Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-29
FORMER CAPTAIN OF MAI ~ enMAND
President, Cabinet and Distinguished Arm
and Navy Officers Present.
EXERCISES OF MOST SIMPLE CHARACTER
Chaplain of Naval Academy and Wrecked
Ship Conduct Religious Services.
TH2oNG BRAVES COLD TO DO THEM HONOR
Last Resting Place surrounded by the
Graves of Many More of the Ma
tons Heroic Dead and over
looking the Capital.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2S.-Upon the windy
heights of Arlington cemetery the Maine
deau. brought from Havana by the battle
shin Texas, today were laid away in their
final resting places with simple religious
services and the impressive honors of war,
in the presence OF the president, members
OF his cabinet, officers of the army and navy
and other representatives. of the govern
mcnt. A cabinet officer, surveying the flag
drdped collins before the ceremonies began,
said.
The lives of those men cost Spain her
colonies"
But there was no note of triumph in the
grim scene today. with a touch of sadness
and solemn gravity the nation performed
its duty to the dead and gave its defenders
a Christian burial at home in soil hallowed
by patriotic dead.
A soft mantle of snow covered the earth.
mufIed the horses hoofs, the slow-turning
carriage wheels and the tramp of soldiers
and sailors as they approached the burial
place.
The site is a commanding one. In front
the broad bosom of the ice-fettered Potomac;
beyond the shaft of Washington. the dome
of the capitol and the sprawling city; to the
right, the choked embrazures of old Fort
Mcpherson and between the graves of the
he,oiC dead of Santiago; to the left the
stately mansion of Lee and to the rear
through the yistas of snow-laden pines and
ceGars the silent army of the patriotic dead
of the civil war sleeping rank upon rank in
tier last bivouaC. The caskets Inferred to-
day ranged row and row. Over each was
spread an American ensign upon which lay
a wreath of smilaX leaves. Around the en-
plnSI-rng Chnul1ar To Cbnu1Jar +bo ,,,lIor
of their coat Innings forming a hand OF
color, were drawn up the cavalry of Fort
Myer; to the right was a battalion of ma
zines from the navy yard, with their spiked
helmets and scarlet capes turned back; tc
the left a detachment of jackies from the
Texas. in navy blue; in the fag-draped stand
in the rear the president and his cabinet
Admiral Dewey, Major General Miles and q
distinguished group Of officers of the army
and navy in their SNOWY dress uniforms
while all around pressed the throng of peo.
pie who had braved the snow and biting colo
to pay their last tribute to the dead. Amonl
these were many relatives and friends o.
those who had been lost in the disaster.
Survivors Attend the Ceremony.
There was a tender appropriateness in tn,
fact that Captain Sigsbee, who was in com
mand of the Maine when it was blown up
D"' NiH' o. " liz NIiioIlltS III blO q
his men and that Father Chadwick. who wa
chaplain of the Maine, was there to per
form the last rites. Three others who live,
through that awful night in Havana harbo
were at the side of the graves of their com
rades-Lieutenant Commander wainwright
who was executive officer of the Maine an,
who sunk the Plutcn and the Furor at San
tiago; Lieutenant +. C. Bowers. who was as
sistant engineer of the Maine, and Jeremia.
CIa. % .a-,a- -. IT, - t
out of the stokehole Of the ship through tn
debris, escaping uninjured most miracu
lousy.
Slowly, solemnly, the full marine ban
broke the deep hush, putting forth the SAD
sweet strains of the dirge, Safe in tn
Arms of Jesus" and there were twitchin
of lips and wet eyes as Chaplain Clark q
the Naval academy at Annapolis came for
ward and took his place under a canvas
covered shelter in the open space in front G
the dead.
The Protestant services were held first an
We're very simple. Chaplain Clark read tn
burial service Of the Episcopal church an
then gave way to Father Chadwick. VIII
was assisted by Revs. Holoind and Brow
and two purple-rCbed a]colytes. With hea
barred to the wiptry blast, the Names char
lain read a memorial service, according t
the rites OF the Catholic church, consigne
the dead, blessed the ground, repeated tn
Lords prayer and concluded with a ferver
appeal for the repose of the souls of the de
parted. A detachment of marines in CON
mand Of Captain KOnnony then marche
TO the right of the graves and fired thre
volleys over the dead and la the deep still
ness that followed the crash, the clear, 81
very notes Of a bugle rang out the soldier
and sailors last good night,
Trpa sounded.
With the sounding of taps, the ceremoni
ended. Tho president and his party an
other distinguished guests, the military an
the crowds then withdrew, Before leayiu
Captain Sigsbee introduced jeremiah Shea
the president. When asked for an explain,
tion Of the mystery of his escape by II
president, Shea responded as he did to
similar inquiry from Father Chadwick
the time of the disaster:
Il don't know how | got through, I WI
blown out / guess l must have been a
armor-piercing projectile.
And thus, after TWO years, the dead of Il
Maine have been brought HON and
ground reserved for the nations hero,
have been buried with fun military homo
and in the service OF their faith.
AAZE IA .FNR n IA n - 80 ~ aHE