Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1899-04-14
REST In ARLINGTON.
DEAD HEROES OF THE SPANISH
WAR ARE BURIED.
Solemn Ceremony at Washington Ia
Unprecedented In the Worlds His
tory-salutes Are Fired and Taps Are
Sounded Over Graves of the Soldiers.

An event unprecedented in the worlds
history occurred at Washington Thurs
day, when $50 dead soldiers whose re-
mains had been brought from Cuba and
Porto Rico were inferred ut the national
cemetery ut Arlington. Va. The day was
q solemn holiday, by proclamation of the
President. Flags were at half mast and
department buildings were closed. A
great cOrtcge, comprising all the military
and naval forces stationed in the vicinity,
escorted the remains to the beautiful rest
ing place across the Potomac, where
thousands of heroes of the civil war lie
well-cared-for graves.
Other nations have paid tribute to their
fallen heroes, but none before so tendcrly
expressed its esteem of those who died.
1t is the first in history that private sol
diers who were killed on foreign soil were
brought back to their native land for in
termcnt. The transport Crook left this
country two months ago with a small ar
my of undertakers and grave diggers. The
bodies of men who died, either in action or
from disease, al San Juan, Guantanamo,
Santiago and other points in Cuba and ut
Ponce, San Juan, Coamo, Guanica and
other Porto Itican points, We're disinterred
and brought to New York. The ship
reached the metropolis last week. a large
number of bodies were claimed by rcla-
tives and forwarded to them, but about
SJO were sent TO Washington for inter-
mcnt in the national cemetery. OF the
bodies that were buried nearly one-half
are claimed, Sut laid to rest in Arlington
at the wishes of relatives. To these the
special privilege of Il position within the
ines was granted. Many others beyond
these lines looked on with moistened eyes
lnon the row OF caskcts. They knew not
but what some relative or friend whose
Heath had been reported but whose body
had not been identified slumbcrcd there
among the "unclaimed" dead.
Full military honors were paid the dead
soldiers. The military committal service
was conducted by Post Chaplain Freeland
of Fort Monroe. according to the ritual of
the Protestant Episcopal Church, and the
Rev. Father Joseph L. MCGEE of st.
Patrick's Church read the Catholic SER
vice over the Catholic dead.
The customary volleys were fired, taps
were sounded, and then each %fag-draped
rasket was lowered into the earth. There
were no addresses, and the entire service
consumed but a short time. The military
escort comprised all of the artillery troops
at the Washington barracks, one troop of
cavalry from Fort Meyer, a battalion of
marines from the navy yard and marine
barracks, and the entire national guard of
the District of Columbia.
Besides the public, that showed sympa.
shy and patriotism, the relatives who shed
their tears above the bodies of loved ones,
there were in attendance the President of
the United States and most of the mem.
bers of his cabinet, army and navy Off.
GERS of the highest rank, whose presence
indicated the official honor and respect in
which those are ever held who die fol-
their country's sake.
In his proclamation, President MciKn.
ley snid: "Thcse who died in another land
left i'll many homes the undying memories
that attend tile heroic dead of all ages. II
vas fitting that with the advent of peace,
won by their sacrifice, their bodies should
be gathered with tender care and restored
10 home and kindred. This has been done
with the dead of Cuba and Porto Rico
Those of the Philippines still rest where
they fell, watched over by their surviving
comrades and crowned with the love of q
grateful nation.
THE remains of many brought to OIL,
shores have been delivered to their fami
lies for private burial. But for others OF
the brave officers and men who persisted
there has been reserved interment in
ground sacred to soldiers and sailors amid
the tributes of military honor and ma.
tional mourning they have so we'll de
cnv,,oJO