Los Angeles herald., 1905-07-24
Al DEAD INFERRED IN A'C9M-
MON GRAVE !
THOUSANDS PAYLAsT HoNoRs
cersnbnles Are Simple, Without Guns
or Music-Profusion Of Flags
and Flowers Cover
& coffns

It was found impracticable to use
hearses or even dead wagons, and the
bodies were stacked In heavy express
Wagons and other vehicles of every
day commerce.
There were bands Of music to stir
the people with doleful melody-every-
thing was quiet and business like. The
task was too big to be hampered by
any Of the usages of ordinary funerals.
Forty-seven men were to be buried.
and to bury them it was necessary to
haul them ten miles UP steep hills and
along dusty roads.
Flowers and Flags
And so there were only flowers and
flags, But there was striking dis
play of these. Every casket bore a
beautifully executed wreath of aspara-
gus ferns, white carnations and inn
mortelles. thoughtfully sent by, the San
Diego commercial bodies. Every one
Of the plain black stained caskets was
draped with the national emblem, and
the plain commercial utility of the dead
wagons s,;disguised undeps the folds
Of the, national cofors. ~ g, $3.50
HIiidfeds of other vehicles stirred the
cholslng dust of, the ten-mile road
throughout the forenoon, All making
for the same point, while every cratt
that could be had brought hundreds
across the sfive-mile stretch of bay, un-
mindful Of the precipitons heights to
be scaled, climbed five hu1utred-feet to
the crest of the ridge. In this way
the soldiers from Fort Rosecrarfs came,
toiling up the steep footpath, their
striking full dress uniforms giving color
to the dull gray hills. After them came
the naval reserves and still later the
survivors of the Bennington.
Capt. f. ]. Drake, commander Lucien
Young of the Bennington and members
of his staff; Capt. Ed, Scott, command
ing Fort Rosecrans. Capt Rolfe of the
same post, Mayor Sehon of San Diego
and members of the executive and
legislative branches of the city, were
hauled around the steep hills in ambu-
lance wagons from Fort Rosecrans.
Buried in Deep Trench
The deep trench in which the bodies
were placed, in two rows, feet to feet,
Is sixty feet long and fourteen feet
wide. 1t was finished but a few min
utes before the arrival of the first load
Of bodies.
: Around it were drawn UP in long lines
the artillery company from the fort,
seventy-five strong, on the west; the
naval reserves, bearing armsfun of
flowers on the north; the Bennington's
survivors on the east and the Universal
Brotherhood on the west. Just outside
the simple picket fence enclosing the
burying grounds gathered the public
in solid masses on all sides. This was
the setting for the most impressive
spectaele-the eliminating sceneaof San
Diego week of SORROW. - Z 19A =
Without moments delay, the work of
liftfng the coffins from the wagons and
ranging them in the trench was carried
On. Shipmates from the Bennington
performed this sad duty. Squads of six
came forward from the ranks in rapid
Succession, lifting the caskets gently,
entered the trench a. the head and de-
posted the bodies as directed sby Lieut..
Tobin, who checked. them andrsaw that
the boards placed at the head Of each
was properly marked and numbered. In
Just one hour and fifteen minutes the
last body had been deposited in the
trench. The work OF. caring for the
unfortunate men, which beganslast Fri
day morning, was completed.
Blessings for the Dead
1t only remained for the representa-
tives of the church to pronounce final
Richey. rector of st. Pauls, read the
Episcopal burial service. the twenty
first psalm and repeated the Lords
payer He closed his impressive duty
by casting handful of earth upon the
coffins.
Venerable Father A. d. Ubach of the
Catholic church attended by two GEN.
sor boys, then stepped forward. In a
rich and resonant voice he read the
service to the dead, blessing them with
water and incense.
Believing all was over many turned
TO go. There was yet to come, however.
the most impressive incident of the
scene. Commander Young of the Ben
nington stepped out from the group of
Officers at the head Of the trench and
raising his hand commanded instant
attention. In deep. gruff voice-the,
voice of a typical sailor-he said:
"Capt. Scott, commander of Fort
Rosecrans, and his successors; COM
nit to your tender care the bodies of
our unfortunate shipmates and patriot
dead May their graves never be for
gotten by the hand Of affection May
there rise above this, their last resting
place. marble slabs to mark the place
as sacred to the nations care and may
the morning sun ever kiss the green
sod above their dust. emblematic OF our
love and affection"
"A accept the sacred trust Of the hon
ored dead" replied Capt. Scott. There
was many a furtiye tear brushed from