Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-04-14

the day, Judge McFie and invited
guests.
The procession marched down San
Francisco ST., and thence to the GEM
etery, making an excellent appearance,
and being witnessed by hundreds of cit
liens, ladies and children.
The ceremonies at the cemetery were,
of an impressive nature, the beautiful
ritual for such occasions being adhered
to. The post lines were drawn up on
either side of the invited guests and
neal the monument. After the singing
of "Tenting on the Old Camp Grounds"
Col. Geo. w. Knaebel, president of the
day, spoke as follows:
Commander of Carleton post, No. ),
department of New Mexico, Grand Ar
my of the Republic, In behalf of the
beloved aged mother of the deceased
and also in behalf of his respected sis
tiers, family and relatives, l request
this monument erected here in this
beautiful national cemetery to the
memory of our departed friend, Post
Commander and Department of the
Grand Army of the Republic of this ter
ritory be dedicated to the noble pur-
pose for which it has been erected" :
Commander John P. Victory accepted
the monument with a few well chosen
words and appointed as a guard of hon.
or, S. H. Simpson, E. H. Bergman, H.
M. Davis, Jacob Weltmer, Edward
Krumpegel, Edward Miller, Candelario
Martinez and Charles Wagner. The
flag was raised and an anchor placed
against the monument as an emblem of
the navy while those present sang THE
Star Spangled Banner" A musket with
a fixed bayonet, canteen and haversack
hanging from it, knapsack leaning
against the stock, was then set against
the monument, opposite to the anchor,
being the emblems of the army. A SOL
der in full uniform, armed with a mus
ket with fixed bayonet stood guard. The
entire guard of honor saluted stood
at salute until the commander closed
with the words: Comrades, salute the
Qedu, Nearer MY 1Ou W 1.-Two, "oo
ung after which the orator of the day,
Judge John r. McFie, made an eloquent
address, stating the object for which
the comrades had assembled, to do hon
or to the memory of the deceased com
mander, Francis Downs. There were
present, he said, a little band who had
been comrades of the deceased, and also
younger men who recently laid down
their arms in another conflict of bril-
| liant victories. The speaker then gave
a biographical sketch, stating that de-
| ceased was born in London, Canada
West, but spent most of his life up to
manhood, at Madison, Wis. There he
! enlisted in the 1st Wisconsin battery of
| light artillery, and served as a private
| three years. He then helped to organ
| lie a new company which became the
49th Wisconsin infantry. He enlisted
as a private, became second lieutenant
| and was promoted first lieutenant, serv-
ing altogether nearly four years. He
graduated from the law school at Mad
ison in 1869, removed to Kansas, where
he practiced law and became probate
judge. In 1879 he removed to Santa Fe,
and in 1883 when Carleton post G. A. r.
was organized, was first junior vice
commander, then senior and for four
terms, until his death, was the post
commander. He was department COM
mander three terms, ending with his
death, June rs, 1898.
The speaker recited a number of in
| stances of bravery in action by the de-
ceased comrade, extolling incidentally
the heroic achievements of United
| States soldiers in the war of the rebel
lion and in Cuba. The late commander
lived SO years and before his death wit
messed the reunion of soldiers who had
faced each other in combat.
In conclusion Judge McFie spoke as
follows: Dear Comrades: What shall
I say to you? Out of the great army of
more than 1000, 900 men there is but a
little band here today. Your hair and
mine Is whitening for the grave and a
few more visits to the cemetery and all
| will be gone.
'Ah, dear comrades, does death end
all? Is this world of mingled joy and
! sorrow our only heritage? No, no, l
believe in the immortality of the soul.
When these frail bodies Of ours, yield
ing under the burdens of this life, lie
down to rest in the grave, the immortal
| spirit within flies upward to the home
of the soul, there to live forever. May
an infinite God make this the portion Of
us all.
ITO the sorrowing mother and sis
j tiers of our deceased comrade, Let glad
ness mingle with your tears, for while
he was your son and brother, he is the
nations now. He made your household
bright, his example inspires thousands
of households Vow. Before, he was
yours alone, now he is ours also. He
has died from the family that he might
live to the nation. Not one man shall be
forgotten or neglected; and 1t shall by
and by be confessed of Jul modern he
roes, as it Is of the ancient heroes, that
they did more for their country by their
death than by their lives
And now, as a parting word to our
comrade, let us all say:
Now lay him down in his lone hero
grave,
Throw the earth tenderly over the
brave,
Now leave him sleeping, tits all we can
do, 4
Loves work is done, for him life's jour-
ney's through