The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-04-15

ing ana were taken Apohtu bh0 Nsf about 9 o'clock.
 -Profusion of Flowers.
 Flowers in profuse abundance were sent to the ship. Kind-heafted people who almost felt the loss of personal friends were quick to respond to the offer of city newspapers to take the beautiful plants free to the Missouri which lay a car length from the flagship of the fleet.
 Some of thesesflowers found their way to the newspaper offices. while others were taken to the national cemetery direct this afternoon and lovingly placed on the graves of those who might be said to have died In the services of their coun- ~try. They were trying to excel in correct shooting the other ships of the navy and thus place the Missouri In point of correct shooting ahead Of anything n the world. The fine record was beine made. and as one of the ili-fated ships officers said. everybody was siecful; but that happy frame of mind was suddenly changed into the deepest sorrow, the most awful of woe. The lives of almost three dozen naval fighters were hurled into eternity. and not one in the turret or in the ammunition room was left to tell the tale.
 An Heroic Deed.
 There was one sailor on the Missouri whose named should be enblasoned In the pages of history. Ills name Is not at hand just now. but his deed is Il was no more than a sacrifice of his own life in the cndeavor- to save what ne thought the entire ship. Burning from head to foot. with, a powder charge in his arm. this unknown hero saw the inevitable consequences that would take place in the fraction of a second, perhaps. It was in danger of exploding the maga- zine if the charge of powder was expioo- ed, and this sailor. in the sight of those whose souls the next instant were hurled into eternity, took leap into the water of the gulf, where he Knew death awiteo him. If he did not drown right away. the terrible scorching he had received would soon cause his death. With no thought of his own life, he took run. without a word. and carried into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico that fatal and burning charge. He was never seen after striking the water and reward for the recovery of his body Is offered
 Details of Funeral.
 The bodies of thirty of the dead sailors from the battleship Missouri were consigned to the temporary rest ing place at the Barrancas National cemetery this afternoon and more impressive ceremony has never been witnessed in this place.
 Transportation facilities. both by water and land were totally insuhi- cient to take care of the thousands of nersons who wished to be present and to thus mutely testify their feelings in the matter. Every ship of the fleet in the harbor was represented in the long cortage which started from the dock at the Pensacola Navy Yard and moved with the most perfect pre- cision to the cemetery about one and a half miles away.
 The army was well represented in the cotege, three companies of soldiers having been detailed to march in the line. Father Brady, of Warrington Fathers Sweeney and Lane, of Pensa- cola, and Father Clancy, of the bat tleship Missouri, were the spiritual ad- visors present. The Missouri's entire crew was in line, at the head of pro- cession and Captain Cowles with his stan marched directly behind the twelve hearses. The Army mall wag- ons from Barrancas were pressed in- to service as the supply of hearses hero did not half come up to the immediate needs. One of these covered wagons was draped over with the stars and stripes and directly behind came the Missouri's officers and crew. Admirals Coglan, Chadwick and Barker march ed with the men and seemed very much affected
 Captain Cowles is averse to talking of his own heroIsm, to eager reporters he waves his hand and refers them to other officers on the ships.
 The stories of yesterday are not magnified in the least and his action was an example to the subordinates of the navy. When the fire yet reign ed in the death hole of the turret Captain Cowles, at the risk of his own life dived inside and began to work like a trojan to get the unfortunates from danger, he did succeed in carry ing one man to the open air and this was the salvation of this sailor, he recovered. The officers on the Miss but he has nothing to say, in fact the subject appears almost distasteful to him. Today Captain Cowles received more than one hundred messages from anxious relatives of the living sailors, the list as sent out last night was in- complete as tonight's report will show.
 A military escort from all the naval vessels will be held and this is expect ed to be the largest in the history of the navy. There are six battleships in the bay tonight and all of them with the dozen other naval vessels will be represented.
 Lessons to be drawn from the acci- dent, remarked an officer today are many.
 It may mean that the record break ing for fast firing will be stopped or that the use of guns will be stopped altogether. It may mean that the use of actual gun firing will be stopped and that the use of dummy guns will De substituted.
 While this may be regarded as q primitive method of practice, still it Is feasible and will be sure of good re- suits. It may mean that there will be some resignations if such praetic- ing Is not stopped.
 Open condemnation almost was heard from naval officers today. It was stated that there was great care lessness, great recklessness on the vessel and this was all for the pur- pose of making a world record for fast shooting. The probabilities that the court of inquiry which will begin session tomorrow afternoon will make a startling report and that there will be developed a condition that will show that the life of an American sailor Is always in jeopardy during target practice.
 The bodies of officers will be placed in state in the morning in the parlor of the Osceola Club, an exclusive or ganization which a few days ago gave & big banquet to the officers of the