The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-11-28
SOLEMN FUNERAL FOR
MARINES GOAT MASCOT
Committed Suicide for Grief
by Eating Asbestos.
TAPS" SOUNDED FOR ~FITzv
CTape-Decked Detail Followed Body to
Grave in New York Navy
Yard.

NEW YORK, Nov. 2s.-With all the
parade and soIemnlty of a military
funeral, followed to the grave by $50
Grape decked marines. the body OF Fitz.
the goat mascot Of the marine barracks.
P was laid TO rest in a quiet corner Of the
New York navy yard yesterday. Fitz.
because he was not sent with a detail Of
marines 10 Panama. committed suicide
on Tuesday night by eating asbestos. It
is thought he intended to end his life
and make himself hreproof at the same
time.
Shortly after reveille yesterday morn
ing the bugles sounded Assembly and
nearly all the marines at the barracks
marched out 10 the parade grounds under
command Of the non commissioned Off
GERS. Each marine had a tiny string Of
Grape on his arm. All looked mournfuI.
for Fitz was the pet and foster brother
OF every man in the corps.
Body Laid in State.
When the men had drawn up in bat
talon formation. sergeants, war vet
Grams all. were detailed as pallbearers
and a guard of honor. The body was
then brought out from the barracks.
where IL had lain in state all night on
a hospital stretcher. covered with the
Stars and Stripes The trumpeter sound
ec present arms" as the marines. in a
handsome casket. were carried to the
head OF the formation. Then the pail
bearers stepped out for the burying
ground, a quiet green beside the mems
quarters. and the long ranks OF uni
formed and bronzed men followed at
slow march.
AT the grave there was no special
service. A veteran Of the Orient and the
Antilles muttered something like bene-
diction, while the hundred and fifty men
stood by with bowed heads. Then the
bugler, with draped bugle, sounded the
long and impressive notes OF taps" and
she body OF Fitz was hid from the sur
face OF the earth.
Not all Of his remains, however. were
inferred. His skin has been preserved
and today will be placed in the hands
OF a taxidermist. Mounted, It viii be
placed on z pedestal in the library a. the
barracks. Meantime the men are talk
ing OF laying aside part Of this months
pay for the erection of a tombstone to
the mascot
Joined Marines in Cuba.
FitI. whose antecedents are shrouded
IN doubt was born goat. in Guanta-
namo. IN 1897. When the American ma
rines landed in his home town he en-
listed at once end served throughout tn,
island war. being continually in the
trenches He had part Of his tail shot
of in one engagement. He lent eff
fectiye aid to the men in foraging. It
was The boast OF his life that he had
cleaned out village single headed. He
was aboard the ship ResoIute when the
last gun Of the war was fred. He was
the prize fighter OF the service. Dogs
we're his favorite opponents. Deceased
could also chew tobacco, and at formal
dinners was went to smoke.
Recently when a shipload Of sailors
came to the barracks and began roofing
for their ships team Of football players
VIM WNAS PAasAA6 AAr mariner lLL
butted into the game and felled seven |
Of the sailors. He had TO be removed .
from the field by the guard.
Fitz wanted TO go TO Panama with the I
last detachment Of men, but was re-
fused permission. He seemed to fancy |
he was in disgrace. There was some
thing on his mind. On Tuesday aight |
he walked meditatively through all the |
rooms at the barracks. and then went I
out into the night and committed sui !
eide by eating the asbestos. The men |
say he died hard IN the arms OF his /
comrades. signaling in code with the |
remnants Of his till
1T is far. far better thing l do now
thar ever I have done before. Il is the /.
only way"
FItz was named after Sergeant Fitz- /
gerald. He was unmarried. but is sur |
Vived by a thousand marines at home !
and abroad.