The leader., 1905-07-29
ON THE CREST OF
Iona PROM0NT TORY
FOrty-Seven Of the Bennington's
Dead Inferred Ia One Grave.
FULL HONOR WAS PAID THEM.
Hundreds of Civilians Made the
ToiISome Journey, Bearing Of
ferings of Flowers TO Lay
Upon the Grayee

ferings of Flowers TO Lay
Upon the Grayes-
San Diego. Cal, July "a They buried
the Bennington's dead Sunday AZ of
them-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, within
sound of the booming surfSpf the Pa
ciic on the other. they were laid to
rest in the peaceful little military
burying ground without the crash Of
the drum or the sound of the brass;
without pomp or parade, yet with sim
pie impressiveness all honor was paid
the nations dead.
Paid Their Last Tributes.
The army and navy paid their last
tributes 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 Rosecrans came the One
Hundred and Fifteenth company. coast
heavy artillery; from the city of San
Diego the naval reserves: from the
Universal Brotherhood's home on Point
Iona, company OF khaki-clad repre-
sentatiyes. and from the government
ship Fortune a dozen of their sailors.
But the most impressive body of
mourners were the So men from the
battered Bennington. Besides these,
there were hundreds of civilians, who,
unthoughtful of the fatiguing journey
from the city, brought offerings of
flowers to lay upon the grave.
A ToiIsOme Task.
From noon until three o'clock the
dead burdened wagons toiled toward
the burial grounds, and not until 4: 80
was the last oasket placed in the rock
ribbed trench.
Capt. F. ]. Drake, Commander Lucien
Young of the Bennington and mem
bers of his staff; Capt E. D. Scott.
commanding Fort Rosecrans; Capt.
Rofe, of the same post; Mayor Schon
of San Diego, and members of the ex-
ecutive and legislative branches of the
city were hauled around the steep hills
in ambulance wagons from Fort Rose
Grams.
Placed in Two Rows.
The deep trench in which the bodies
were placed, in two rows, feet to feet,
is go feet long and IA feet wide.
Around it were drawn up I'M long
lines the company from the fort, N75
strong, on the west; the naval reserves,
bearing arms full of flowers, on the
north; the Bennington's survivors on
the east and the Universal Brother
hood on the west. Just outside the
simple picket fence inclosing the bury
ing grounds gathered the public in SOL
i'd masses on all sides. This was the
setting for the most impressive spec
tacle-the eliminating scenes of San
Diego's week or sorrow
ShIpmates' Sad Task.
Without moments delay the work
of lifting the collins from the wagons
ard ranging them in the trench was
carried on Shipmates from the Ben
rington performed this sad duty.
Squads of six came from the ranks in
rapid succession, and, lifting the caslS-
ct gently, entered the trench at the
head, and deposited the bodies as di-
reeted by Lieut. Tobin, who checked
them and saw that the board 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, begun last Thursday morning,
was completed.
The Episcopal and Catholic services
for the dead were read, and then Com-
mander Young of the Bennington, step
ping formard, said:
Capt Scott, commander of Fort
Rosecrans, and his successors:
~ commit to your tender care the
bodies of our unfortunate shipmates
and patriotic dead. May their graves
never be forgotten by the hand Of af-
lection. May there rise above this,
their last resting place, marble slabs to
mark the place as sacred to the ma
tion's care, and may the morning sun
ever kiss the green sod above the dust,
emblematic of our love and effections''
Il accept The sacred trust of honor
ed dead replied Capt. Scott
Atfention!" came the command In
sharp tones from the sergeant in COM
mand of the artillery company. AM
other command and every gun was
pointed over the long rows of caskets.
IN quick succession three sharp volleys
crashed noisily. Out of the ranks
stepped a bugler, and with impressive
deliberation the solemn, Quavering
notes of the last bugle call over the
dead sounded far out over the bay,
awaking the echoes far down among
the rugged rocks below.