Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-04-13
H0N0RS TO HEROES.
Services Over Soldiers Who Lost
Their Lives in Spanish War.
The PRESIDENT At The CEMETERY.
The bodies NJ $3.50 Ofrcer. and Men Laid &c
Rest--Thrse Valley. fired After the
Religious Services ami Then
Followed "TaDs."

Washington, Apri, T. With full hon.
ors OF war, upon the crest of the south.
ern slope Of Arlington cemetery yes
terday afternoon, the nation, repre-.
sented by President Mckinley, his
cabinet and other high dignitaries OF
the government, the commanding gen.
eral Of the army and other distin-
guished officers, all the regular and
militia organizations Of the District.
and a concourse of 1900 people, paid
the last tribute OF honor and respect
to the bodies of 1886 officers and men
who gave their lives on distant battle.
fields for their country during the
Spanish-American war, and who were
yesterday mustered into the silent
army that sleeps in the last bivouac OF
the brave
In this burial lot which covers two
acres in extent, in parallel rows, the
wooden boxes containing the caskets
were ranged, separated by great
mounds Of earth. Over each box an
American flag was draped. Fully 10
per cent. Of the bodies are identified.
About 30 per cent are wholly un-
known, or known only by the regi.
ment to which they belonged. A plat
form had been erected, inclosed with
flags and draped in mourning to &C.
commodate the distinguish ed persons
present in case OF Indictment weather,
but the day was an ideal one, with the
sun shining from a cloudless sky and
the platform was practically unoccu.
pied. Before the arrival OF the presi-
dental party and the military escort
detachments from the Fourth and
Fifth artillery kept vigil over the
dead. Long before the arrival Of the
military thousands of people had sur
rounded the Enclosure where the dead
soldiers lay.
About $3.50 the presidential party,
which had been caught in jam at the
Potomac bridge, from which it re-
quired dozen mounted police to ex.
tricate it, reached the inclosure 1t |
was followed by Gen. Miles and his !
staff, the military attaches Of the
British and German embassies all |
mounted, and the military escort. As
it arrived, the solemn strains of the
Dead March in Saul" silenced the
vast assemblage and, with barred heads,
the crowds stood at the grave side
while the presidential party advanced
and the military dispositions were
made
The military was under the COM
mand OF Col. Francis L. Guenther and
consisted of the District national
guard, the light battery with two
ilotchkiss guns, a battalion of naval
militia and the regular troops from
the arsenal and Fort Myer. The
troops were formed upon three sides
Of u rectangle and files OF soldiers were
marched into the ranks of the dead.
Thanking the open space at the head
of the graves were the red coated ar
tlllerymen who were to fire the last
salute and on the left were stationed
the Fourth artillery band. The presi-
dent, accompanied by Secretaries Hay,
Gage, Long, Hitchcock and Wilson,
Postmaster General Smith, Assistant
Secretary Taylor, Gen. Corbin, Gen.
John NJ. Wilson and Col. Bingham,
came forward with uncovered head
and took his place in the open space
facing the graves He was followed
by Gen. Miles and his staff in full uni.
form, and by other distinguished
guests, including some of the repre-.
sentatives of foreign 'o,ntries
Immediately the band broke out in
the sweet strains of Nearer My God
to Thee" and Post Chaplain C. w.
Freeland, Of Fort Monroe in the
ecclesiastical robes of his office, with
Rev, Father McGee, of ST. Patrick's
church, followed by their purple
gowned acolytes, advanced to the
graves and the funeral services began.
They were simple, In, very impress.
sive. Meantime, from Fort Myer
booming down the wind came the dull
crack of gun every half hour and
the national ensigns on the stats
there and at the Lee mansion were
run down to half mast.
As soon as the religious services had
been concluded, hanking detachments
Of the Fourth and Fifth artillery fred
three volleys and IN the solemn hush
that followed the salute the bugle
sounded TAPS" The last religious
and military rites to the dead heroes
were over and the presidential party
aud the military departed, leaving the
work Of actual interment to follow.
As each of the Baskets weighed almost
800 pounds and required eight men to
handle it, it will be two or three days
before all the bodies are in their