Evening journal., 1905-07-25
IMPRESSIVE

tiful flag of the Daughters or the
American Revolution, which had been
loaned to Rear Admiral Sigsbee by
Mrs. Donald Mclean, president general
Of the order on top of the tag rested
the unsheathed sword of John Paul
Jones. loaned for the occasion by Com
mander Nicholson of the Tacoma, in
whose family it has been treasured for
several generations, coming originally
from Richard Dale, TO whom Jones
presented it.
When the CONN was made ready for
its last voyage in the Standish, Rear
Admiral Sigsbee laid aside the flag of
the Daughters of the American Revolu-
ton and used the flag loaned by Cen
Horace Porter. The flag was wrapped
about the coffin after it had been safely
lowered TO the Standish and placed on
the black catafalque waiting to receive
it. This catafalque had been used 10
support the coffin containing the re-
mains Of the atle Mexican Ambassador
Senior Azpiroz, when he was carried Ia
/ his native land for burial. This fact
came out in an exciting controversy
lbetween one of the officers of the
! Brooklyn and one of the Standish' e
crew when the former demanded
whether "those supports are strong
enough to hold up 1900 pounds"
''They held up the remains of the
Mexican Ambassador" was the reply
Il don't care about that; Will they
hold up 1900 pounds?" came back from
the Brooklyn. AS a matter of fact
the coffin in which the remains of the
Mexican Ambassador were returned Ia
his country weighed 1,4O0 pounds.
COFFIN LOWERED TO THE TUG
These preliminaries having been ad-
justed, a dozen jacl1ies drew two great
ropes attached to a pulley under the
huge oak coffin and in few minutes it
swung into the air from one of the
Brooklyn's pulleys and was lowered 10
the after deck OF the Standish.
A few minutes later Admiral Sigs-
bee and his staff from the Brooklyn
went aboard the Standish. which put
to sea, describing a semi-circle around
the stern of the Brooklyn and passing
down between the two columns OF
American ships and near the Jurien dc
/ ia Graviere. AS soon as the Standish
started the fifteen minute guns of the
entire feet snapped out simultaneously
| in salute. the Jurien de la Graviere
Joining Rear Admiral Sigsbee and his
stan stood upon the deck and mani
Tested their interest in the magnificent
scene.
Il have never seen a prettIer sight
than this" said he. What a pity ii
could not be photographed and pre-
served to posterity"
only about five minutes were con-
sumed in carrying the coffin from tbs
lStandish across the floating dock tC
the hearse i'm waiting for It. Thi.
honor was done by eight body bearers
selected from tho sailors Of the Brook
! lyn Standing by as honorary body
bearers were eight of the crew of the
Jurien de la Graviere.
The naval oficers who served in tn,
lcapacity OF honorary palrbearers wers
Rear Admiral James II. Sands, Super.
.ntendent Of the Naval Academy; Real
! Admiral Charles II. Davis. command
ling the second division of the North
Atlantic squadron; Capt. B. +. Tilley
commanding the fbattleship Iowa; Capt
/ E. d. Taussig, commanding the battle.
ship MaSsac achusetts; Capt. William II
! Reeder. commanding the battleshir
Alabama; Capt. e. r. Gervais, com
lmanding the French cruiser Jurien d
la GraViere.
During the removal Of the body from
the Standish the Naval Academy bant
played Chopin's Funeral March" and
the long line of jaclSies and marines
stood at present arms.
The services attending the transfer o.
the coffin from the bearse TO the vaul
were very simple. When the coffin hat
bsen placed on the catafalque th'
ljackies rested and Chaplain Clark reat
a few extracts from Scripture and de-
livered a prayer.
At the conclusion OF ehe chaplain'i
prayer the Academy band playeC
lChopin's Funeral March" The Jackie!
slowly pushed the wheeled catafalqul
about thirty feet TO the door of tn
lvault. In five minutes more the coffil
was lifted into the vault, the gate
were closed, the marine firing squa,
gave their voneys and the bugle
sounded taps.
The coffin will be In the sight o
visitors to the Naval Academy until /
is placed in its final resting place in tn
crypt OF the new chapel now unde
construction. The temporary vault
which was completed a few days age
is entirely above ground and is opposit
to and within 1000 feet of the chapel.