The Van Buren press., 1899-06-03
DECORATION DAY At MANILA.
The Grave. of Three Hundred Sol
dferx Covered With silk Flags
and beautiful Flowers.

Manila. Mak 3i.-Memorial day was
celebrated at Battery Knoll. where
scctt's guns were planted against the
Filipino trenches in the first days
firhting at Manila. Nearly 300 soldiers
lie buried there on a bleak mound sur
rounded by rice fields, rough boards
marking the graves, which are ranged
in unbroken rows. Beyond these are
Spanish block houses and bamboo
hodges, which were mown by shells
from the American guns.
] he few soldiers who could be
spared from the trenches came 10 Bat
terry Knoll. dusty and bronzed. bearing
flowers with which TO strew their com
races graves. a silk flag was placed
aboae each mound. The day was as
mild as a New England spring day.
when, just before sunset, a few hun
dred Americans gathered in circle
around Battery Knoll in blue and
brown uniforms.
Among the soldiers we're groupes of
American ladies, and Brown-faccd nit
tives peering eurioasly AT the unwont-
ed spectacle from points near by.
Tho guns of the monitor Monadnock
bombarding Paranaque. boomed sig
nificant reminder OF the nearness of
wal. just as the Sixth artillery band
began a dirge. the thunder of the
Monadnoek's guns ceased. while taps
sounded from the bugle.
Coi. Charles DENLY. Of the United
States Philippine commission. presided
at the exercises. He spoke briefly of
the peculiar solemnity of the day TO
Marila.
The chaplain of the British cruiser
Powerful made an invocation.
Chaplain Pierce. Of the Twenty-third
infantry, and Chaplain Cressey. OF the
Minnesota volunteers. delivered ora
tions. and the soldiers sang appropri-
ate hymns.
When taps sounded the soldiers took
the flags from the graves TO send 10
reletives of the dead.
Similar services were held over the
deao in the Paco cemetery. Col. Dem
by was the orator on this occasion.
The graves were decorated with IA vast
susrtity of magnificent flowers.
High mass for the dead of the Ro-
man Catholic communion was cele-
brdted at the Paco cemetery in the
morning. 0rations were delivered by
Father MeKinnon and Chaplain Steven
son of the Idaho regiment.
Santiago Celebrated.
Santiago de Cuba. May 3l.-Decora-
iion day was elaborately observed
here. Notwithstanding the fact that
there are few graves of American sol
iiers in this part of Cuba. Maj. Joseph
G. Saunders arranged an impressive
eeTmony. which was carried out over
the graves of the victims OF the Nir-
giilius tragedy of 1873. when some
thirty Americans and six British sub
yects, with many CubIns who were
conveying assistance 10 he Cuban in
surrection on the American schooner
Nirginius. were captured by the Span
Isl eunboat Tornado. aud soon after
~aru shot by the Spanish. The graves
were located with considerable diff
Guilty by Mai. Saunders. a near rela-
tive Of a member OF the unfortunate
crew. Flags were displayed at half
Ilast. salute ~as fired Al noon and
regimental band played d dirge.
Mr. Lloyd. deputy collector at Guam
tanamo. arranged for ceremonies
there. The Cubans were favOrably inn
ressed with the idea of decorating
the graves Of their own soldiers, and
Gi.i 80 10 some extent.
s1sEY REMEMBERED THE MAINE.
Add In Honor of Her Murdered Crew
Decorated the skeleton of the
ship with Flowers.
Havana. May 3l.-Decoration day
Eas observed here yesterday in q no