The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-17
EXPENSE.
1t Will be Borne In
Full
BY COVE RIM EMIT.
Dunkerton Will Direct the
States Work.

A. II. Dunkerton arrived in Worcester
at 4.3O o'clock yesterday afternoon, af-
ter spending week in Washington, in
search of necessary permission for the
removal of the bodies of Massachusetts
soldiers buried in Cuba.
Mr.. Dunkerton's original intention on
leaving Worcester was to secure per-
mits for the removal of certain num-
Der of bodies for which he has con-
tracted. The same general policy was
to be followed out as in the expedition
carried out by Messrs. Dunkerton and
Hubbard some months ago.
While the permission asked would
have been granted had he desired the
time has arrived when the government
will take action in the matter and look
after the disinterment and removal to
this country of its dead. In future no
private expeditions of any sort will be
allowed to handle bodies. The govern
ment through its agents, will take full
charge of the matter
Mr.. Dunkerton has had offered to him
and has accepted the position of fore
man under Superintendent of National
Cemeteries d. H. Rhodes. who will per-
sonally supervise the dlsinterment and
removal to this country of all soldiers
bodies. In addition, Mr.. Dunkerton has
been given special authority to super
wise the removal of bodies of all Mas
saohusetts men.
Quartermaster General M. l. Luding-
ton requests all persons in Massachu-
sets having relatives buried under
Cuban soil to notify Mr.. Dunkerton and
give the address to which they wish
the bodies of their dead sent. Com
munications shoufd be addressed to A.
+. Dunkerton, state armory, Worcester.
Bodies of all soldiers buried in Cuba,
Porto Rico and the Philippines are to
be disinterred and sent home. The work
IS to be done in a thorough and con-
scientious manner, and in event of
identification being impossible, the
bodies will be buried in the Arlington
national cemetery at Washington
Persons who have expended money
through private agents to have their
dead brought to this country will he
reimbursed for all expense incurred.
The party is scheduled to sail from
New York Jan. 20, and will
go fully equipped for the work to be
taken UP. Colonies of regiments have
been asked to detail one man from
their respective commands, who is well
acquainted with the burial grounds,
where the bones of United States SOL
diers rest. and they will accompany the
expedition under salary from the quar-
termaster's department.
1t is understood that Col. Clark has
detailed a Springfield sergeant to rep
resent the Second Massachusetts.
Mr.. Dunkerton left Worcester last
tuesday night and since his arrival in
Washington, has hustled to say the
least. On arriving in the nations cap
ital. he applied to Hon. Joseph H
Walker through his secretary, Frank
Roe Batcbelder, for what assistance he
could give in connection with his mis-
sion.
Congressman Walker did everything
possible for his fellow townsman. ac-
companying him when and wherever
he wanted to go, and using his influ-
ence to see that he got what was
wanted. Through the influence of
Mr. Walker. Dunkerton was introduced
to Secretary of War r. A. Alger. and
was granted a personal audience with
Ouarterlnaster General M l. LudinR-
ton.
On making known his mission, Gan.
Ludington explained that he was will
ing 10 grant the necessary permit, but
explained that the government was
about to take up the work on a large
scale. and after conference, lasting
through Saturday afternoon and fnf0
the evening, Mr.. Dunkerton was offered
the position of foreman to accompany
the expedition
Mr.. Dunkerton explained that his OBJ
Ject IN coming to Washington was to
represent Massachusetts people but If
Gen. Ludington would grant him tha
authority to personally supervise the
disinterment and removal to this conn
Try Of all Massachusetts bodies, he
would accept. Permission was grant
ed, and Mr.. Dunkerton will accompany
the expedition that sails from New
YORK one week from "Wednesday, in the
capacity stated, with the additional re-
spoi sio-nty Of looking after all that
remains CT the brave men who repre-
sented the old Bay State in the Cuban
war.
Messrs. Hubbard and Dunkerton met
Supt Rhodes on their former trip to
the island and the latter had an op-
portunity of witnessing the manner in
which their work was carried out on
that occasion. Supt. Rhodes was pres
ent at the interview between Gen.
Ludington and Mr.. Dunkerton, and
spoke in high praise of the work ac-
complished by the Massachusetts men
a few months ago.
The original intention Of Messrs.
Hubbard and Dunkerton was to con-
duct another expedition similar to their
previous venture. They had contracts
for the bringing home Of 10 bodies, but
with knowledge Of the proposed plan
to be carried out by the government
whereby friends of dead soldiers Will
be under no expense in the matter.
their personal project was abandoned.
Mr.. Dunkerton is assured that the
work to be carried on by the govern
mentment will not be done by contract.
but in a thorough and painstaking
manner, by men hired specially for the
work and paid a fixed salary per
month, under the personal supervision
Of Mr.. Rhodes.
Assistant Quartermaster General.
Col, Younge and Major Dare of the
same department, who have charge of
all correspondence N connection with
the proposed expedition were seen by
Mr.. Dunkerton and profess great in
terest in the matter. They confirm the
statement of Gen. lsudington that the
government is now ready to take care
Of its dead, and all controversy as 10
who will be allowed to go for soldiers
bodies Is at an end
Gen. Ludington says that all per-
mits granted recently to provide in
divlduals were merely for transportn-
ton to and from the island Of Cuba.
the matter Of removing bodies being
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