The San Francisco call., 1899-12-29

MA NlndN heights OF Arlington Gem
etery the Maine dead. brought
from Havana by the battleship
Texas, to-day were laid away in
ineir final resting places with simple re-
NEl"us services and tho Impressive honors
'l war, in The presence Of The President
members of his Cabinet officers of the
army and navy and other officers IL the
Government a Cabinet officer. survey
lng the nag-draped collins before the
ceremony began. said: "Tnc lives of those
men cost Spain her colonies" But there
Was no note Of triumph in The grim scene
To-day Ni,h touch ~ sadness and sol
emn gravity thc nation performed its duty
TO th" dead and gave its defenders a
christian burial az home E soil hallowed
by patriotic dead.
soft mantle ~ snow covered the
earth. muGiing the beat OF the horses
hoofs. the slow turning carriage wheels
and The tramp OF soldiers and sailors as
tfcy approached the burial place The
site is a commanding one In front. the
broad bosom OF thc ice-fettered Potomac
River; beyond. the shaft Of Washington.
The dome OF the Capitol and the sprawl
ing city; 10 the right. the chokeG en-
brasures OF old Fort Mcpherson. and be-
tween, the graves OF the heroic dead Of
Santiago. 20 The left tho stately mansion
II Lee and 70 the rca- through the vistas
army of the patriotic dead Of the civil
wsr sleeping rank upon rank in their last
biNouac. The Caskets Inferred to-day
ranged row on row. over each was
spread an American ensign. upon which
lay a wreath OF galaN leaves. Around the
enclosure, shoulder 20 shoulder. the yell
low of their coat Innings forming a band
~ color. were drawn up the cavalry of
Fort Myer. 20 the right was a battalion
90
spiked helmets and scarlet capes turned
back, 10 the left a detachment OF jackies
from the Texas in navy blue: IN the flag
craped stand ia the rear. the President
and his Cabinet. Admiral Dewey. Major
General Miles and a distinguished group
~ army and navy officers in their showy
dress uniforms. while around pressed the
throng 81 people, who had braved the
snow and biting cold TO pay their last
many relatives and friends Of those who
had been lost in the disaster.
There was "a tender appropriateness in
the fact that Captain Sigsbee who was
in command Of the Maine when she was
blown up. had charge OF the ceremonies
in honor of his men and that Father Child
wick. who was chaplain OF the Maine was
there 20 perform the last rites. Three
others VINO lived through that awful
night in Havana harbor were at the side
of tho graves OF their comrades-Lieuten-
ANT Commander Wainwright who was ex-
ocutive officer ~ the Maine and who sank
the pluton and the Furor at Santiago:
Lieutenant r. q. Bowers. who was assist
ant engineer of the Maine and jeremiah
shea. fireman on the Maine. VINO was
blown out ~ the stokehole Of the ship
through. the debris. escaping uninjured
most miraculously
Slowly solemnly the fun marine band
broke the deep hush. putting forth the
sad. sweet strains of the dirge. safe in
tho Arms OF Jesus" and there were
twitchinE Of lips and wet eyes as Chaplain
clerk ~ the Naval Academy al Annapolis
came forward and took his place under a
canvas-covcred shelter in the open space
in front OF the dead.
The Protestant services were very sim
pie Chaplain Clerk read the burial ser
vice Of tho Episcopal church and then
gave way 10 Father Chidwick. who was
assisted by Rev. Fathers Poloind and
Brown and two purple-robed acolytes.
with head barred 10 wintry blasts. the
Names chaplain read a memorial service
according 10 the rites Of the Catholic
church. consigned the dead. blessed the
ground. repeated the Lords prayer and
concluded with a fervent appeal for the
repose OF the souls OF the departed.
A detachment OF marines in command
of Captain Kormony then marched to the
right ~ the graves and fired three vOlleys
over the dead. and IN the deep stiffness
that followed the crash the clear silvery