The San Francisco call., 1908-05-31

STR[W FLOWERS IN
SEA FOR HEROES
Continued from page II, Columns .

Continued from Page II, Column
rollers of the open sea met the lesser
swells of the harbor, the throbbing OF
the engines ceased and the Slocum
bow was turned broadside in the chan
mel AS the boat rocked gently in the
waves, raised on the crest. of an IN
coming flood tide, Shipmate Alexander
Anderson began the solemn invocation
for the dead. When he had concluded
a quartet softly rendered Lead, Kindly
Light" In that setting OF cliHs and
tossing water the words or the ola
hymn possessed strange, soothins
quality that comforted, yet moved TO
tears.
Captain Thomas A. Nerney intro
duced Captain Charles J. Dutreaux,
commander of the navy veterans, who
spoke a few fitting words on the sig
nificance of the exercises and, with
clear voice, w. w. Stone, whlte
haired veteran and principal of Lincoln
grammar school, read an original poem
in honor of the dead. General h. 81
Salomon made a short, eloquent ad-
dress, and then followed more music.
eulogies for those members who nad
died since Decoration day last year, and
flag memorial ceremony, conducted
-
wives and daughters of Grand Army
men.
Again they sang this time Amer1-
ca" every veteran rising with barred
head in pathetic eagerness to add his
voice in patriotic chorus. AS the fresn-
ening sea breeze caught UP the last
lingering words command was given,
and veterans and their guests moved
silently to the rail for the ceremony
of consigning the flowers to the un-
quiet waters.
FLOWERS ARE STREWN
One old sailor raised bunch of
white roses In the air and tossed IL
far out over the side. It struck the
top of a whitecapped wave and the
wind caught it almost caress1ngIy,
scattering its white petals far astern.
! The next minute the water was COW
cred with carpeting of flowers on
both sides of the vessel the petals de-
scended in showers to be whisked py
the hurrying tide TO the rear. FOR
yards astern the waves We're strewn
with them. Fluttering bravely from
wooden floats in their midst were two
American flags, lowered simultaneously
from port and starboard sides by Ship
mates William Buckley and A. Mckee,
and with these flags were small white
banners on which were inscribed the
names of the Maine. Bennington and
other ships tragically lost in accident
and shipwreck.
For 10 minutes the showering OF
flowers continued in silence. Then the
last eone was cast over the side. and
with the playing of taps" by Ship
mate Wesley the beautiful ceremony
was over The whistle of passing
steamer broke in harshly like funeral
dirge.
That ends it." said a veteran as he
rose from his position at the rail- Next
instant the propeller began to churn
and the Slocum steamed slowly away
toward the city.
stirred the veterans keenly by refer
ence to the upbuilding of the navy
and their own work in the civil and
Spanish wars.
ITO you of the naval veterans who
! live in beautiful California he said
lis given the honor to join in this
ceremony Of sfrewing flowers on the
ocean waves. Many never knew of the
wonderful things that were done DUR
ing the civil war by the men of the
navy During the war they captured
1.149 vessels and destroyed 400 more
and their value in prize money amount
ed TO s20,00O00O With such heroes as
Farragut, Porter, Dupont Dahlgren and
Thrasher, nothing could stop our navy
During the rebellion a new navy was
| formed. The little Monitor startled
the world. Since then on sea and shore
our army and navy have been VIC
| torious. and now the United States
has formed another new navy that Is
a lesson to the world.
FATHERS OF NAVY HERE
/ "But the fathers OF our present great
navy are these old seadogs who stand
about me. You were the teachers OF
the sailors of today. and your spirit
which was embodied in Farragut's
Damn the torpedoes, go ahead. Is the
spirit that inspires our seamen now
We are raising generation of sol
diers and sailors who will increase ths
Influence Of the United States over the
whole world
The members of Thomas circle who
took part in the flag memorial were
Mrs. Bessie Johnson, Mrs. L. Vining
Miss Vivian Bailey. Miss Alice Heaiey
Mrs. Jessie Crittenden, Mrs. Alice e
Bradley. Mrs. J. Murray and Bradley
! Among the veterans who took part II
the ceremonies were:
Thomas A. Serney Commodore Frank q. Wis
ker, Passed Commander Peter Il Mass, Captains
n.
Green. Paymaster J. II. Fitzgerald, Commandel
Charles Krant. Shipmates John Kelly, II. J
Blakiston, William Tiernan. Arthur Mckee
Thomas Stone, W. W. Stone. A. Anderson
Frank Johnson. ]. Clark, Joseph Wesley. vii
liam Chalmers. w F. Buckley. Joseph Hawiey
Daniel J. 0'Hearn. Hiram Stirling. John B
Sievers. John T. Greenwood. Robert B. Kilgore
Albert Fonck. Edward p Stanton. John Stauros
Edward NJ Brady. z. V. Schmidt. Fred w
Creighton, Fred Block and George Sanderson
Among others aboard the boat, in
rIi1dfnp Grand Army men and guests
We're:
General E. s. SaIomon Frank Johnson Johl
H. Roberts, Mrs. Bessie Johnson. Mrs. l.. vim
ing, Miss Vivian Bailey Miss Alice Henley
Mrs. J. MURRAY. Bailey; Mrs; May. E. Engen
! Mrs. S. L. Simon, Mrs. Lucy Hunt Mrs
Nav Wood Mrs Rose Bergeman. Mrs. r. Ba
renda, Mrs. B. Sullivan. Mrs. f. L.. Baldwin
Mrs. Arthur Cornwall.
DECORATE 700 GRAVES
VETERANS, HOME. Napas County
| Nav 20--lTemnria1 Gay WAS fitfi,,ol1