New-York tribune., 1909-11-03
BYRNE Is BURIED
IN VEST POINT GRAVE
Full Military Funeral for
Football PLAYER.

West Point, y. Y. Nov. I'm q grave on
the West Point cemetery, well back from
the cliff bound edge of the historic ground.
the body of Cadet Eugene A. Byrne found
Its final resting place to-day
The military funeral took place not far
from the spot where on Saturday last the
young first classman at the United States
Military Academy fell with fatal injuries
toward the end of a football contest be-
tween West Point and Harvard.
Massed about the grave We're his COM
rades, the officers of the academy and the
army post and scores of friends. Close by
the coffin. as it was lowered into the earth
stood the parents of the dead youth.
AS the last words of the chaplain were
spoken. three volIeys from the rifles of the
firing platoon resounded from the rolling
hills OF the Highlands on the sides OF the
burial spot, and the ceremony was ended
West Point awoke early to-day in
hushed anticipation of the duties of the
day Reveille found the sun struggling to
break through the mists of another typical
Indian summer morning. Outsiders streamed
into the reservation from an early hour,
each arriving train bringing it's quota OF
mourners to participate in the ceremonial.
From yesterday floral tributes in profusion
had been coming in. the army. the navy.
high officials in military and civil life and
educational institutions almost innumerable
being represented among the donors.
Many of these floral offerings, in which
American Beauty roses and pink and yel-
low chrysanthemums predominated, were
banked about the altar in the Catholic
chapel at the end OF the academy reserva-
ton. where the body of Cadet Byrne over
which constant watch had been kept by a
cadet guard of honor detailed from his
class. had reposed in it's iag-draped coffin
since it's removal from the post hospital
yesterday morning. Their profusion and
beauty heightened appreciably the color
tone of the picture, already marked by the
bright colors of the Stars and Stripes and
the brilliant full dress uniforms of the
army officials.
AS the time for the religious services in
the chapel approached, the cadet battalion,
In slow step to mufled drums, marched
from their barracks past the parade ground
and the field where their comrlde had
given up his life. along the shaded drive
way to the chapel on the little knoll to the
north of the sharp jut of the land rock
into the river.
Inside the chapel the classmen of the
cadet took up their assigned places of
honor. next the parents of the youth. Mr.
and Mrs. John A. Byrne of Buffalo. and
the other members OF the considerable
family party of mourning.
Aside from few OF the members of
delegations from Harvard University, from
the Harvard Club. of New York and the
members of the academic board and officers
Of the academy and army post. the diminu-
tive chapel would accommodate no more.
In the presence of this company the
ritual of the Roman Catholic Church was
recited over the body of the young cadet
the Right Rev. Mousignor c. G. O'keefe,
in charge of the Catholic places of wor-
ship at the post and its vicinage, officiating
Then came the march to the burial place
Facing the grave, the military escort
formed the others informally grouped
around. With the last rites of the Church $
consolation to the parents and friends by
the side of the grave, the body was low
cred into earth.
Then came the final act Of the impressive
ceremonial. The company of mourners
triple volley and the trumpeters sounded
taps
The post will he in mourning for thirty
days, the cadet officers, by general order of
the superintendent Colonel Scott wearing
mourning badges of Grape on the hits of
their swords.