The age-herald., 1899-12-29
IN PEACEFUL SLEEP
 THE HEROES REST A Soft ManteI of Snow Covers
 the Silent Graves. THE NATION DOES ITS DUTY While Braving Wintry Blast Officers and Other Dignitaries Witnessed
 the Last Ceremonies Over
 the Heroes of the Maine
THE NATION DOES ITS DUTY


 windy heights of Arlington cemetery the Maine dead, brought from Havana by the battleship Texas today, were laid away in their final resting place with simple rellg- ious services and the impressive honors of war in the presence of the president. mem- bers of his cabinet, officers of the army and navy and other representatives of the gov ernment.
 A cabinet officer surveying the fag-drap- ed collins before the ceremonies began, said:
 'The lives of those men cost Spain her colonies
 But there was no note of triumph in the grim scene today. With a touch of sadness and solemn gravity the nation performed its duty to the dead and gave its defenders a Christian burial at home in soil hallowed by patriotic dead. A soft mantle of snow covered the earth, muffling the beat Of the horses hoofs, the slow turning carriage wheels and the tramp of soldiers and sailors as they approached the burial place.
 The site Is a commanding one. In front, the broad bosom of the ice-fettered Poto- mac, beyond, the shaft of Washington, the dome of the capitol and the sprawling city; to the right the choked embrazures of old Fort McPherson and between the graves of the heroic dead of Santiago; to the left, the stately mansion of Lee and to the rear through the vistas of snow-laden pines and cedars the silent army of the patriotic dead of the civil war sleeping, rank upon rank, in their last bivouac.
 The caskets inferred today ranged row on row. Over each was spread an Ameri-
 n snilax leaves Around the enclosure shoulder to shoulder the yellow of their coat Things forming a band of color were drawn up the cavalry of Fort Myer; to the right was battalion of merines from the navy yard with their spiked helments and scarlet capes turned back; to the iett d detachment of jackies from the Texas In navy blue in the flag-draped stand Ill the rear, the president and his cabinet, Admir- al Dewey, Major General Miles and a ols- tinguished group of officers of the army and navy in their showy dress uniforms; while all around pressed the throng Of peo- ple who had braved the snow and biting cold to pay their last tribute to the dead. Among these were many relatives ana friends of those who had been lost in the disaster.
 Tender Appropriateness
 There was tender appropriateness III the fact that Captain Sigsbee who was m command of the Maine when she was blown up, had charge of the ceremonies III honor of his men and that Father Chad- wick. who was chaplain of the Maine, was there to perform the last rites Three otn- CTS who lived through that awful night Ill Havana harbor were at the slde or the o~oves of their comrades-Lieutenant Cori- mander Wainwright, who was executiVe officer of the Maine and who sunk the Pluton and the Furor at Santago' 1eu- tenant r. c. Bowers, who was assistant engineer of the Maine, and Jeremiah Shea' a fireman on the Maine, who was pioWn out of the stokehold of the ship through the debris and escaped injury almost ml- raculously.
 Slowly. solemnly, the futl marine pand broke the deep hush, putting iortn "le sau' sweet strains of the dirge, 'aSafe In me Arms of Jesus" and there were twitching Of lips and wet eyes as Chaplain ClaVke of the naval academy at Annapolis came forward and took his rLace under can yaS-covered shelter 4n the open space III front of the dead. The protestant servlces were held first and were very simple. Chap lain Clarke read the burial service of the Episc opal church. and then gave way to Father Chadwick, who was assisted by Revs. Holoind and Brown and two purple rcbed acoiyioes.
 With head barred to the wintry blast, the Maines chaplain read memorial service according to the rites of the CathoHc church, consigned the dead, blessed the ground, repeated the Lold's prayer and concluded with a fervernt appeal for the repose of the souls of the departed
 A detachment of marines in command of Captain Kormony then marched to the right of the graves and fired three voheys over tho dead, and in the deep stiffness that followed the crash, the clear, silvery notes Of bugle rang out the soluiers and sailors last goodnight
 With the sounds of taps the ceremonies ended. The president and his party and the other distinguished guests, the military and the crowds then withdrew. Before leaving, Captain Stgsbee introduced Jere- miah Shea to the president. When asked for an explanation of the mystery of his escape, by the president, Shea responded: 'I don't know now I got through. I was blown out. I guess I must have been an armor-piercing projectile."
 And thus, after two years, the dead of the Maine have been brought home, and in ground reserved for the nations heroes have heen huried with fuN military honors