The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-07
The Last Tribute to the Men Who
Fell at Santiago.
IN THEIR LAST BIVOUAC
The Bodies Of Three Hundred Officers
and Men Laid at Rest in Ar
lington Cemetery - McKin-
ley Was Present.


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 organza-
tions of the district, and a vast con-
course of $4,000 people. paid last ten
der tribute of honor and respect to the
bodies of 336 officers and men who gave
their lives on distant battlefields for
their country during the Spanish
American war. and who were to-day
mustered into the silent army that
sleeps in the last bivouac of the brave.
The spot selected is in the new addi-
ton to the cemetery. looking upon the
broad sweeping Potomac and across to
where the glistening Washington mon
ument rears its dizzy shaft, and be-
yond to the classic lines of the capitol
and the FURNISHED dome of the new Ii
brary building. To the right rise the
ramparts of old Fort Mcpherson; to
the left the countless graves of heroes
Of the civil war; sprinkled with impos-
ing monuments to distinguished gener-
ais, and to the rear, the stately old Lee
mansion and Fort Meyer.
In this burial lot, which covers two
acres in extent. in parallel rows the
wooden boxes containing the caskets
were ranged, separated 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 bodies of Captain
Edgar Hubert of the Sth United States
infantry; Lieutenant l.. I. Barnett. 9th
United States infantry; Lieutenant w.
M. Wood, 18th United States infantry:
Lieutenant r. S. thurman, 9Th United
States infantry and Lieutenant Francis
Creighton, United States volunteer sig
nal corps, We're placed at the head of
the line of graves Immediately under
the eye of the presidential party. OF
the others, fully 70 per cent. We're iden-
titled. About 80 per cent. are wholly
unknown. or only by the regiment to
which they belonged
platform had been erected. inclosed
with flags and draped in mourning, to
accommodate the distinguished persons
in case of Indictment weather, but the
day was an ideal one, with the sun
d
platform was practically unoccupied
Before the arrival of the presidential
party, military escort detachments
from the 4th and 5th artillery kept vigil
over the dead. Long before the arrival
of the military thousands of people had
surrounded the Enclosure where the
dead soldiers lay. Some sought vantage
points in trees or on the ramparts of
old Fort Mcpherson
o.pn o.
party. which had been caught in a jam
at the Potomac bridge, from which it
required dozen mounted police to eX-
tricate them, reached the Enclosure
They We're followed 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" slenced the vast
assemblage and with barred heads the
crowds stood at the grave side while
the presidential party advanced and
the military dispositions were 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, battalion of naval militia and
the regular troops from the arsenal and
Fort Myer
The troops We're formed upon three
sides of a rectangle and files of SOL
diers were marched into the ranks of
the dead. Thanking the open space at
the head of the graves were the red
coated artillerymen, who We're to fire
the last salute, and on the left was sta
toned the 4th artillery band. The pres
ident, accompanied by Secretaries Hay,
Gage, Long, Hitchcock and Wilson,
Postmaster General Smith. Assistant
Secretary Taylor, General Corbin Gen.
John M. Wilson and Colonel Bingham.
came forward with uncovered head and
took his place in the open space facing
the graves. He was followed by Cen
eral Miles and his staff, in full uniform,
and by other distinguished guests, in
Guiding some Of the representatives of
foreign countries. Just as the presi-
dent arrived, a pathetic incident oc-
Cured, when aged Mr.. and Mrs.
| O'Dowd pressed through the lines and
placed bunch of roses on the casket
of their son. John O'Dowd, of the It'll
| infantry. The parents of Lieutenant
! Wood also came forward 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 God
ito Thee" and Post Chaplain C. w,
Freeland of Fortress Monroe. with Rev.
Father MCGEE of st. Patricks followed
by their purple gowned acolytes, ad-
vanced to the graves and the funeral
services began. They We're simple. but
very impressive. The Rev. Mr. Free
land read the military committal serv-
ice of the Episcopal church, beginning
with Man that is born of woman"
and concluding with the promise of
heaven contained in the words, Il am
the resurrection and the life" AS he
pronounced the words. Dust to dust,
earth to EARTH" the soldiers at the side
Of each grave crumbled a clod of earth
upon each casket The vast concourse
barred their heads to the solemn words
and scene. and thousands Joined in the
Lords prayer. The Rev. Father MCGEE
| then consecrated with the churchly
| power invested in him the earth into
which the bodies of the Catholic SOL
diers were placed
Meantime. from Fort Mevar booming
| down the wind. came the dull crack of
a gun every half hour and the national
ensigns on the staffs there and at the
| Lee mansion We're run down to half
mast. AS soon as the religious services