The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-07
BURIAL AT ARLINGTON.
Veterans Of Civil and Spanish Wars Sleep
Side By Side-" Taps Sounded Over
Graves Of Martyrs---Notables and
High Dignitaries Flock To
National Cemetery.

Washington, April 6-Upon the crest
of the southern slope of Arlington GEM
etery, the nation, represented by Presi-
dent Mckinley, his cabinet and other
high dignltaries Of the government, the
commanding general of the army and
other distinguished officers, all the reg
ular and militia organizations of the
District of Columbia and a concourse
Of $1,000 people, paid the last tribute
Of honor and respect to the 1886 officers
and men who gave their lives on dis
tant battlefields for their country in
the war with Spain, and who were to-
day mustered into the silent army that
sleeps in the last bivouae of the brave
The spot selected is in the new addi-
ton to the cemetery looking out upon
the broad. sweeping Potomac. To the
right rise the ramparts Of old Fort Nc
Pherson. to the left are the countless
graves of heroes of the civil war, and
to the rear the stately old Lee mansion
and Fort Myer. In this burial lot,
which covers two acres in extent in
parallel rows. wooden boxes contain
ing the Baskets were ranged, separated
by great mounds of earth. over each
box an American flag was draped.
There was no particular order in the
disposition of the remains, though
an exception was made in the
case Of the officers. The boxes con-
tanning the bodies of Capt. Edgar HUI
bert Of the Eighth U. S. infantry; Lieut..
l.. L. Barnett. Ninth U. S. infantry;
Lieut.. William Wood, Twelfth U. S. in
fantry; Lieut.. r. S. Thurman, Sixth
U. s. infantry; and Lieut.. Francis
Creighton, U. S. volunteer signal corps,
were placed at the head of the line of
graves Immediately under the eyes of
the presidential party.
OF the others. fully 70 per cent are
identified, about 30 per cent are wholly
unknown or known only by the regi-
ment to which they belonged. A plat
form had been erected, enclosed with
flags and draped in mourning, but the
day was ideal, with the sun shining
from a cloudless sky, and the platform
was practically unoccupied.
Before the arrival of the presidential
party and military escort, detachments
from the Fourth and Fifth artillery
kept vigil over the dead.
Long before the arrival of the mill
tary thousands of people had surround
ed the enclosure where the dead SOL
diers lay. About 2.30 the presidential
party reached the enclosure. They were
followed by Gen. Miles and staff, the
military attaches of the British and
German embassies, all mounted, and
the military escort.
AS they 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 command
of Col Francis l.. Guenther, and con-
sisted Of the district national guard, the
light battery with two Hotchkiss guns,
a battalion of naval militia and the reg
ular troops from the arsenal and Fort
Myer.
The troops were formed on three sides
Of a rectangle, and files Of soldiers We're
marched into the ranks of the dead.
Thanking the open space at the head OF
the graves were the relocated artil-
lerymen, who were to fire the last sa
lutte and on the left was stationed the
Fourth Artillery Band.
The president, accompanied by Secre-
taries Hay, Gage, Long, Hitchcock and
Wilson, Postmaster General Smith, AS
sistant Secretary Taylor, Gen. Corbm,
Gen. John NJ. Wilson and Col. Bing-
ham, came forsard with uncovered
heads and took their places in the open
space facing the graves. The president
was followed by Gen. Miles and staff IN
full uniform, and other distinguished
guests. including some Of the repre-
sentatives Of foreign countries.
Just as the president arrived a pa
thetic incident occurred, when aged Mr..
and Mrs. O'Dowd pressed through the
lines and placed q bunch of roses on the
casl1et of their son, John ODOWd Of the
Seventh infantry. The parents of Lieut..
Wood also came forward and deposited
a beautiful wreath of flowers. The
sword Of that gallant officer was upon
his casket.
Immediately the band broke out in
the sweet strains of Nearer, my God,
to Thee, "and Post Chaplain c. w. Free
land of Fort Monroe, in the ecclCsiasti-
cal robes Of his office, with Rev. Father
MCGEE Of St. Patrick's Church. fol-
lowed by three purple gowned acolytes.
advanced to the graves and the funeral
services began. They We're very simple,
but very impressive.
The Rev. Freeland read the military
committal service Of the Episcopal
church. beginning with Man that is
born Of woman" and concluding with
the promise of heaven contained i'm the
words: 4 am the resurrection and the
life" AS he pronounced the words.
Dust to dust. earth TO EARTH" the SOL
diers at the side Of each grave crumbled
clOd of earth upon each casket
The vast concOurse bowed their heads
to the solnn words and thousands join
ed in the Lords prayer. The
Reverend Father MCGEE then
consecrated with the churchly pow
ar inVaEted in him fha aarfh into which