The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-02-16
THE DEAD OF THE MAINE
HIGH MASS SUNG IN HIVAN1 TO
THEIR MEMORY.

One Year Ago Yesterday Since They
Were Blown Into E,ernity--ThrougI
Religious Jealousy no Clergyman
Read Prayers at the Graves Flag
Half-masted on the Wreck.
Havana, Feb. 15.--11 30.-The sun
| shone brightly this morning 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, 1898, was
decorated with a large American flag.
| At o'clock the Stars and Stripes were
hoisted at half-mast by Captain Eaton
of the United States auxiliary cruiser
| Resolute, who. with Mrs. Estes Rath-
bone and Mrs. Dudley and ten sailors
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 i'm
mense rope Of greens was festooned
about the fighting top, each loop hung
with laurel wreaths four feet in dame
terand tiedNwith red. white and blue rib
bon. The Cuban club of Havana had
placed an artificial wreath on the boat
and this Captain Eaton transferred to
the peak of the garden. AT noon high
mass was sung In memory Of the Maine
victims at which Major General Ludlow
and several of his staff were present.
The ceremony, which was very impress
sive, was attended by Brigadier Gener-
al George r. Ernst, representing Major
General Brooke; Commodore B. j.
Cromwell, captain of the port, and 9TH
er naval officers. the city council, the
committee of the Cuban military assem-
bly, and others of the assembly, the Sec
retaries Of the civil departments and
many officials together with represen-
tatives of the Havana fire brigade and
other local organizations. Many wo-
men of the better classes were in the
congregation, which crowded the edi-
flee. This afternoon the graves at Co.
Ion cemetery were decorated in the
presence of American officials, military
and naval details participating.
The graves We're thiokly 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
Mgr. Santander the bishop of Havana,
had given his consent. Commodore
Cromwell said that, as the bishop was
willing that protestant chaplain
should officiate he Commodore Crom-
WELD would not consent to the reading
of prayers by Father Sherman. The
latter thereupon went to his hotel He
had deferred his sailing on receipt of
Mrs Rathbone's invitation Commo-
done Cromwell informed the newspaper
correspondents that the sailors felt
deeply on the subject Although he
was quite willing that both Protest
ant and Catholic clergyman should act
if either were to be excluded them the
other must be also.
The procession from the city consisted
of marines and sailors from the Brook
lyn and the Resolute, the band OF the
Brooklyn, General Ludlows staff repre-
senting him, American women in am
balances, carriages containing Amerl-
can visitors, troops of the Seventh reg
uIar cavalry and one Cuban society. 1t
was met by Governor General Brooke
and staff at the cemetery, where a Wag-
onload of floral tributes were heaped
upon the ~raves, each sailor and marine
also contributing some floral token. 1t
was 2:45 D. m. when the procession
reached the cemetery and the ceremony
was over in half an hour.
The marines and sailors marched
9Way, Commodore Cromwell, the naval
officers and few others remaining. In |
about quarter of an hour General
Lees column dvanced--battalions OF |
he Second Illinois and Third Nebraska,
the First Maine artillery, battery OF
he Second United States regular artil- |
ery and the bands of the Second llli- |
,ois and Third Nebraska regiments. AS |
General Lee, on horseback, barred his |
1ead near the graves Commodore Crom-
we'll saluted, saying, II am sorry you
we're not here in time for the decora-
ion"
General Lee replied: 'T was notified I
o be here at $3.50 p. M. and / was at the
cemetery gate at that hour. Now that
arrive l find everything over" Cons
nodore Cromwell said: General, the
lour was 2:30 p. m. I sent you word
wo days ago." General Lee replied:
L never received it. l was told $3.50"
rhe Illinois band played "America' and
The Star Spangled Banner the crowd
lncovering and the soldiers presenting
rms This ended the ceremony. Gen
raj Lee was detained fifteen minutes
outside the cemetery, having gone to a
ocked gate.
'LAIMS FROM MAINE DIS4 STER.
25 Filed Mt Navy Department mount
ing to SI23,342.
yKy, ir otnp IA