The Washington herald., 1910-10-05

New 40rk, Oct. 4.-Purple asterS and
white carnations drifted down with the
ebb on the Hudson this afternoon in
clotted ropes of color They eddied about
the gray bows of the battle ships lying at
anchor there, and then passed on sea-
ward. They were from the hands OF the
officers and sailors of The second division
Of the North Atlantic fleet. and they were
TO remember the dead of the battle ship
New Hampshire, over whose bodies they
foated.
Just at the hour of a gun sounded
from the battle ship Louisiana. Rear Ad-
miral Vreeland flagship. 9nd al that
instant the flags al the stern of the
Louisiana, the Kansas. and the New
Hampshire, the three ships Of the division
anchored in the Hudson dropped half
the length of their stats. Then on the
quarter deck Of the New Hampshire began
the service for the dead not one of which
the river has yielded.
Before that hour launches filed with
officers and other launches towing boats
laden with sailors had piled from the
Louisiana and the Kansas 10 the New
Hampshires gangway Rear Admiral
Vreeland and the officers Of his STAFF had
come; Capt Rush, Of the Connecticut;
Capt. Winterhalter of the Louisiana, and
Capt. Badger. OF the Kansas, each with
group Of his officers. were there also.
In Full Dress Uniform.
All the officers were in full-dress uni
form, and the naval etiquette of arrival
was observed as each launch brought up
20 the New Hampshire gangway. Every
officer Of the New Hampshire who was
not on duty was standing in a group on
the quarter deck behind Capt. Rodgers
the ships commander
Fifty blue jackets came from each Of
the other two ships in the division. As
they stepped from their launches onto
the gangway they marched up 10 the
deck two abreast and took their stand in
double rows on either side Of the quarter
deck. a bugle sounded. and every man
of the New Hampshire's crew not on
duty formed IN line on the gun deck
and marched back TO Join the blocks Of
blue behind the after surret
Fifty marines with gurs stood al atten-
ton on the two fianks of the lines Of men
in blue The ships band marched TO its
place by the side OF the port gangwav.
There was no sound, and where the
plumed chapeaus Of the officers were and
in the lines Of blue jerseys on either side
there was no movement.
Lecturn Is Set Up.
Chaplain William C. Cassard, in the
vestments of the Episcopal church, walk
ed through the quadruple lines of sailors
and took his place behind a lecturn. which
had been set Just in front the covered
electric winch in the middle of the deck.
Il am the resurrection and the life. |
saith the Lord" the opening words OF /
the burial service were said and heads /
bowed.
The chaplain read on through ST.
Paurs comfort to those mourning the |
dead. The lines of men and officers were /
still The chaplain spoke the first words |
Of the Greed and many lips moved. Then |
he closed his Prayer Book and spoke /
briefly about the death of the New /
Hampshire men. His words were of a |
man In the service to men in the serv- /
ice-simple and direct. Then, when the 1
chaplain nodded 10 the bandmaster, the /
band played through the air Of Nearer, /
My God, TO Thee" There was an un- /
dertone of noise in accompaniment.
The chaplain closed his eyes and re- /
peated the benediction. When he had /
finished an officer OF the marines gave |
an order There was a sharp, metallic /
rattle The officer gave another order. /
an dffty rifles were elevated skyward.
Then volley, another and another. The /
clatter OF the shots came banging back /
from the Palisades.
sounds Taps ON Bugle.
While the smoke from the rifles was
stlll shredding out over the stern, Capt.
Rodgers twitched one finger of his
goved hand, and a bugler. standing by
his side. lifted his bugle and blew taps"
while every man and officer on the quar-
ter deck stood with right hand at the
salute. The quaver of the bugIe sounded
to the shore. and the crowds that had
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