The Washington weekly post., 1899-12-26

! Newport News, Va, Dec. 25.-The United
/ States battle-Ship Texas Capt Sissbse.
/ bearing the remains Of the victims Of the
/ Maine disaster. arrived here this morn
/ ing at IL O'Clock from Havana. To-mor-
row ut noon the l5l collins. draped with
American flags. will be transferred from
the battle-ship TO the Chesapeake and
/ Chio passenger pier on a railroad barge.
and there put aboard the train which will
pear thera to Arlington National Gene
terry for interment.
The Texas Trip from Havana.
me Texas sailed from Havana harbor
last Thursday morning at 10 o'clock. and
| encountered nothing but good weather
until she reached Hatteras, when she ran
into gale which caused considerable de-
lay. Last night at o'clock the shin
passed In the Virginia Capes and anchored
I Tor the night in Lynnhayen Bay. This
morning at O'clock anchor was
weighed and at 10 o'clock Old Point was
reached The Texas stopped there tor A
few minutes to obtain pratique from the
national quarantine officer in charge. and
at II O'Clock she dropped anchor off this
city, below the Chesapeake and Ohio
piers. Assistant Quarantine Officer W. +.
cooper examined the sick. of whom there
were but two, and then gave the officer
or the day permission 10 haul down the
yellow flag flying at the fOretOp.
The Union Jack at the bow and the
stars and Stripes at the stern were at
half-mast. At the aftertop the Texas
carried her hOmeward-b bound Deunant
Dr. Cooper was notified from Washing
ton that the Texas had complied with
all quarantine regulations, and so did
not muster the crew. The simple formali
ties were concluded as quickly as possi-
BILE.
Ceffins Covered with Flags.
All Of the collins were piled on the after
deck of the Texas, arranged i'm grcups
They were covered with canvas, and over
this were spread number OF American
flags. on each pile of cases was a large
wreath Of artificial flowers and evergreen.
Several marines guarded the collins
About a score of the collins only bear the
names of the men whose bodies they hold.
These were the only ones positively identi-
fed The other collins are numbered. The
remains are incased in zinc, strong
wooden coffin covering the whole.
There were lj4 collins on Chaplain Child
wick's list of those buried in the cemetery
at Havana, but when the work of dlsin-
terment was completed. but Isl were
found. The discrepancy has been account
ed for by Father ChiGwlck as being due to
imperfect tally. the result of the Distress
ing circumstances attending the burial or
to the fact that portions of more than one
body recovered from the wreck were pos
sibly placed in one coffin.
Impressive Ceremonies.
The ceremonies attending the removal of
the bodies Tomorrow Will be very impress
sive. Capt Sigsbee was informed this aft
ernoon of the intention of the Spanish
war veterans of this and neighbOring
cities TO meet the coffins, and escort them
to the funeral train. He consented to
drape the barge on which the bodies will
be taken ashore.
This afternoon the Texas was brought
up to point directly off the Casino Park
and the course of the funeral barge. as Ii
is towed to the passenger pier will be in
fun view of the thousands OF spectators
along the water front.
The collins will be dr9ped with flags and
flowers. The barge will leave the Texas
about IL o'clock and will be towed direct
10 the railroad pier. Capt. Siesbee and
tne officers of the Texas. together with
Chaplain Chadwick, will accompany them.
The barge will be manned by bluejdckets
from the Texas. and a detachment OF
marines will form a funeral guard OF
honor. With the collins will be sent tho
crosses and Wreaths which We're taken
from the graves at Havana, and these
will be placed on the graves at Arlington.
Father Chidwiek's Final Duty.
On the Texas, I'm charge Of the remains
Z the dead heroes Is Rev. Father Child
wick, the brave chaplain of the Maine,
who was so attentive 10 the Names in
jured and was careful TO see that all of
the bodies recovered were given proper
burial in the CristObal Colon Cemetery.
He will accompany the collins to Wash
ngtOn and to their last resting place at
Arlington. The chaplain Of the Naval
will assist him.
Thr0ng Witness Arrival.
ThrOngs OF people from nearby cities
,ame to Newport News to-day to see the
Texas and witness the sad Christmas Day
spectacle Of the arrival OF the nations
lead Owners OF small boats Tcaped
larves: by taking people OUT for a closer
view of the ba;tle-ship on whose after
Ieck the piles Of fiag-draped collins were
plainly visible
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