Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-07-24
BURIAL SERVICES
For FoIty-seven Of the
Bennington's Dead.
Simple Impressiveness Marks
the Rites at San Diego.
Dead List Now Numbers 59...SeveraI viii
Die...Sad Scenes at Hospitals.


buried today, in a common grave in the
| the promontory of Iona, high above
the waters of San Diego bay on the one
side, and within sound of the booming
surf of the Pacific on the other. With
out the crash of drum or the sound OF
brass. without pomp or parade, yet
with simple impressiveness, all honor
| was paid the nations dead.
They have hOnOred dead to keep then
| company. All about them lie those who
died in the nations defence in more
trying times. Gravestones, yellow with
age bear the names of men who died al
| Monterey in the Mexican War; others
who gave up their life in the conquest
| of California, and who followed Com
| mOdore Stockton at Old San Pasqual
These are the neighbors of the dead.
Army and navy paid their last trib-
| utes no less sincere than the grief of
the representatives of peace, who
| made the long journey across the bay.
From Fort Rosecrans came the i15th
Company, Coast Heavy Artillery, from
the city of San Diego the Naval Re-
serves; from the Universal Brother
of khakhi-clads, and from the govern
meDt ship Fortuna, dozen sailors
But the most impressive body of
mourners was the SO men from the bat
tered Bennington. Besides there were
hundreds of civilians.
San Diego was a city of mourning,
today. The people of this little city
have taken in the Bennington catas-
| trophe an interest that was personal
to all from the moment it happened
and they set apart this beautiful Sab
bath day to pay last and loving tri-
butte to the dead.
Thousands filed through the morgues,
this morning, with arms filled with
flowers which were laid on the draped
| collins. Other thousands gathered in
the Plaza. whence the procession of
coffin laden wagons was to start.
Promptly at noon, the long line of
vehicles began the 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 express wagons.
There were no bands of music. 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. Ev-
cry casket bore a beautifully executed
wreath of asparagus ferns, white carna-
tons and immortelles, sent by the San
Diego commercial bodies.
Every one of the plain stained caskets
was draped with the national emblem and
the dead wagons were disguised under the
folds of the national colors. From noon
until o'clock. these dead burdened wag-
ons toiled toward the burial grounds,
and not until almost 4.3O was the last cas-
ket placed in the long trench.
The deep trench in which the bodies
were placed is 60 feet long and IA feet
wide.
Around 1t, were drawn up in long
lines, the artillery company from the
forts strong. on the west; the Naval
Reserves. bearing arms full of flowers,
on the north; the Bennington's surviv-
ors on the east, and the Universal
brotherhood on the west. Just outside
the simple picket fence enclosing the
burying ground, the public stood.
Shipmates from the Bennington lift
ed the collins from the wagons. Squads
of six came forward from their ranks
in rapid succession, lifted the bodies
and deposited them in the trench. The
board placed at the head of each body
was properly marked and numbered.
1t only remained for the representatives
of the church to pronounce final blessing
for the dead. Rev. J. A. NJ Richey. rec
tor of st. Paurs. read the Episcopal bur-
ial service, the 21st Psalm and repeated
the Lords Prayer.
Venerable Father A. D. Ubach of the
Catholic church. attended by two censor
hearers then stepped forward. He read
the service of the dead and blessed them
with water and incenses.
Believing it was all over. many turned
to go. There was yet to come the most
impressive incident of the scene. Com
mander Young Of the Bennington, stepped
out from the group of officers at the
head of the trench. and. raising his hand.
commanded instant attention. In a deep,
gruff voice. the voice of a typical sailor.
he said:
Captain. commander of Port Rosecrans.
and his successors:-I commit to your ten
shipmates and patriotic dead May their
graves never be forgotten 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, emblem of
our love and Affection
81 accept the sacred trust Of the hon.
ored dead" replied Captain Scott. There
were many a tear brushed from moistened
eyes by this simple but impressing scene.
Attention came the command in
sharp tones from the sergeant in COM
mand of the artillery company. There
was n rapid concerted movement along
the double file Of soldiers at the head OF
the grave Another command and every
gun was pointed over the long rows of
Continued On PaGs TNol A..