The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-07
SOLDIER DEAD FROM CUBA AND
PORTO RICO CONSIGNED TO
ARLINGTON CEMETERY
PATHETIC SCENES AT GRAVES
THE PARENTS AND RELATIVES OF
BROUGHT FLOWERS
GUNS DOOMED A SAD REQUIEM

Barred Head While the Service for
the Dead Was Read-GOvern-
ment business Suspended and
Flags In the Capital HaIf-Masted
Thousands at the Cemetery.
WASHINGTON, April 6.-With all tho
honors of war, upon the crest of Airing
ton cemetery, this morning, the nation,
represented by President Mckinley, his
cabinet and other dignitaries Of the gov
ernment, the commanding general of
the army and other distinguished officers,
all the regular military and naval Of
ficers of the district, and a vast con-
course of 10000 people, paid the last
tribute of respect and honor to the bodies
of the 1856 men who lost their lives on
distant battlefields for their country, dur
ing the Spanish American war, and who
were today mustered into the silent army
that sleeps in the last bivouac of the
grave.
The spot selected is in the new addi-
ton to the cemetery looking out upon the
broad sweeping Potomac, and across to
where the glistening Washington monu-
ment rears its dizzy shaft, and beyond
to the classic outlines of the capitol and
the FURNISHED dome of the new library
building. To the right rise the ramparts
of old Fort McPhearson to the left the
countless graves of heroes of the Civil
war, sprinked with imposing monuments
to distinguished generals and to the rear
the stately old Lee mansion and Fort
Myer. In this burial lot, which covers
in,
wooden boxes containing the caskets
were ranged, separated by great mounds
of earth. Over each box an American
flag was draped.
Ihere was no particular order in the
disposition of the remains, though an
exception wes made in the case of the
officers. The boxes containing the bodies
of Capt. Edgcr Hubert, of the Eighth
United States infantry; Lieut.. Barnett
Ninth United States infantry; Lieut.. L.
M. Wood, Twelfth United States infan-
try; Lieut.. r. S. Turman, Sixth United
States infantry; and Lieut.. Francis
Creighton, United States volunteers, were
placed at the head Of the line Of the
graves, Immediately under the head of
the presidential party. OF the others
fully seventy per cent are identified.
About thirty per cent are wholly un-
known, or known only by the regiment to
which they belonged.
A platform had been erected, enclosed
with flags and draped in mourning, to
accommodate the distinguished persons
present in case of inclement weather
but the day was an ideal one with the
sun shining from a cloudless sky and
the platform was practically unoccupied
Before the arrival Of the presidential
merit; from the Fourth and Fifth artil-
lery kept vigil over the dead.
THOUSANDS WERE THERE.
Long before the arrival of the mill
tary thousands of people had surrounded
the enclosure where the dead soldiers
lay. Some sought vantage points In
trees, or on the ramparts of old Fort
McPherson.
About 2:30 the presidential party, which
had been caught in a jam at the Poto-
mac bridge, from which it required a
dozen mounted police to extricate them,
reached the enclosure. They were fol
lowed by Gen. Miles and his staff the
military attaches of the British and Ger
man embassies, all mounted and the
military escort. AS they arrived the
solemn strains of the Dead March In
Saul silenced the vast assemblage And
with barred heads the crowds stood at the
graveside while the presidential party ad-
Vanced and the military dispositions were
made.
The troops were under the command OF
Col Francis L. Guenther, and consists
: of the District national guard, the light
battery, with two Hotchkiss guns a bat
TALON OF naval militia. and the regular
troops from the arsenal at Fort Myer
The troops were formed up on three
sides of rectangle, and files of soldiers
were marched into the ranks Of the dead
Thanking the open space at the head OF
the graves were the red-roated artillery
men who were to hre the last salute. and
on the left was stationed the Fourth ar
tillery band.
The president, accompanied by Sec
retaries Hay, Gage. Long, Hitchcock and
Wilson, Postmaster General Smith, AS
sstant Secretary Taylor, Gen. Corbin,
Gen. John M. Wilson and Col Bingham,
came forward with uncovered head and
took his place in the open space facing
the graves. He was followed by Gen.
Miles and his staff, in full uniform, and
by other distinguished guests, including
some of the representatives Of foreign
countries.
PATHETIC INCIDENT.
Just as the president arrived pathetic
incident occurred, when aged Mr.. and
Mrs. O'Dowd pressed through the lines
and placed bunch of roses on the casket
of their son, John O'Dowd, of the Sew
enth infantry. The parents of Lieut..
Wood also came forward and deposited a
beautiful wreath of flowers. The sword
of that gallant officer was upon his cas-
ket. 10 ,ss.s xF
Immediately the band broke out in the
sweet strains of Nearer My God to
Thee" and Post Chaplin c. W. Freeland,
of Fort Monroe In the ecclesiastical
robes of his office, with Rev Father Nc
Gee of st. Patricks church, followed by
three purple-gowned acolytes, advanced
to the graves and the funeral service be-
gan. They were very simple, but very
Impressive. Rev. Freeland read the mill
. tary commital service of the Episcopal
church, beginning with MAN that is
born of woman" and concluding with the
promise of heaven contained In the words:
Il am the resurrection and the life.'
AS he pronounced the words Dust to
dust, earth to EARTH" the soldiers at the