The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-29
Burial of the Victims Of the Battle
ship Maine.
THE NATIONS LAST DUTY
PRESIDENT Mckinley AND CAB
MET MEMBERS PRESENT.
Ceremonies Were in Charge of Cap
tain Sigsbee, and the Services
Were Conducted by Chaplain Child
wick, Both of the. Inflated War
Vessel-Honors of War Accorded.

Washington, Dec. 2S.-Up0n the
windy heights of Arlington cemetery
the Maine dead, brought from Havana
by the battleship Texas, today were
laid away in their final resting places
with simple religious services and the
| impressive honors of war, in the pres
ence of the president, members of his
cabinet. officers of the army and navy,
and other officers of the government.
A cabinet officer. surveying the flag
draped collins before the ceremony be-
gan. 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, muffiing the beat OF the horses
hoofs, the slow-turning carriage wheels
and the tramp of soldiers and sailors
as they approached the burial place.
The site is commanding one. In
front. the broad bosom of the ice-fet-
tered Potomac river beyond, the shaft
of Washington. the dome of the capitol
and the sprawling city; TO the right.
the choked embrasures- of old Fort Nc
Pherson, and between, the graves OF
the heroic dead Of Santiago; to the
left. the stately mansion of Lee, and
to the rear, through the vistas of snow
laden pines and cedars. the silent army
of the patriotic dead of the civil war.
sleeping rank upon rank in their last
bivouac.
Midst Flags and Wreaths.
The caskets inferred today ranged
row on row. Over each was spread an
American ensign. upon which lay a
wreath of galax leaves. Around the
enclosure, shoulder to shoulder, the
yellow of their coat Innings forming a
band of collar, were drawn up the cav
airy of Fort Myer; TO the right was a
battalion of marines from the navy
yard. with their spiked helmets and
scarlet capes turned back: TO the left
a detachment Of jackies from the Texas
in navy blue; in the iag-draped stand
in the rear. the president and his cab
| met, Admiral Dewey. Major General
Miles and a distinguished group of
army and navy officers in their snowy
dress uniforms, while all around
pressed the throng of people who had
braved the snow and biting cold to
pay their last respects to the dead
Among these were many relatives and
friends Of those who had been lost in
the disaster.
There was a tender appropriateness
in the fact that Captain Sigsbee, who
was in command Of the Maine when
she was blown up, had charge OF the
ceremonies in honor of his men, and
that Father Chadwick, who was chap
lain of the Maine, was there to per-
form the last rites. Three others who
lived through that awful night in Ha-
vana harbor were at the side of the
graves of their comrades-Lieutenant
Commander Wainwright. who was ex-
ecutive officer of the Maine, and who
sunk the Piuton and the F'uror at San
was assistant engineer of the Maine,
and jeremiah Shea, a fireman on the
Maine, who was blown out Of the
stoke hole of the ship through the de-
bris, escaping uninjured most miracu-
lousy.
Was a Solemn Scene.
Slowly and solemnly the full Marine
band broke the deep hush, putting
forth the sad sweet strains of the dirge,
Safe in the Arms of Jesus" and there
were twitching of lips and wet eyes as
Chaplain Clark of the naval academy
at Annapolis came forward and took
his place under a canyas-cOvered shell
ter in the open space in front of the
dead.
The Protestant services were very
simple. Chaplain Clark read the burial
service of the Episcopal church. and
then gave way to Father Chadwick.
who was assisted by the Revs. Poloind
and Brown and two purple-robed AGO.
lytes. With head barred to wintry
blasts, the Names chaplain read a me-
mortal service according to the rites
of the Catholic church. consigned the
dead, blessed the ground. repeated the
Lords prayer. and concluded with a
fervent appeal for the repose Of the
souls of the departed.
A detachment of marines in COM
mand of Captain Kormony then
marched to the right of the graves and
fired three volleyS over the dead, and
in the deep stiffness that followed the
crash. the clear, silvery notes of
bugle rang out the soldiers and sailors
last goodnight.
With the sounding of taps the cere-
monies ended. The president and his
party and other distinguished guests,
the military and the crowds then with
drew. Before leaving. Captain Sigsbee
introduced jeremiah Shea to the pub
lie. When asked for an explanation
of the mystery of his escape by the
president, Shea responded. as he did to
a similar inquiry from Father Chadwick
at the time of the disaster:
Il don't know how 1 got through I
was blown out. / guess / must have
been an armor-piercing projectile.'
Proposals for Building.