The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-16
ANNIVERSARY OF
MAINE DISASTER
Old Glory Hoisted Over Sunken
BattIeship.
GRAVES OF MARTYRED DEAD
Were Decorated in the Presence o1
Americans, Military and Naval De-
tails Participating in Ceremony
High Mass Celebrated.

Havana, February 15.-The sun shone
brightly this morning for the first time in
several days, when the wreck of the United
States battleship Maine, destroyed in Ha-
vana harbor on the evening of February
Is, 1898, was decorated with large Ameri-
can flag.
At 8 O'Clock the stars and stripes were
hoisted at half-mast by Captain Eaton of
the United States auxiliary cruiser Reso-
lutte, who, with Mrs. Estes Rathbone and
Mrs. Dudley and ten sailors of the Resolute,
rowed to the sunken battleshfp. The only
others taking part were a battalion, with
officers of the First Maine heavy artillery.
An immense rope of evergreens was fes-
tooned about the, fighting top, each hoop
being hung with laurel wreaths four feet
in diameter and tied with red, white and
blue ribbon. The Cuban club of Havana
have placed an artificial wreath on the boat
crane and this was transferred to the peak
of the gaff.
At 10 O'Clock high mass was celebrated in
memory of the Maine victims in the Merced
church, at which MaJor-General ludlow
and several of his staff were present. The
ceremony, which was very impressive, was
attended by General Ernst, representing
Major-General Brooke; Commodore B. j.
Cromwell, captain of the port, and other
naval officers, the city council, the execu-
tive committee of the Cuban assembly, the
secretaries of the civil departments and
many officials, together with representatives
of the Havana fire brigade and other local
organizations.
Many women of the better class were in
the congregation which crowded the edifice
This afternoon the graves at Colon ceme-
terry were decorated in the presence OF
Americans, military and naval details par
ticipating.
The procession to the cemetery consisted
of marines from the Brooklyn and the Res
olute, the band from the Brooklyn, Major
General Ludlow and staff American women
in ambulances, carriages containing Amer
lean visitors, a troop of the Seventh United
States cavalry, and one Cuban society. 1t
was met by Governor General Brooke and
staff at the cemetery, where a wagonload
of floral tributes presented by the Amer
can women and local societies were heaped
upon the graves, each sailor and marine
also contributing some floral token. The
crowd looked on in silence, some kneeling.
1t was 4:25 when tho procession reached the
cemetery and the ceremony was over in
half an hour. Meanwhile Major General
Lee and the detachment of the Seventh
corps had not arrived The marines and
sailors marched away, Commodore Crein-
WELL the naval officers and few others re-
naming. In about quarter of an hour
General Lees column arrived-battalions of
the Second Illinois and Third Nebraska reg
iments, artillery, battery of the Second
United States army, the bands of the Sec
ond Illinois and Third Wisconsin.
AS General Lee, on horseback. barred his
head near the graves Commodore Crom-
well saluted, saying:
81 am sorry you were not here in time
for the decoration"
General Lee replied:
'I was notified to be here at $3.50 p. m.,
and I was at the cemetery gate at that
hour Now that arrive I find everything
over"
Commodore Cromwell said:
General, the hour was 2:so, and I sent
you word two days ago."
General Lee replied:
"I never received II. I was told $780,"
Commodore Cromwell politely expressed
his regret at the Misunderstanding. The
Illinois band played america" and "Thc
Star Spangled Banner" the crowd uncov-
ering and the soldiers presenting arms. This
ended the ceremony, General Lee was de-
tanned fifteen minutes outside the ceme-
terry, having gone to locked gate,