The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-07
IN MEMORIAM.
Monument to the Bennington Dead
Unveiled on Point Iona.

San Diego, CAL, Jan. Tn the
presence of tho usands including the
officers and sailors of the Pacific
squadron and citizens of San Diego
and Of other Southern California
cities. who had gathered here to wit
ness the ceremony, the memorial
| monument to the Bennington dead
was unveiled, this afternoon at the
National cemetery on. top Of Point
Iona.
The plain shaft stands within the
plot where are buried the most of
those, who lost their lives in the dis
aster of July 81, 1905, and Is COM
posed of IA slabs of San Diego coun-
ty granite roughly dressed and tower
ing so feet above the concrete base,
capped by pyramid of polished
granite. The national cemetery is al
| most at the top Of the promontory, SO
that the monument looks in one di-
rection out over the Pacific and in the
other over the waters Of the bay.
Early this morning the launches
commenced running from this side of
the bay landing passengers from here
at the quarantine station and at
| RoSeville from which the ascent to
the cemetery is possible. At noon the
navy launches towing strings Of row
boats came in from the battleship
, Nebraska and the armored cruiser
California, anchored off Coronado
and other strings of similar boats
made the trip from the flagship
d, Charleston and the cruiser Chicago.
anchored off the fort, while the tor
pedo boat destroyers Preble and Per-
| ~ also furnished their quota. --a ~
| Two battalions of sailors and one
of marines had been assigned to join
the local militia, the naval reserve
and the two companies Of soldiers at
| escort from the fort to the cemetery.
Besides these there were hundreds of
sailors from the ships who attended
the ceremonies without being assigned
| to the escort. '--5H52 -
! After the procession had wound its
J way up the side OF Point Iona and
had filed through the cemetery en-
closure the public was admitted fill
| ing every foot of space within and
some outside. Rev. Joseph johnson,
bishop f'ithe southern diocese, of the
| Episcopal church in California, in
voked divine blessing and music was
) supplied by the choir Of ST.. PauIs
Episcopal church, The principal adj
dress was made by Rear Admiral
Goodrich, commandant at the Brook
Ign navy yard, who was the comman-
der of the Pacific squadron at the
time of the accident on the Benning-
| ton. He reviewed the history of the
monument and what it commemor-
ated -
When Admiral Goodrich had fin
| ished the unwilling took place, con-
sisting Of the dropping of the national
ensign which had been draped over
! two tablets on the face Of the monu-
ment. On one of these was inscrib-
| ed:
ITO the Bennington dead" and on
| the other: Erected by the officers
and men of the Pacific squadron to
the memory Of those who lost their
| lives in the performance of duty"
| AS the flags dropped. the soldiers
! presented arms and three ruffles and
| flourishes on the drums started the
minute guns on board the Charleston
| and Chicago, which were fired regul-
! arly through the remainder of the
| service.
A second address was given by Col
onel R. v. Dodge, president of the
Bennington Memorial association,
| and a closing address and benedfc-
| ton by Bishop johnson.
The graves were decorated with
wreathes presented by the children of
Point Iona homestead. the wreathes
intended for those who were buried
elsewhere being laid at the base Of
! the monument. Three, volleys fired
| over the decorated graves. one by the
representatives of the army one by
the navy and one by the marine corps
closed the ceremony, ~ =