Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-07
Funeral of the Spanish War
Heroes at Arlington.
President Mckinley and Thousands
Stand with Bowed Heads
While with Simple Services Remains Of 336
Soldiers Are Buried.


: N'''N''''L W iN'iiIS' It's 'bpiil't t'''N'
other nigh dignltaries of the govern
ment. the commanding general of the
army. and other distinguished officers.
al the regular and militia OrganiZd-
lions VI the District Of Columbia and
roncourse Of l3.0oo people, paid the
last tribute 'i honor ana respect to the
5@b oiilcers ana men who gave their
lives on distant battle fields for their
country ~ the war with Spain. and
Whp We're. today. mustered into the
silent army that sleeps in the last
hiNouar az the brave.
The spot selected is in the new addi-
ton To the cemetery looking out upon
pa" broad sweeping Potomac. 10 thte
right rfSr INV ramparts pf old Fort
McPhcrspn. 70 the left are the count
less graves Of heroes of tn" civil War.
ana u the rear stately old Lee Mansion
ana Fort Myrr, In mis- burial lot
which covers two acres i'll extent. iH
parallel rows the wooden boxes com
tanning the caskrts were ranged. sep
arated by great mounds Of earth.
over each box an American flag was
draped
There was no particular order in the
iiSIl'3StllflIl ~ Aiif itlldiIlS, AIbG-I an
exception was made in the case Of the
officers. The boxes containing the
bodies of Capt. Edgar Hubert. Of the
Sth United States Infantry; Lieut.. l..
|. Barnett, United States Infantry.
Lieut. VIM. Wood. 18th United States
Infantry: Lieut.. r. :. thurman, 9th
United States Infantry: and Lieut.
Francis Creighton. United States Vol
unteer Signal Corps, We're placed at the
head of the line Of graves Immediately
under the eyes of the Presidential par
ty. OF the others fully 40 per cent.
are identified, about 80 per cent. are
wholly unknown or known only to the
regiment to which they belonged.
A platform had been erected enclOs-
ga with flags and drapery mourning.
but the day was an ideal one. with the
sun shining from a cloudless sky and
the platform was practically un0ccu-
pied. Before the arrival Of the Presi-
Dental party and the military escort
detachments from the 4th and 9Th Ar
tillery kept vigil over the dead. Long
before the arrival of the military, thou
sands Of people had surrounded the en-
closure where the dead soldiers lay.
ABOUT LOU lllt IItSLutiilidl pa ~ :
which had been caught in jam at the
Potomac bridge from which it required
dozen mounted police to extricate
them. reached the enclosure. They
We're followed by General Miles and his
staff. the military attaches of the Brit
ish and German embassies, all mounted
and the military escort. As they ar
rived the solemn strains of the Dead
March in Saul" silenced the vast as
semblage ana with barred heads the
crowds stood at the graveside while
the Presidential party advanced and
the military dispositions We're 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 regular troops from the arsenal
and Fort Meyer Troops were formed
On three sides Of a rectangle and files
Of soldiers were marched into the ranks
of the dead. Flanking the open space
at the head of the graves were the red
coated artillerymen. who were to fire
the last salute and On the left was sta
toned the 4th Artillery band.
The President. accompanied hy Sec
rat,rios HAY Gage Long Hitchcock.
Wilson. Postmaster General Smith. As
eist,nt Serrailrv Taylor. Cen. Corhiu
Gnn Jnhn NJ Wilson ana col. Bing-
nam. came froward with uncovered
head ana took his place in the open
snacc facing The graves. He was fol-
lowed by Gen. Miles and his staff in
fulI uniform ana hv other distinguish-
"a guests. intending some of the rep
reeentatives of foreign countries.
Inst as the President arrived a pa
thntic incident occurred. when aged
Mr.. and Mrs. O'Dowd pressed through
The lines and nlaced bunch of roses
on the casket Of their son. John
O'Dowd Of The 7th Infantry. The pa
rents of Lieut.. Wood also came for
ward 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 Coo