Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-07-27
ON THE CREST OF
Iona PR0M0NTORY
F~orty-Seven of the Bennington's
Dead Inferred in One Grave.
FULL HONOR WAS PAID THEM
Hundreds of Civilians Made n
ToiIsome Journey, Bearing Or
ferings of Flowers to Lay
Upon the rave.

ho
San Diego, Cal, July 24.-They buI led
the Bennington's dead Sunday-47 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 surf of the Pa,
cifc 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 OF
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, a company Of khaki-clad repre-
sentatives. 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 bhrdened wagons toiled toward
the burial grounds, and not until 4:3(
was the last oasket placed in the rock
ribbed trench.
Capt. F. J. Drake, Commander LuGier
Young of the Bennington and mem,
bers of his staff; Capt. E. D. Scott
commanding Fort Rosecrans; Capt
Rofe, of the same post; Mayor SS'loI
Of San Diego, and members Of the ex-
ecutive and legislative branches of thu
city were hauled around the steep bills
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 60 feet long and IA feet wide.
Around it were drawn up in Ions
lines the company from the fort, Il
strong, on the west; the naval reser res
bearing arms full Of flowers, on the
north; the Bennington's survivors or
the east, and the Universal Brother
hood on the west. Just outside thu
simple picket fence inclosing the bury
ing grounds gathered the public in sol
id masses on all sides. This was tn
setting for the most impressive spec
tacle-the eliminating Genes of Sal
Diego's week or sorrow.
Shipmates' Sad Task.
Without a moments delay the worl
of lifting the collins from the wagons
ard ranging them in the trench wa
carried on. Shipmates from the Ben
rington performed this sad duty
Squads of six came from the ranks il
rapid succession, and, lifting the csIsk
ct gently, entered the trench at tn
head. and deposited the bodies as di
rected by Lieut.. Tobin, who checked
them and saw that the board place.
at the head of each was properl,
marked and numbered. In just on
hour and fifteen minutes the last bod.
had been deposited in the trench. Tn
work of caring for the unfortunate
men, begun last Thursday morning
was completed.
The Episcopal and Catholic service
for the dead were read, and then Com
mander Young of the Bennington, step
ping formard, said:
Capt. Scott, commander Of Fol
Rosecrans, and his successors:
Il commit to your tender care tn
bodies of our unfortunate shipmate
and patriotic dead. May their grave
never be forgotten by the hand of al
lection. May there rise above this
their last resting place, marble slabs
mark the place as sacred to the ne
tons care. and may the morning su
ever kiss the green sod above the dus
emblematic of our love and effections"
Il accept the sacred trust of honol
ed dead" replied Capt. Scott.
Attention." anne the command !
sharp tones from the sergeant in con
mand of tho artillery company. Al
other command and every gun we
pointed over the long rows of casket
In quick succession three sharp volley
crashed roisily. Out of the ranl
stepped a bugler, and with impressiN
deliberation the solemn, quaverin
notes of the last bugle call over til
dead sounded far out over the ba,
awaking the echoes far down anon
the rugged rocks below.
:. Double Domestic Tragedy.
Philadelphia, July 4.-William He
royd, aged 90 years, shot and killed h