The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-02-17
COMMEMORATE THE MAINE
Spanish War Veterans Hold Memo
rial Exercises at G. A. Z. Hall.
Admiral sigSbee Tells of Disaster
and the Investigation that
Followed.

| The tenth anniversary of the destruc-
ton of the battle ship Maine in Havana
| Harbor was Gttingly commcmoratcd yes
terday afternoon in c. a. r Hall under
the auspices Of the local posts of the
United Spanish War Veterans Tho hail.
which was brilliantly decorated with
| flags was filed To the doors. and the
/ platform was occupied by men prominent
/ in c. \. r.. Spanish war societies. 1nd
civil life.
/ Rear Admiral Sigsbee. former captain
of the Inflated war ship. was the prin-
cipaI speaker. Addresses were also de-
/ livered by Maj. J. Mcdowell Darlington,
Mai. II. d. Walker. senior vice command
/ CT c. y. r. and Representative Stanley.
of Kentucky. Col NJ f. Urell presided.
| On the platform was also Mrs. Anne r.
Gridley. mother OF Capt Gridley. Of Ma
Mia fame.
The exercises opened with the assem-
( bly, bugIe call. following which Rev. DR..
Henry y. Couden offered the invocation.
Charles f. Stanley sang n bass solo, and
/ Admiral Sigsbee was then introduced. Ad-
miraI Sigsbee reviewed the incidents lead
ing to the sending of the Maine TO Ha-
vana. and described the events Of the
/ fatal night Of the explosion clearly and
/ impressively. The speaker dwelt on .be
/ Investigations of the board Of inquiry.
and reiterated his assurance that he
| first explosion was an external one. Al
miral Sigsbee in declaring himself on
/ this point said that he did not believ
that the Spanish authorities were in any
/ way connected with the disaster
After q selection by Prof. Hammers or
chestra, Mai Walker was introduced and
spoke cloqueutly In tribute TO the men OF
/ the Maine to whom death came with
/ their dreams" \ piano solo by Frank
Allen followed. after which Mai. Car
/ rington commander of the Confederate
Veterans Society. delivered strong adj
b dress. The speaker dEelt manly upon
the picture Of the boys of the South and
North going 10 their death for the honor
| of the flag of the Union.
Miss Suzanne ROCamOra Marsh. lyric
| soprano. scored the hit OF the musical
/ programme. Her first number 'Margue-
rita" was enthusiastically encored, and
/ "Good-by. Sweetheart. GOod-by,' was
charmingly sung.
/ Representative Stanleys address was
an eloquent tribute to the mothers and
widows OF the .uen OF the Maine and 70
the spirit that animateS all mothers OF
soldiers and sailors. After the star
Spangled Banner" had been sung, Chap
/ lain G.. 9. Pierce delivered "a prayer and
/ the exercises were brought 10 a close by
: Che sounding Of taps
The joint memorial committee was COM
posed OF the following. Past Department
/ Adiutant J. y. Dolph. chairman; Past
( Commander J. Lyon King, secretary;
/ Department Commander +. L. Cogan.
/ Junior Vice Department Commander
/ Joseph Ruppell. and Camp Commanders
Daniel Lsshy. William Henderson. o. J..
/ Saers. Joseph F. Sullivan. and Edward
| Dohlman; Past Camp Commanders J. NJ.
/ Heller. and y. & Chisholm. and Past
Judge Advocate General John Lewis
Smith.
/ Reception Committce-Past National
Commander NJ Z. Ureu. Department Com
mander Edward J.. Cogan, and Past De
/ partment Commanders Lee NJ Lpscomb.
| F. s. Hodgscn. s. Clifford Cox, John
/ Lewis Smith. and J. Walter Mitchell