The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-16
REMEMBERED THE MAINE.
Anniversary Of The Tragedy In Havana
ilarbor COmmeHoraied.
WRECK OF THE wARsHIp WAS DECORATED
40 ptns crs Were Said over the Re-
terry Because of stubbornness.

Havana, February 10, 1880 a. m.-fn'
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 evening
of February Is, 1898, was decorated viii
a large American flag. AT 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 ten
sailors of the Resolute rowed to the
sunlten battleship. The only others TAX
ing part were a battalion, with officers,
Of the First Maine heavy artillery An
immense rope OF greens was festooncd
about the fighting top. each loop hung
with laurel wreaths four feet In diameter
and tied with red, white and blue rib
bons. The Cuban club of Havana had
crane and this Captain Eaton transferred
to the peak of the gan
AT 10 O'Clock high mass was celebrated
in memory of the Maine victims in the
Mercedes church. at which Major General
Ludlow and several of his stan were pres
ent. The ceremony, which was very i'm
pressive was attended by Brigadler Gen
General Brooke: Commodore d. j..
Cromwell, captain of the port, and
other naval officers. the city coun-
ell the executive committee of the
Cuban assembly, and other members
Of the assembly, the secretaries of the civil
departments and many officials, together
with representatives of the Havana fire
brigade and other local organizations.
Many women of the better class were
in the congregation, which crowded the
edifice.
This afternoon the graves at Colon GEM
etery were decorated ia the presence of
American officials. the naval details par
ticinating.
The graves were covered with flowers.
Father Sherman had been invited by Mrs.
Rathbone, who is president of the Womsn's
association, to read prayers at the grave
sids and no appeared at the American
club, from which the procession started,
in full yostments and with the assurance
that Mgr. Santander, the bishop of Ha-
vana, had giver his consent.
Commodore Cromwell said that as the
bishop was not willing that a Protestant
chaplain should oftciate he Commodore
CROMWELL would not consent to the read
ing of prayers by Rather Sherman. The
latter thereupon went to his hotel. He had
deferred his sailing on receipt of Mrs.
Rathbone's invitation.
Commodore Cromwell informed the
newspaper correspondents that the sailors
felt deeply oil the subject regarding the
ceremony Of decoration as distinctly a
naval affair
Therefore he could not permit any ex-
cept naval chaplain to offciate. Although
he was quite willing that both Protestant
and Catholic clergyman should act. if
either was to be excluded both would be
ne procession in the city consisted of
marines and sailors from the Brooklyn and
he Resolute, the band of the Brooklyn. |
Major General LudIows staff representing |
aim, American women in ambulances. car |
rlages containing American visitors, a
foop OF the Seventh regiment cavalry and |
,ne Cuban society 1t was met by Governor |
General Brooke and staff at the cemetery, |
Vhete wagon load of floral tributes pre- |
ented by the American women and local |
ocleties were heaped upon the graves, each
allor and marine also contributing some
loral token. The crowd looked on in sill
nee, some kneeling
IL was 40 when tho procession reached
he cemetery and the ceremony was over
n half an hour
Meanwhile Major General Lee and the
attachments of the Seventh army corns
lad not arrived. The marines and sailors
marched away Commodore Cromwell the |
aVai officers and few others remainiifg.
- .''"Nt a. quarter OIL an nOur General
'ees column NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of the
econd Illinois and Third Nebraska regI-
lents. the First Maine artillery. a bat
cry Of the Second regular artillery ana
ne bands of the Second Illinois and Third
'enraska regiments. AS General Lee. on
orsebaek barred his head near the graves.
commodore Cromwell saluted. saying: II
m sorry you were not here IN time for
ne decoration"
General Lee replied: ~ was notified 70
here at $3.50 y. m. and was at the
emeiory, safe at that hour Now that
arrive find everything over"
commodore Cromwell said: General
lys ago" W.
General Lee replied; 81 never received
was told $50"
commodore Cromwell politely expressed
$ regrets at the misunderstanding. The
hnols band played America" and "Tbe
ar spangled Banner" the crowd uncoy-
ed and the soldiers presented arms. This
iaen 1he ceremony. General Lee was t
stained fifteen minutes outside the GEM
cry having gone to "a locked gate