Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-16
MEMORYOF THE MAINE
Stars and Stripes HALF -Mastedon
Wreck in Aabana HaIb@.
WREATHS OVER SUNKEA SHIP
FestOOn Of Green, With Red, White,
and Blue Ribbon.
HIGH MASS IN MERCEDES CHURCH.
Ceremonies Attended by Many
United states and Cuban officials,
i'm Colon Cemetery Decorated.

HABANA, February 15.-1l 80 a. NJ
The sun shone brightly this morning, for
the first time in several days. when the
wreck of the United States battleship
Maine. destroyed in Habana harhor on
the evening of February 10, 1898. was
decorated with n large American flag. AT
o'clock the Stars and Stripes were half
masted by Captain Eaton. of the United
States auxiliary cruiser Resolute, who,
with Mrs. Estes Rathburn and Mrs. Dud-
ley, and ten sailors from the Resolute,
rowed to the sunken battleship The only
others taking part were n battalion, with
its officers. Of the First Maine Heavy Ar
tillery.
An immense rope OF greens was fes-
tooned about the fighting top, each loop
hung with laurel wreaths four feet in
diameter, and tied with red, white, and
blue ribbon. The Cuban club of Habana
had placed an artificial wreath on the
boat-crane and this Captain Eaton trans
ferred to the peak of the gan.
HIGH MASS At 10 O'CLOCK.
At 10 o'clock high mass was celebrated
IN memory Of the Maine victims. in tine
Mercedes church. at which Major-General
Ludlow and several of his staff were
present The ceremony. which was very
impressive was attended by Brigadier-
General George Ernst. representing Ma
jOr- General Brooke: Commodore B. j.
Cromwell. captain of the port. and other
naval officers the City Council the
z of tho {fnh4n Ag-
sembly. and other members of the As
sembly: the secretaries Of the civil de-
partments. and many officials. together
with representatives Of the Habana fre
brigade and other local organizations.
Many women Of the better classes were
i'm the congregation, which crowded the
edifce.
The graves Of the victims at the Colon
Cemetery We're decorated. in the presence
of American officials, military and naval
details participating.
NO PRAYERS AT THE GRAVES.
Father Sherman had been invited by
Mrs. RathbOne, who is president OF the
Womens Association. to read prayers al
the graVeside. and ne appeared al the
American Club, from which the process
sion started i'm full vestmeuts, ana witt
the assurance that Mgr. sant1nder th'
Bishop of Habana. had given his consent
Commodore Cromwell, however SAID tina
as the Bishop was not willing that
Protestant chaplain should Ofheiate, h'
Commodore CromwelD would not consen
TO the reading of prayers by Father Sher
man. The latter thereupon went 10 ms
hotel. He had deferred his sailing on re
ceipt of Mrs. Rathbone's invitation.
Commodore Cromwell informed the
newspaper correspondents that the sail
ors felt deeply on the subject, regarding
the ceremony of decoration as distinctly
q naval function Therefore he could rOl
permit any except naval chaplain tC
officiate Although he was quite Wiling
that both a Protestant AMI ;atholi'
clergyman should act, yet T eithar was
10 be excluded, then the other must bC
also.
MAINE-DAY RESOLUTION.
JEFFERSON CITY. MO. February 15.-
Th. House to-day adopted, unanimously
the following resolution, commemorative
the destruction Of the Maine:
This House looks with pride upon tn
bravery and patriotism of the American
soldiers and seamen I'm annihilating tn
power of Spain i'm the East and West In
dies. and most heartily cOmmends th'
promptness and energy with which the
national administration and nationa
Congress prosecuted the war agains
Spain ana eliminated her power in th'
West Indies"
SCHOOL OBSERVANCE
NEW YORK. February 15.-In all th'
schools of the city the story OF the blow
ing up Of the Maine was told to-day, ant
each teacher impressed on the youthful
mind the character Of the event and tn,
important happenings that followed. \
number Of flags on buildings We're at half
mast.