The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1905-07-28
VICTIMS OF WARSHIP BENNING.
TON EXPLOSION AT REST.
Forty.Seven of Them Laid in a Com
mon Grave in Military Burying
Grounds at San Diego, CaI.-Afmy
and Navy Tributes-City in Deep
Mourning-No Band Of Music.

in a common grave. On the crest of
the promontory of Iona, high above
the shimmering waters of San Diego
bay on the one side, and within sound
of the booming surf of the Pacific on
the other, they were laid to rest in the
peaceful little military burying
ground. Without the crash of drum
or the sound of brass, without pomp
or parade, yet with simple impressive
ness all honor was paid the nations
dead.
They have honored dead to keep
them company, these brave boys of
the Remington. All about them lie
those who died in the nations service
in more trying times. Gravestones,
yellow with age, bear the names of
the men who died at Monterey, in the
Mexican war; others who gave up
their life in the conquest of California,
and who followed Commodore Stock
ton at Old San Pasqual. These are
their neighbors in death. Surely they
should rest well.
Army and navy paid their last trib-
Ryes no less sincere than the simple
grief of the representatives of peace,
who made the long journey around or
across the great bay. From Fort Rose
Grams came the One Hundred and Fiji
teenth coast heavy artillery; from the
city of San Diego the naval reserves;
from the Universal brotherhoods home
on Point Iona, company of khaki
clad representatives and from the
government ship Fortune a dozen Of
her sailors. But the most impressive
body of mourners were the 81 men
from the battered Bennington. Besides
these, there were hundreds of civil
ing journey from the city, brought
their offerings of flowers to lay upon
the graves.
Promptly at noon the long line of
vehicles began the long journey
around the bay to the burial place.
Owing to the steep hills and rough
roads, it was found impracticable to
use hearses or even dead wagons, and
the bodies were stacked in heavy ex-
press wagons and other ordinary We
hicles.
There were no bands of music to
stir the people with dOleful melody
everything was quiet and buSineSSlike.
The task was too big to be hampered
by any usages of ordinary funerals.
FOrty-seven men were to be buried
and to bury them it was necessary to
haul them 10 miles up steep hills and
along dusty roads. And so there were
only flowers and flags. But there was
a striking display of these. Every
casket bore a beautiful executed
wealth of asparagus ferns and white
carnations, thoughtfully sent by the
San Diego commercial bodies. The
flags came from the nation in whose
service they had died. Every one OF
the plain black stained caskets was
draped with the national emblem, and
the plain commercial utility of the
dead wagons was disguised under the
folds of the national colors.
The deep trench in which the bodies
were placed in two rows, feet to feet,
is 60 feet long and IA feet wide. 1t
was finished but few minutes before
the arrival of the first load of bodies.
Depositing Bodies.
Without moments delay the work
of lifting the collins from the wagons
and lowering them in the trench was
carried on. ShipmateS from the Ben
nlngton performing this sad duty.
Squads of six came forward from their
ranks in rapid succession, lifting the
caskets gently, entered the trench at
the head and deposited the bodies as
directed by Lieutenant Tobin, who
checked them and saw that the board
placed at the head of each was prop
erly marked and numbered. In just
one hour and Is minutes the last body
mad been deposited in the trench. The
work of caring for the unfortunate
men, which began last Thursday morn
Ing was completed.
Oiis ACAuoluCu LII luS 1Sp1 CoCAIo
yves of the church to pronounce final
dressings for the dead. Rev. ]. A. M.
Richie, rector of st. Paul's, read the
episcopal burial service, the 21st
fsalm and repeated the Lords prayer.
he closed his impressive duty by cast
ing handful of earth on the collins.
venerable Father d. Aubrach of the
oa'nollc church, attended by two in
eehse bearers, then stepped forward
III rich and resonant voice he read
Tue service of the dead and blessed
'hem with water and incense.
commander Young of the Benning-
'on stepped out from the group of
'Alcers at the head of the trench and,
iaislng his hand, commanded atten-
,,on' In a deep gruff voice-the voice
typical sailor-he said
captain Scott, commander of Fort
-'osecrans, and his successors: l COM
MT 10 your tender care the bodies of
Sui unfortunate shipmates and patriot
aeau' May their graves never be for
tben by the hand of affection. May
rise above this, their last resting
p.'ee' marble slabs to mark the place
=, ''cled TO the nations care. and may