The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1906-06-21

collection of vast quantities of disor-
ganized human remains which were
found in the trenches or scattered over
the battle fields. In many instances but
skull or few bones remained. These
were gathered into small boxes, each
representing an individual, and shipped
to Arlington, where they were buried
together in a vault, over which now
stands massive sarcophogus of simple
design, bearing the following inscrip-
ton:
Beneath this stone repose the bones
of two thousand one hundred and eleven
unknown soldies gathered after the war
from the battle fields of Bull Run and
the route to Rappahannock. Their re-
mains could not be identified, but their
names and deeds are recorded in the
archives of their country; and its CRATE
full citizens honor them as OF their noble
army of martyrs. May they rest in
Peace! September, A. ID. 1865"
In recent newspaper article, Mrs.
John A. Logan gives to Clara Barton the
credit for This grand work, saying that
"she conceived the idea of gathering
them together and placing them in sci
entitic hands for classification and inter
them in Arlington. Congress adopted
her suggestion and ordered the secre-
tary of war to furnish transportation
and detail men to accompany her on her
mission of rescuing the remains of
heroes from abliteration by further ex-
posure to the elements"
The total number of dead reposing at
Arlington on July 1, 1905, was 20,O99, of
WI, f1n:nnun In fhic
connection, it may be of interest to add
that the total number for all Of the
national cemeteries of the country on
the same date was 351 500, of which
152, ,009 were unknown, the percentage
of unknown running much higher in
some other cemeteries than at Arling-
ton-as, for instance, at Salisbury, N. e.,
the known are but 112 while the un-
known number II ,O35.
The cemetery, which now contains
40S acres, has been greatly beautitied
since the civil war, and striking illus
tration Of the sentiment and beniticence
of our government. 1t is situated on
what is known as Arlington Heights,
about four miles from the White House,
and is reached by the electric lines
from Georgetown and the Long Bridge.
Three grand memorial gates give en-
trance from the east, but as the greatest
number of people so by way OF George
town, what Is probably the most used
gate is minor one at the northwest,
near Fort Myer.
The Ord and Weitzel gate, the most
northern of the memorial gates, consists
of two tall columns of stone each sur
mounted by funeral urn and inscribed
with the names of General Ord and Cen
eral Weitzel. The center gate in men,
ory of General Sheriden, is composed of
four columns which support carved
cross-piece bearing the name OF the
great cavalry leader and on the columns
are the names of Scott, Lincoln, Stanton
and Grant. The Mcclellan gate farther
south is an archway of red masonry.
The grounds are enclosed by a stone
wall; and naturally lovely and diversi-
fed by wooded hills and valleys, they
have been made more attractive by all
the arts of the landscape gardener.
On the terrace in front Of the Mansion
to the right and left respectively, are
the graves of General Sheridan and
Admiral Porter, and many other officers
prominent IN naval and army history
are inferred here.
On level space south of the Mansion
and near the grave of the Unknown, is
an open circular colonade with domed
roof known as the Temple of Fame"
Its cornice bears the names of Washing
ton, Lincoln, Grant, and Farragut, and
it's columns, Meade McPhersan, Sedg-
wick, Reynolds, Humphreys, Garfield,
Mansfield and Thomas.
In new plot, half mile south of the
officers section, are the graves of about
600 soldiers and sailors who died in
Cuba and Porto Rico, many of the head
pieces bearing the melancholy "Un-
known" and near them are 163 of the
victims of the Maine disaster, whose
monument is the anchor of the ill fated
vessel.
Away off to the southeast of the mon
ument the women of America have
erected to the memory of the martyrs o
the Spanish-American war, Gen. Miles
has built his tomb on high promontory
overlooking the Potomac.
Near the Temple of Fame is the Coli
scum where the memorial services are
held each year. This is circular space
enclosed columns supporting a light
lattice work. Beside the columns have
been planted wisteria, roses, clematis
and many other Towering vines which
form bower overhead. Not soldier
or sailor is forgotten on Decoration Day
every grave has it's flag, flowers and
immortelles. Every year the most elo-
quent orators of the country are chosen
to deliver the addresses, and nowhere
is the day observed with greater solem-
nifty than at Arlington. Congressman
Birdsall, of Iowa, this year delivered
the principal address.
No words can describe the beauty and
grandeur and solemnity of Arlington.
There could be no filter, nobler spot for
the last resting place of soldier; and
those who have friends sleeping there
even though they be among the thous-
ands of unknown, ought to be comforted
in the knowledge that in all the years
to come their graves will be jealously
guarded from desecration and their
memory kept ever green.
G. A. WOOD.
Washington, D. c.
Another Record Breaker Buggy
Sales.