River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-05-24

MORALS, on May 80, 1903, there was in
augurated this new fashion of remem-
brance, and IL stands unique among
the myriad celebrations of its kind IN
that city of "brotherly love-" Five
thousand people on Race street pier
watched four fiower-ships set out on
wondrous voyage. There was Cum
berland for the heroes who sank in
Hampton Roads, a Tecumseh in mem
DRY of those who persisted in Mobile
bay, a dauntless Monitor and Maine
for soldiers sleeping in the coral beds
of Havana harbor.
1t was said "that strong men of the
sea choked with emotion while the
floral tributes dropped from tender
hands to the bosom of the Delaware.
Three rear admirals were present and
the Onondaga, in midstream, fired the
salute of FL guns. Rear Admiral Mel
vile, in his speech on this occasion,
said: ''It is peculiarly fitting that this
impressive naval memorial on the sea
should be inaugurated on the historic
Delaware, where John Paul Jones with
his own hands hoisted on board the
Alfred the flag of independent Amer
lea for the first time, and where the
first continental congress authorized
the construction of 13 frigates, giving
the world to understand that the colo
MES intended to assert their rights on
sea as well as on land"
In the Far Mediterranean.
The sailor boys aboard of one of I'm
Gle Sans ships in the Mediterranean
sea last year remembered the Goth of
May They had no flowers such as grow
on land or in the depth of the sea, but
sailors are clever with their fingers,
and out of such poor things as shavings
they made and colored the" most deli
cate artificial flowers, and roses and
lilies, tulips and chrysanthemums
kissed the blue of that far-off ocean.
Under the personal direction of Mrs.
Forbes, possibly the most remarkable
observance of all was held last year off
Brighton beach, just outside of San
Pedro harbor, California.
Three United States war vessels took
part, the Wyoming, the Preble and the
Paul Jones, the small tugboat Warrior,
on which the services were held, taking
it's position, with it's precious freight
of people and flowers, in the center of
an imposing triangle, formed by the
three iron-clad guardians of the ma
tons peace.
After appropriate exercises the sol
elnn burial service was read aboard the
Warrior, which was in command of
Capt. Cottman, of the Wyoming, and
lilies and roses, carnations and every
flower in CALIFORNIA; great garden were
showered with lavish hands upon the
mirroring blue of the water beneath
Emb]ems, anchors, stars and wreaths
were dropped with murmured prayers.
Every man, woman and child aboard
the little tug had part and from the
three war vessels which had been sup
piled with flowers, officers, marines and
honest tars dropped bright blossoms in
memory of some comrade gone be-
FORE AS the volleys for the dead were
fired six stately flower boats, shaped
like the graves Of soldiers and bearing
upon their canvas sides laurel wreaths
of victory, anchors of hope and blessed
immortelles were cut loose to drift
whittier they would upon the bosom OF
the broad Pacific.
A sudden hush. High up on the
Wyoming a lone bugler appeared and
there came the notes that sounded taps;
lower and sadder the Warrior took it
up and off in the distance came back
the murmuring echoes as though the
dead would fain burst their ghostly
cerements and come back to tell the
living how sweet thing it is to be re-
membered.