Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-07
BURY
CRUISERS DEAD
VICTIMS OF DISASTER LAID
TO REST
THOUSANDS FOLLOW BODIES TO
THE GRAVES
As Band Plays Hymn, Heroes Of Ten
nessee Are Consigned to Earth
on Hillside at San
Pedro

With naval honors betting their
rank as enlisted men and in manner
in keeping with their esteem In the
hearts Of the populace, the first five of
Tennessee were buried at San Pedro
Saturday.
In three graves, two double ones and
single one, dug by the hands of their
shipmates, these heroes of the time of
peace. who died while doing their simple
duty were laid in their last resting
place on the sun-kissed hillside of
Harbor View cemetery, in sight of the
ocean they loved SO well; and, If it were
not for their eternal sleep, within hear
ing of the pounding surf.
Although thousands of miles from
their kinfolk and those they loved, the
victims of the boiler accident were fol-
lowed to their graves by crowd of
nearly 1000 of San Pedro's citizens.
With one accord and almost without
exception the merchants of the Harbor
city took heed of the request of the
chamber of commerce and closed their
places of business during the hour ap-
pointed for the funeral.
1t was but a few minutes after 3
o'clock when the steam launch from the
Tennessee towing five cutters, each
containing one of the dead and a guard
of honor, arrived at the ferry wharf.
AS the caskets were brought ashore
the men in the great throng on the
wharf doffed their hats and stood bare
headed in a silent token of respect to
the brave men who had met terrible
death while in the discharge of their
duty.
Sailors Follow Bodies
When the bodies had been placed In
the waiting hearses $50 marines and
sailors of the Tennessee's crew formed
in line and followed with slow measured
tread the marine band which headed
the cortege to the cemetery.
1t required a full hour to cover the
distance, and ere the funeral procession
had arrived the little cemetery over
looking the outer harbor was nearly
filled with crowd eager to pay homage
to the five members of the nations
pride who had met an untimely death.
AS arrangements had been made on
Friday evening to bury the four who
were almost instantly killed at the
time of the explosion in two double
graves, it was necessary to prepare an
other one separate and at a little dis
tance from the rest for the body or
E. J. Burns, who died aboard the Ten
nessee last night. A separate service
was also read over his body.
AS the procession arrived the band
was halted at attention, playing a
funeral march while the hearses were
detoured so as to pass the head OF the
two double graves.
A Gordon of sailors and marines was
then thrown around to Withhold the
pressing crowd, and as the band played
Nearer My God to Thee" each coffin
was lowered to it's last resting place.
The scene was impressive and solemn,
and in every hand there were crying
women and dry-eyed but silently weep
ing men.
The sailors, for the most part, con-
cealed their feelings under stolid
countenance, though in one or two In
stances some of the younger ones were
of tears.
Each casket was draped in a Union
Jack and literally covered with
flowers. Besides the flowers on the
collins there were enough to nearly fill
a big dray, which was driven UP after
the interment. There were cut MOVERS
loosely punched, magnificent floral
mounts and numberless huge bouquets.
Nearly every kind and color of flower
obtainable in Southern California was
in evidence, great punches of Gala and
Easter lilies vying with their stately
white elegance the sweet peas and roses
of every hue and variety.
Reads Burial Service
After the floral offerings had been
placed about the graves Rev. c. II.
Dickens, chaplain of the Tennessee, read
the full burial service of the Episco-
palian church. followed by Father M.
]. Connealy of Mary, Star of the Sea,
church with the Catholic rites, and
Rev. P. H. Hickman of st. Peters,
who prayed and asked absolution for
the departed souls.
Then followed the firing of three vol
leys by a detachment of marines, In
parting salute to the dead, and, as
bugler blew those sweet strains of
taps all that loving nation could do
for it's honored dead was concluded.
During the entire service Captain
Howard and Lieutenant Commander
Robertson stood together, little apart
from the admiraps staff, but with not
the slightest change in their visages
depicted their intense feelings. After
taps had sounded they turned SILENT
ly away together.