Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-04-07
Bodies of Several Hundred Heroes
Committed to Earth,
BURIED IN ARLINGTON
Last Tribute orIIonor ana Respect
Paid 20 the Remains or Omcers
ma Men Who Gave Their Lives
OH Distant BnstIc Fields For heir
Country High Dignitnries I'm At
tcndnnce.
(By Telegraph to virginian-Pnot.)

(By Telegraph to Virginian-Pilot)
Washington. April 6.-With full hon
ors Of war, upon the crest of the South
ern slope of Arlington cemetery this
afternoon, the nation, represented by
President Mckinley. his Cabinet. and
other high dignitaries of the Govern
ment. the commanding general of the
army and other distinguished officers,
all the regular and militia orsaniza-
tons of the District, and a vas. con-
course Of $4,000 people, paid the last
tribute of honor and respect to the
bodies of 336 officers and men who gave
their lives on distant battlenelds for
their country during the Spanish-Amer-
lean war; and who were to-day muster
ed into the silent army that sleeps in
the last bivouac of the brave. The spot
selected is in the new addition TO the
cemetery looking out upon the broad
sweeping Potomac. In this burial lot,
which covered two acres in extent, in
parallel rows. the wooden boxes con-
tanning the caskets We're ranged sep
arated 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 containing the bod
les of Captain Edgar Hubert. or the
Eighth United States Infantry; Lieu
tenant l.. l. Barnett, Ninth United
States Infantry; Lieutenant William
Wood, Twelfth United States Infantry;
Lieutenant r.. S. thurman, Sixth United
States Infantry. and Lieutenant Fran
els Cleighton United States Volunteer
Signal Corps, were placed at the head
of the line of graves Immediately un-
I der the eye OF the Presidential party.
or the others fully 20 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 to accom-
modate the distinguished personaGes in
case of inclement weather. but the day
was an ideal one, and the platform was
practically unoccupied Long before
the arrival of the military thousands OF
people had surrounded the enclosure
where the dead soldiers lay.
PRESIDENTIAL PARTY.
ut 2:3o the Presidential party. which
had been caught in jam at the Poto-
mac bridge from which it required
dozen mounted police to eXtricate them,
reached the enclosure They were fol-
lowed by General Miles and his 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 heads barred the crowd stood
at the grave side While the Presiden>
tial party advanced and the military
dispositions were made. The military
was under the command OF Col Fran
els l.. Guenther. and consisted of the
District of Columbia National Guard,
the Light Battery with two Hotchkiss
guns. a battalion of naval militia and
the regular troops from the arsenal at
b Fort Myer
lie troops were formed upon three
sides OF rectangle and files Of soldiers
We're marched into the ranks of the
dead. Thanking the open space at the
mead Oh the graves were the red coated
artiIlerymen. who were to fire the last
salute. and on the left was stationed the
Fourth Artillery Band.
a PATRIOTIC INCIDENT.
The President. accompanied by Sec
Tetary Gage, Secretary Long. Postmas-
ter General Smith, Secretaries Hav
Hitchcock and Wilson, Assistant Sec
rotary TAYLOR, General Corbin, General
John NJ Wilson and Colonel Bingham.
came forward with uncovered head and
took his place In the open space facing
the graves. He was followed by Gene
raj Miles and his staff in full uniform
and other distinguished guests includ
ing some of the representa- yes of for
eign countries. Just as the President
arrived palmetto incident occurred
when aged Mr.. and Mrs. O'Dowd
pressed through the lines and placed n
bunch of roses on the casket of their
son. John O'Dowd, of the Seventh In
fantry. The parents of Lieutenant
Wood also came forward and deposited
a beautiful wreath of flowers and the
sword of that gallant officer upon his
casket. Immediately the band broke
out in the sweet strains OF Nearer. NV
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 three purple
gowned acolytes, advanced to the
graves and the funeral services began.
They were very simple. but very i'm
pressive.
THE COMMITTAL SERVICE.
Rev. Freeland read the military
committal service of the Episcopal
Church. beginning with Man that is
borne of woman" and concluding with
the promise OF heaven contained in the
words, II am the resurrection and the
life" and as he pronounced the words
dust to dust, earth to earth" the SOL
ders at the side of each grave crum-
bled clod of earth upon each casket.
The vast concourse barred their heads
to the solemn words and scene, and
thousands Joined in the Lords proyer.
Rev. Father MCGEE then consecrated
with the churchly power invested In