Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-06-01
OUR DEAD SOLDIERS.
Decoration Day Observed Through
out the Country.
PRESIDENT M'KINLEY At ARLINGTON
Impressive Ceremonies at Grants Tomb
Day Observed In Manila-The Maine
Remembered Lafayette's Grave
Decorated.

Washington, May 81. The national
capital devoted itself to the observance
Of Decoration day. The departments
were closed, private and public bust
ness was suspended, the streets were
filed with marching veterans, national
guardsmen, military and civic organi-
cations, all moving toward the Airing
ton national cemetery, Soldiers home,
congressional and other cemeteries,
where appropriate services were held
and the graves Of the dead were
strewn with flowers. There was
added significance to the ceremonies
of yesterday, for to the memories of
the civil war were added those of
the Spanish American conflict, which
had swelled the list of soldier
and sailor dead. The parade started
early in the day. traversing the princi-
pal streets. Aside from the many
Grand Army posts and veteran organi-
cations represented in line the full
strength of the national guard of the
district and naval battalion turned
out. The bluejackets from the dis
patch boat Dolphin were also in line.
The ceremony at Arlington was nota
Bile by the presence OF TN president
and members of his cabinet and of
many leading officers Of the army and
navy, as well as officials prominent in
public life.
CEREMONIES AT GRANTS TOMB.
New York, May 81. The sarcophagus
of Gen. Grant in the tomb at Claremont
was covered with flowers yesterday
afternoon after impressive ceremonies
by U. ). Grant post, q. A, R., Brooklyn,
an address by Gov, Roosevelt and
presidential salute of 81 guns fired
from the United States cruiser Brook
Ign, which lay in the Hudson just be-
low the hill with all her battle flags
flying. There were several professions
in honor of the day, but the more i'm
portant were the military parade in
New York city proper, reviewed by
Maj. Gen, Miles, and the military
parade in Brooklyn, reviewed by Gov.
Roosevelt. The New York parade con-
sisted of every national guard regi-
ment in this city, three companies of
regular engineers, eight batteries Of
regular artillery and AZ Grand Army
posts. The Brooklyn parade started
at ten o'clock. ltncluded the marines,
several batteries Of regular artillery,
the naval militia. Grand Army posts
and other organizations. These two
parades constituted the best military
features that have marked Decoration
day in this city for years.
THE DAY OBSERVED IN MANILA.
Manila, May Sl.-Memorial day was
celebrated at Battery knoll, where
SCOTS guns were planted against the
Filipino trenches in the first days
fighting at Manila. Nearly 800 soldiers |
lie buried there on a bleak mound sur
rounded by rice fields, rough boards |
marking the graves which are ranged |
in five unbrokcn rows. Beyond these
are Spanish blockhouseS and bamboo
hedges which were mown by shells |
from the American guns, Col. Charles |
DENLY, of the United States Philippine
commission presided at the exercises.
The chaplain of the British cruiser |
Powerful made an invocation. Chap
lain Pierce, of the Twenty-thrd intan-
try, and Chaplain Cresscy, of the Min
nesota volunteers, delivered orations,
and the soldiers sang appropriate
hymns. Similar services were held
over the dead in the Pace cemetery in
the afternoon.
JOE WHEELER SPEAKS AT BOSTON,
Boston, May 81, For the first time
an ex-olllcer of the confcderacy deliv-
cred the Memorial day address before
New England Grand Army post.
Gen. Joseph Wheeler, the cavalry lead
er, who led the boys in gray at the fa-
nous charge at Shiloh and, nearly 81 |
years later, beneath the stars and
stripes, cheered on the volunteers at
Santiago, was the guest of honor at the
Memorial day services of Il. W. Kinsley
post liS, q. A, R., at the Boston thea
ter. The singing of the ''Battle'llymn
of the Republic" by Comradc Myron
:" Whitney and chorus and the pre-
sentatiOn to the audience of its author,
Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, called forth a
tremendous burst of applause. When
Gen. Wheeler arose to speak the APP
plause was tumultuous
THE MAINE REMEMBERED.
Havana, May Sl.-Decoration day
was observed here yesterday in nota-
BILE manner, Mrs. Estes q, Rathbone
and committee of women who had
been selected for the purpose were
taken into Rear Admiral Cromwells
launch and escorted by detachment
Of marines to the wreck of the battle,
ship Maine, where they strung the
skeleton of the unfortunate craft with
ropes of laurel and wreaths of flowers.
Mrs. Lucien Young represented the
navy at the decoration Of the graves of
the sailors and soldiers inferred in the
Colon cemetery. Similar exercises
took place at the Quemados cemetery.
THE DAY AT PHILADELPHIA.
Philadelphia, May Memorial day
was more deliberately observed in this
city than for number of years. I'M
pressive ceremonies were conducted in
the national cemetery Georgetown, a