The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-01-29
GENERAL WHEELER
LAID AWAY TODAY
UNDER TWO FLAGS
Even Keifer of Ohio Was
There to Pay Tribute to
Old Confederate.
ON SLOPE AT ARLINGTON
President JOINS South in
Magnificent Floral Tribute
to CaValryman.
ON SLOPE AT ARLINGTON

I -
The Blue and the Gray united today
/ in paying honor to Joseph Wheeler.
lieutenant general Of Confederate cav
airy and major general in the army OF
the United States, whose body this
afternoon was committed 10 earth ia
the National Cemetery at Arlington
with elaborate military ceremony
The escort that followed the remains
bridged the chasm Of forty years. The
blue was represented BY the body Of
| United States soldiers, commanded BY
Major Burr, Of the Engineers, and the
gray by detachment OF Wheeiers Con-
/ federate cavalry ana the camps of
/ Confederate Veterans of the District
Merging the two uniforms came the
| local commands Of Spanish War Vet
Grams. representing Immediately the
gallant body Of men from all sections
Of the country that followed Wheeler's
flashing sword In the campaign around
Santiago
This union Of sentiment was conspIc-
uOus in every solemn trapping, in the
elaborate floral decoration Of the church
altar. and, more conspicuous than in
any other respect. in the men from All
I
upon the still face OF the dead soldier
Under Two Flags
| General WheeIer's body lay in state In
St Johns Church. He wore the uniform
of a major general in the United States
army and on the casket reposed his
sword and tie plumed chapeau OF his
ihigh rank Around the casket, the
stars and Stripes and the Stars and
Bars were draped in inteTmingled
/ folds. At nssd and foot stood a Span
| ish war veteran. erect and soldierIy.
wearing the blue and gray uniform Of
that order.
This background was one mass OF
roses ard other flowers. banked against
masses OF green. These tributes Of sf-
fection had come from all parts Of the
country One was from the White
House Conservatives, and bore the card
OF Jne President and Mrs Roosevelt
II wac among the most beautiful. The
Public Printer. Charles A. Stiilings. sent
wreath OF white roses. violets and
palms. From the Spanish War Vet
Grams of Massachusetts came wreath
OF Jaequeminot roses. and a pillow OF
white flowers from the Spanish War
| Veterans Of Brooklyn bore the word
/ "Comrade" in raised letters OF immor-
telIes.
The Daughters of the Confederacy Of
South Carolina sent a wreath OF laurel.
= pillow OF white roses was the offer
ing OF the Confederate Veterans Asso-
citation of the District OF Columbia
There were countless cthers-from indi-
viduals and societies. North, East,
South. and West.
Ii was noteworthy, perhaps that a
daughter OF the Old South received these
beautiful tributes OF nations affection
and regard and laid them upon the Al
tar A midnight, when the body reach
ed Washington, Miss Mamie Randolph
Heth was at the church 70 take charge
of the flowers. and she remained in the
edifice all the morning. She did this
as the representative of the women
of the South, for since the death of Win
nie Davis. she has been the sponsor Of
the United Confederate Veterans.
Among the early visitors al the church
was Representative Warren J keifer OF
Ohio. himself a veteran of two wars. IN
the TSt n and General Wheeler fought
on opposite sides but in the last they
marched under the same flag. General
Keifer is not distinguished by an over
powering affection for the section frem
which General Wheeler came and one
of his principal ambitions Is to reduce
the representation of the Southern States
in Congress- But he came early and
with the Confederates who filed through
the church at that hour, joined IN rever-
EN- tribute to gallant soldier and good
man.
The President was present at the
church during the services. He walked
over from the White House. and oc-
cupied a seat near me front of the
church.
Striking Incident
During the morning a number OF
striking incidents occurred Those who
came to view the body included
old confederates of his civil war
command, when Joe Wheeiers cav
airy bore a reputation for des-
r.. raIl safF either
of the cont, nding armies. To them the
general had remained always a hero
and darling. the dashing beau sabreur
of the days when they had followed
him in some reckless charge.
one Of these Old fellows looked ten
DERBY down into the face Of his general
Perhaps he had not seen Joe Wheeler
in life for many years. Tor his own
gnarled and weathe1-oeaten features.
framed IN ragged gray hair. expressed
surprise. The worn features Of the
warrior in his casleet were not those
the old soldier remembered.
Comrades Tribute.
why, Joe was growing DID, he said.
whirlsically. Il never thought ha
could"
Others came-the President of the
United States, members of the Cabinet,
Senator's and Representatives in Con-
gresS, distinguished officers of the army
and navy. and men prominent in every
walk and station OF life. Daughters OF
the COnfederacy paused to pay their
cwn tender tribute 10 a favoFite son OF
the South. The church was flied all the
day with moving throng.
Among those who watched were mem-
Lers OF a detail from Camp A. Wheeier's
Confederate Cavalry, of Atlanta. Tie
detail included ]. 5. Prather, coInman-
Ger of the camp: Col T. Hardin Jones,
of the Third Kentucky Col. J. P. Aus
tin, Ninth Kentucky Cavalry: Mai
Nathan Lyons, Eighth Confederate cav
Airy; B. G. Reynolds, First Georgia Cav