and the incessant hum drum of routine was heard again.
 The last sentinel was passed. A dog with his tail down and making sad appearance with his shaggy hair dripping with rain trotted from under the wagon to the front of the leading detail. Going few yards he returned to his position under the wagon "a silent sentinel over his masters corps as the gerat vehicle went numbering on.
 Soon the procession left the road and pro- ceeded over an unbeaten path. It was now almost dark and the fire beside the newly opened pit in the earth lighted the way At the brink they halted a fresh down pour of rain started. The box-for Q it is nothing more-was pulled from the rear of the wagon, while private meas ured the length. No, the grave had been made too short. The took up their picks and shovels again. Next to them was a detail from another regiment per- forming a similar duty.
 At last the grave was the right length. The box was borne to the grave. pair of lines was taken from the horses to let it down. The crowd barred their heads in the driving rain To one side stood an old man with bowed head-the only civilian in the crowd except the newspaper men,
 Colonel Higdon took side of the line privates took the others and the box was let down as Chaplain Fitzsimmons opened his Bible and read: Dust to dust" he said and private shook the loost sand on the box. Then the chaplain prayed.
 There was not a mother there to weep the rain watered the grave and not the tears of a broken-hearted parent. Not a feminine voice to break the painful still hess with a funeral refrain. But there stood the faithful dog-a pitiful sight.
 All hands joined in filling the grave and the mound of white sand was soon reared A solder-a mess mate of the deceased- Steppd from his company. Gathering a few white rocks he placed them on the grave in the form of cross. Reserving one he placed 1t in his pocket and resumed his place. Then another advanced from ranks and laid a cross of flowers upon the grave. Three buglers next advanced. The plaintive sound of "taps'' reverbrated the tall pines, gust of breeze from the bay seemed to carry the rain back with it as the party started on its return to leave a patriot to sleep his last sleep.
 Not a word was said by the men, not a