Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-04-12
REST In ARLINGTON.
DEAD HEROES or THE SPANISH
WAR ARE BURIED.
Solemn Ceremony at Washington Is
Unprecedented in the Worlds His
tory-Salutes Are Fired and Taps Are
Sounded Over Graves of the Soldiers.

An event unprecedented in the worlds
history occurred at Washington Thurs
day, Wien 800 dead soldiers whose re-
mains had been brought from Cuba and
Porto Rico We're inferred at the national
cemetery at Arlington. Va. The day was
solemn holiday, by proclamation of the
President. Flags were at half mast and
department buildings were closed. A
great cortege, comprising all the military
and naval forces stationed in the vicinity,
escorted the remains to the beautiful rest
ing place across the Potomac, where
thousands of heroes of the civil war lie
in well-cared-for graves.
Other nations have paid tribute to their
fallen heroes, but none before so tenderly
expressed its esteem of those who died.
1t is the first in history that private sol
diers who were killed on foreign soil were
brought back to their native land for in
terment. The transport Crook left this
country two months ago with small ar
my of undertakers and grave diggers. The
bodies of men who died, either in action Or
from disease, at San Juan, Guantanamo,
Santiago and other points in Cuba and at
Ponce, San Juan, Coamo, Guanica and
other Porto Rican points, were disinterred
and brought to New York The ship
reached the metropolis last week. A large
number of bodies were ciaimed oy rela-
tives and forwarded to them, but about
800 were sent to Washington for inter-
ment in the national cemetery. OF the
bodies that were buried nearly one-half
are claimed, but laid to rest in Arlington
at the wishes of relatives. To these the
special privilege of a position within the
lines was granted. Many others beyond
these lines looked on with moistened eyes
upon the row of caskets. They knew not
but what some relative or friend whose
death had been reported but whose body
had not been identified slumbered there
among the unclaimed" dead.
Full military honors were paid the dead
soldiers. The military committal service
was conducted by Post Chaplain Freeland
OF Fort Monroe, according to the ritual of
the Protestant Episcopal Church, and the
Rev. Father Joseph f. McGee of st.
Patrick's Church read the Ca holic SER
vice over the Catholic dead.
The customary volleys were fred taps
were sounded, and then each fiag-draped
casket was lowered into the earth There
were ne addresses, and the entire service
consumed but short time The military
escort comprised all of the artillery troops
at the Washington barracks, one troop of
cavalry from Fort Never, a battalion of
marines from the navy yard and marine
barracks, and the entire national guard of
tine District of Columbia.
Besides the public, that showed sympa-
thy and patriotism, the relatives who shed
their tears above the bodies of loved ones,
there were in attendance the President of
the United States and most of the men,
bers of his cabinet, army and navy off.
GERS of the highest rank, whose presence
indicated the official honor and respect in
which those are ever held who die for
their country's sake.
In his proclamation, President MciKn-
ley said: "Those who died in another land
left in many homes the unGying memories
that attend the heroic dead of all ages. 1t
was fitting that with the advent of peace,
won by their sacrifice, their bodies should
be gathered with tender care and restored
to home AID kindred. This has been done
with the dead of Cuba and Porto Rico.
Those of the Philippines still rest where
they fell, watched over by their surviving
comrades and crowned with the love of
grateful nation.
The remains of many brought to our
shores have been delivered to their fami-
lies for private burial But for others of
the brave officers and men who persisted
there has been reserved interment in
ground sacred to soldiers and sailors amid
the tributes of military honor and ma
tional mourning they have so well de-
served"