Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1904-06-24
LIEUTENANT bow
ER'S FAREWELL

The "Leaveu worth Times" of Thurs
recital Relating to the departure OF
Lieutenant Bowers rema ins for the
East. where lie was to he laid to rest
In the home of his childhood. Believ-
ing that it will be of interest to every
person the article is reproduced in
these columns. 1t reads as follows:
An immensa ihrong including all the
officers of the Post. many ladies, the
Engineer battalion and large num-
ber Of enlisted men from other organ
izations, accompanied the remains of
Lieutenant Nathaniel e. Bower, from
the hospital to the Missouri Pacific
depot yesterday mornin,. The funtral
oortege left tho Post hospital at l0:45
O'Clock in the following orler:
Sixth infantry band mounted escort,
Chaplain Randolph, c.nSson bearing
remains. carriages b'aling mournerS,
First battalion o" engineers, officers of
the Post and otl.et vehicles.
viewed for tho last time by the many
friends.
At the depot short service was
held and trumpeter sounded "tap5"
over the caskct. As tho chaplain read
the solemn words of the service there
was scsrcnly dry eve in the great
throng. showing the tender affection
in which Lieutenant Bower was held
by all who In " him. Chaplain Ran
dolph's voice was choked with emo
tion as he sought to pay a tribute to
his friend. Iio said:
~ desire to take advantage of this
OCCASION tn Comm nd to the considera-
tion OF all tho manly Christian char
aoter of him whose loss we mourn.
His life wal n proof of the falsty of
the statement that a man cannot be n
Christian anl soldier. As yonng
man said TO me yesterday If there
was Christian. Bower was onl. This
statement no one who knew him will
deny. Wa can As truthtully say. If
we had q soldier in our army, Bower
WAS ONE What he was rs a man and
a soldier you all know. We stand with
horror at his sudden taking off. We
look down at his pale face and sight
less eyes aud think what an awful
thug is death, hut will you permit
me to say what you all know. that
life IL a thing mora terrible. To the
dead there is 10 more responsibility
no more striving, but prace-sloep-
rest. To those who live. remains tha
struggle, the continuance of the fight.
"If the noble example of our de-
parted brother gives u.s. higher ideal,
aud an Inspiration to strive for better
things his life was not in vain and il
his sudden death brings to our minds
with strongest emphasis the things
that mean most in real manhood, who
can SAY it was not for the best God
kuows''
The funeral cortege passed through
the Post headed by tho Sixth infantry
band playing funeral marches. The
sidewalks at places were crowded as
the procession passed. \ separate
vehicle was required to carry the
beautiful floral offerings. The 1901
GLASS OF West Point, OF which Lieu
tenant Bower was IA graduate, sent "A
beautiful bouquet of roses which was
eight feet long and covered the entire
coffin. The officers of the First bat.
talon of engineers sent an enormous
spray OF roses representing a pillow.
Each company of the Engineer corps
donated a spray of flowers represent
ing u castle with the letter of the
different organizations above it. Col
onel j. Van r. Hotf also sent "A beauti @.
full spray of roses. Numerous other
offerings were sent.
The body was shipped to Mooresburg
Pennsylvania. Lieutenant Hannum
Of the Engineer corps, who was with
Lieut.. Bower when he was killed, ac-
companied the remains.
Lieutenant Nathaniel Il. Bower was
a native Of Pennsylvania and was -
years old. He was graduated from the
Military academy February 18th. 1901 F.,
and assigned TO the Artillery corps,
but WAS transferred to the Engineer
corps January 18th, 1902 In announc-
ing the death of Lieutenant Bower
Colonel Duncan, post commander,
stated:
"By th3 death of lieutenant Bower
this garrison loses one of its most
genial and iovable members, and tn c
corps of Engineers and the service at
large. loses u most efficient, pninstak
ing and brilliant officer "