The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-05-21
BURIAL OF BRITISH
SEAMEN IN AMERICA

BY a graceful act of international
courtesy the United States army has re,
Gently given honored sepulture to the
bones Of brave and distinguished par
" of British seamen, who lost their
lives in winter storm at Sandy Hook
In 1888, soon after the American army
had won independence for the colonies
after II prolonged and bitter struggle
with Great Britain The United States
army has further expressed officially the
intention TO erect m appropriate mon
ument above the bodies Of these long
dead heroes of the English navy, and
Mr., Bryce, the famous historian and
ambassador from the Court Of St.
James to the United States, has ex-
pressed his country's appreciation Of
the graceful act.
1t was Just about one year ago that
some workmen who were making cx-
cavations for government work within
the reservation of Fort Hancock, al
Sandy Hook, uncovered the bones of
fourteen men, all apparently inferred
many years ago in the sands Of the
beach. There was much speculation for
n time as to the solution Of the rid
die. Some persons opined that these
were the bones of soldiers or prisoners
who had died during the revolutionary
war, Others suggested that they We're.
perhaps, the remains of the victims OF
pirates--the grewsome relics of some
long forgotten tragedy Of the sea.
The skeletons were gathered up re-
spcctfully and turned over with mill.
tary regularity TO the custody Of the
guartermaster' g department of the
United States army Then began an
investigation, conducted with the usual
military red tape, but, after all, with
ha Of e
fairs. The Rev. Charles II, Wells, a
gentleman with taste for antique
things, wrote q letter in which be sug-
gested that the solution of the puzzle
might well be found lu the inscription
on a mural tablet in the sacrlsty Of
Trinity church. which, i'll the archaic
photography of more than a century
ago, was found to read as follows:
cat Sandy Hook lye inferred the
bones Of the onourablc Hamilton Doug
las Hallyburton, son of Sholto Charls,
Earl of Norton, and heir of the ancient
family of HALLIBURTON. Of Pitcurr, IN
Scotland, who persisted on the coast
with twelve more young gentlemen and
one common seaman, In the spirited dis
charge of duty, on the 30th or 3lst of
December, 1888.
Born on the 10th of October, 1868,
youth who, in contempt of hardship
vi uduH'T, pOSStSStu OF IN ample LOT
tune, served seven years in the British
navy. with manly courage and de
served a better fate. This plain monu-
mental stone is erected by his unhappy
mother, Katherine, Countess Dowager
of Norton, TO his dear memory and that
of his unfortunate companions:
James Champion. Lieutenant of Ma
rines: Alexander Johnston, George Pad
dy, Robert Haywood Midsbipman
Charles Gascoigne, Andrew Hamilton,
I William Scott. David Reddie, William
/ Thomlinsou, William Spry, John Nc
Chain, Robert Wood, young gentlemen.
George Towers, common seaman
"Cast away, all found dead and fro.
zen and buried in one grave
Investigation by the military authori.
ties of the Department of the East
proved that the solution suggested by
the Rev. Dr. Wells was correct. Then
the question arose what should be done
with the bodies Of the gallant heir of
the Earl of Norton. who had died a
hero S death when barely 90 years old
and with the remains of his plucliy as,
soc!atcs, who had found with him. un.
/ timely graves in the frozen sands of
Sandy Hook. The whole story was final.
| ly laid before the war department, in
! Washington, in the form of official cor.
respondence, and n few days ago there
! came TO Gen. Leonard Wood, command
! ing the Department of the East, with
! headquarters at Governor s island. the
various documents in the case, together
with this memorandum. dated from the
Office Of the quartermaster general
/ Washington D. c., and subscribed by