The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-16
A FLAG ON THE MAINE
Waves at Halt Mast Over the
sunken Warship.
HIGH MASS CELEBRATED
Impressive Ceremonies at the MERGED
Church-The Edifics Was Crowd
ed-The Victims Graves
Were Decorated.

Havana, Feb. 15-The sun shone
| brightly this morning for the first time
in several days. when the wreck of
| the United States battleship Maine, de-
| stroyed in Havana harbor on the even
ing of Feb. Is, 1885, was decorated with
a large American flag. At 9 o'clock the
stars and stripes were hoisted at half
mast by Captain Eaton of the United
States auxiliary cruiser Resolute, who,
with Mrs. Estes Rathbone and Mrs.
Dudley and 10 sailors of the Resolute,
| rowed to the sunken battleship. The
only others taking part were a battalion,
with officers, of the LIST Maine heavy
artillery. An immense rope of greens
was festooned around the wreck The
Cuban club of Havana had placed an
artificial wreath on the boat Crane and
this Captain Eaton transferred to the
peak of the gait.
At 10 o'clock high mass was cele-
brated in memory of the Maine victims
in the MERGED church, at which Major
General Ludlow and several Of his staff
were present. The ceremonies, which
Brfgadier General George Ernst, repre-
senting Major General Brooke; Com
modore B. J. Cromwell, captain of the
port, and other naval officers; the city
council, the executive committee of the
Cuban assembly and other members of
the assembly, the secretaries of the civil
departments and many officials, to-
gether with representatives Of the Ha-
vana fire brigade and other local organ
W. fyf fbG. hat tor
class were in the congregation, which
crowded the edifice. This afternoon the
graves at Colon cemetery, were deco
rated in the presence of American Off
Gals military details participating.
The graves were thickly covered with
flowers Father Sherman had beelS in
vited by Mrs. Rathbone, who is presi-
dent Of the Woman's association, to
read prayers at the graves and he
appeared at the American club, from
which the procession started, in full
vestments and with the assurance that
Mgr. Santander, the bishop of Havana,
had given his consent.
Commander Cromwell said that as the
bishop was not willing that Protest
ant chaplain should officiate, he (Com-
modore CromwelD would not consent to
the reading of prayers by Father Sher-
man. The latter thereupon went to
his hotel. Therefore he could not per-
init any except a naval chaplain to
officiate. Although he was quite will
ing that both a Protestant and a Cath
Ole clergyman should act, If either was
to be excluded, then the other must be
also.
The procession from the city con-
sisted of marines and sailors from the
Brooklyn and the Resolute, the hand
of the Brooklyn, Major General Lud-
lows staff, representing him: .Ameri-
IN, hIrIa or,,iac &C
containing American visitors, troop of
the It'll regular and one Cuban soci-
ETY.. 1t was met by Governor General
Brooke and staff at the cemetery,
where a wagon load of floral tributes
presented by the American women and
local societies were heaped upon the
graves, each sailor and marine also
contributing some floral token. The
crowd looked on in silence, some kneel-
ing. 1t was 2:45 p. m. when the pro-
cession reached the cemetery. and the
ceremony was over in half an hour.
Meanwhile, Major General Lee and the
detachments of the 7th army corps had
not arrived. The marines and sailors
marched away, Commodore Cromwell,
the naval officers and and few others
remaining. In about a quarter of an
hour General Lees column arrived
battalions of the I'd Illinois and Sd Ne
braska regiments, the LIST Maine artil-
lery, a battery of the I'd United States
regular army and the bands of the I'd
Illinois and Sd Nebraska regiments. AS
General Lee, on horseback, barred his
head near the graves, Commodore
Cromwell saluted, saying: II am sorry
you were not here in time for the dec
Grafton"
General Lee replied: II was notified
to be here at $3.50 p. M, and I was at
the cemetery gate at that hour. Now
that arrive, / find everything over"
Commodore Cromwell said: General,
the hour was 2:30 p. m. 1 sent you
word two days ago."
General Lee replied: IT never re-
ceived it. I was told $780,
Commodore Cromwell politely ex-
pressed his regret at the rnisunder-
standing. The Illinois band played
America" and 1.-THE Star Spangled
Banner" the crowd uncovering and
the soldiers presenting arms. This
ended the ceremony. General Lee was
detained is minutes outside the GEM
etery, having gone to a locked gate.