The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-16
MAINE HEROES REMEMBERED.
TRIBUTES PLACED ON THE GRAVES
IN CUBA'S CAPITAL.

DHrGe NohcOurSe OF FSOple Attends
the CeremOny-Feminine Hands
Arrange the FlOwers-COmmOd Ore
Cromwell Declines Services of
Father Shermnn-Gen. Fitzhugh
Late ON Account of IA MIsunder-
standing of the Hour.
Havana, Feb. 49, 1880 a. m.-The sun
shone brightly this morning, for the first
time in several days, The wreck of the
United States battleship Maine, destroyed
in Havana harbor on the evening of Feb
Is, 1898. was decorated with a large Amer
lean fog.
AT 9 o'clock this morning the Stars and
Stripes were hosted at half-mast by Capt
Eaton of the United States auxiliary
cruiser Resolute, who, with Mrs. Estes
Rathbone and Mrs. Dudley and ten sail
ors of the Resolute. 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 green's was fes-
TONED about the fighting top, each loop
being 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 Capt. Eaton trans
ferred 10 the peak of the gaff.
At 10 O'Clock high mass was celebrated
in memory of the victims In tie Merched
Church, at which Maj. Gen. Ludlow ana
several of his staff were present. The
ceremony. which was very impressive,
was attended by Brig. Gen. George r.
Ernest, representing Maj. Gen. Brooke;
Commodore b. j. Cromwell. captain of
the port, and other naval officers; the city
Council, the executive committee of the
Cuban assembly. and other members of
the assembly; the secretaries of the civil
departments, 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 edi-
flee.
This afternoon the graves of Colon GEM
etery were decorated in the presence of
American officials, military and naval de-
tails participating.
In the presence of the American officials
military and naval details participating
the graves were thickly covered with
flowers.
Father Sherman had been invited by
Mrs Rathbone. who is president OF the
Woman's Association, to read prayers at
the graves side, and he appeared at the
started, in full vestments and with the as
surance that Mgr. 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 Commodore
CromwelD would not consent TO the read
ing of prayers by Father Sherman. 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 sailors
felt deeply on the subject, regarding the
of decoration as distinctly a ma
val affair. Therefore, he could not permit
any except a naval chaplain to officiate.
Although he was quite willing that both a
Protestant and Catholic clergyman should
act, ii either was TO be excluded. then the
other must be also
The procession from the city consisted OF
marines and sailors from the Brooklyn and
the Resolute the band of the Brooklyn,
Mai. Gen. Ludlow's staff, representing
him; American women in ambuIances, car
riages containing American visitors, a
troop of the Seventh Regular Cavalry and
one Cuban society.
It was met by Gov. Gen Brooke and staff
at the cemetery, where a wagon load of
floral tributes contributed by the Ameri-
can women and local societies were heap
ed upon the graves, each sailor and marine
also coEtributing some floral token. The
crowd looked on in silence, some kneel-
ing 1t was 4:25 o'clock when the process
sion reached the cemetery. and the cere-
mony was over in half an hour
Meanwhile Mai. Gen. Lee and the de-
tachments of the Seventh Army Corps
had not arrived. The marines and sailors
marched away, Commodore Cromwell the
naval officers and few others remaining.
In about a quarter of an hour Gen. Lees
column arrived-ba ttalions of the Second
Illinois and Third Nebraska regiments,
the First Maine Artillery. battery of
the Second United States regular artillery,
and the bands of the Second Illinois and
Third Nebraska regiments. AS Gen. Lee,
on horseback, barred his head near the
graves, Commodore Cromwell saluted, say
ing:
II am sorry you were not here In time
for the decoration"
Gen. Lee replied: IT was notified to be
here at $3.50 p. M, and was at the ceme-
terry gate at that hour. Now that / arrive
l find everything over"
Commodore Cromwell said: General, the
hour was 2:3O, and sent you word two
days ago"
Gen. Lee replied: Il never received IL.
I was told $3.50"
Commodore Cromwell politely expressed
his regret at the misunderstanding. The
Illinois band palyed America" and THE
Star Spangled Banner" the crowd uncov-
ering and the soldiers presenting arms.
This ended the ceremony.
Gen. Lee was detained fifteen minutes
outside the cemetery, having gone to a
locked gate.
Gomez Speaks to spaniards.
Gen. Maxine Gomez, in answering an
address of welcome rendered TO him by
the Spaniards of Santa Clara, said:
"I realize that the Spanlards of this
city, like those of other cities which have