The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-16
MAINE MEMORIAL DAY
Celebrated at Havana With I'M
pressive Ceremonies.


bright for the first time in several days
when the wreck of the United States
battleship Maine, destroyed in Havana
harbor on the evening of February Is,
1888, was decorated with a large Amer
lean flag.
At o'clock the stars and stripes were
hoisted at half mast by Captain Eaton
of the U. s. auxiliary cruiser Resolute,
who, with Mrs. Estes Rathbone and
Mrs. Dudley and ten sailors of the ReSo-
lutte rowed to the sunken battleship. The
only others taking part were a battalion
with officers of the First Maine heavy
artillery.
An immense rope of greens was fes-
TONED about the fighting top, each loop
hung with laurel Wreaths four feet in
diameter and tied with red, white and
blue ribbon. The Cuban club of Havana
had placed an artificial wreath on the
boat crane and this Captain Eaton
transferred to the peak of the gaff
At 10 o'clock high mass was cele-
brated in memory of the Maine victims
in the Mercedes church, at which Major
General Ludlow and his staff were
present. The ceremony, which was
adler General Ernest, representing
Major General Brooke; Commodore B.
]. Cromwell, captain of the port, and
other naval officers, the city council, the
executive committee of the Cuban as
sembly and other members of the as
sembly, the secretaries of the civil de-
partmentS and many officials, together
with representatives of the Havana fire
brigade and other local organizations
Many women of the better class were
in the congregation which crowded the
edifice. In the afternoon the graves
at Colon cemetery were decorated in
the presence of American officials, mill
tary and naval details participating.
The graves were thfckly covered with
flowers. Father Sherman had been in
vited by Mrs. RathbOne, who is presi-
dent of the Woman's association, to
read prayers at the graveside and he
appeared at the American club, from
which the procession started in full
Vestments and with the assurance that
Monsignor Santander, the bishop of
Havana, had given his consent.
Commodore Cromwell said that as the
bishop was not willing that a protestant
chaplain should officiate, he, Commo-
dore Cromwell, would not consent to the
The latter thereupon went to his hotel.
He had deferred his sailing on receipt
Of Mrs. Rathbone's invitation.
Commodore Cromwell informed the
newspaper correspondents that the sail
ors felt deeply on the subject regarding
the ceremony of decoration as distinct
ly a naval affair. Therefore he could
not permit any except naval chaplain
to officiate. Although he was quite
willing that both Protestant and
Catholic clergyman should act, if either
was to be excluded, then the other must
be also.
The procession from the city consisted
of marines and sailors from the Brook
Ign and the Resolute, the band of the
Brooklyn, Major General Ludlow'S staff
representing him; American women in
ambulances, carriages containing Amer
lean visitors, a troop of the Seventh
regular cavalry and one Cuban society.
It was met by Governor General Brooke
and staff at the cemetery where
wagon load of floral tributes presented
by the American women and local So
cietieS were heaped upon the graves,
oh, ;1A,- Il ole sIN,,%
ing some floral token. The crowd looked
on in silence, some kneeling. 1t was
2:45 p. m. when the procession reached
the cemetery and the ceremony was
over in half an hour.
Meanwhile Major General Lee and
the attachments of the Seventh army
corps had not arrived. The marines
and sailors marched away, Commodore
Cromwell, the naval officers and a few
others remaining. In about a quarter
of an hour General Lees column ar
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of the Second Illinois
and Third Nebraska regiments, the
First Maine artillery and the bands of
the Second Illinois and Third Nebraska
regiments. AS General Lee, on horse
back, barred his head near the graves,
Commodore Cromwell sa1uted, saying:
Il am sorry you were not here in time
for the decoration" General Lee re-
piled: 81 was notified to be here at $3.50
p. an. and 1 was at the cemetery at that
hour. Now that I arrive L find every
thing over"
Commodore Cromwell said: General,
the hour was 2:30 p. m. sent you word
two days ago"
General Lee replied: 81 never received
it. I was told $780,
Commodore Cromwell politely ex-
pressed his regret at the misunderstand-
ing. The Illinois band played Amer
lea" and 1.-The Star Spangled Banner"
the crowd uncovering and the soldiers
presenting arms. This ended the cere-
mony. General Lee was detained fif-
teen minutes outside the cemetery, haV-
! ing gone to a locked gate.