Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-12-28
HONORABLE BURIAL
FOR MAINE WRECK
Bill Passed by Senate Provides
That Remains Shall Be
Sunk at Sea.

Washington, Dec. H.--The passage OK
the urgent deficiency bill by the Senate
Tuesday determined that the wreck OF
the old battleshlp Maine shall receive an
honorable burial at sea and that neitner
the remains of the vessel nor any part
Of them shall be made the means OF
profit through their exhibition to the
public for fees.
A section of the urgent deficiency bill
confers upon the secretaries of war ana
navy authority to dispose Jointly OF parts
of the Maine desired for memorial pur-
poses. These are to be given to NUM-
cpal bodies, military or naval socict1es,
relatives Of any of the former officers
OF Me Maine and to tho President OF
the republic of Cuba. provision that
the donors shall receive reasonable as
surances that such parts as may be
given away shall be used only as
memorials and not disposed OF without
the governments permission illustrates
the schemes devised for the placing Of
the wreck on exhibition in American
cities and the sale Of portions of the yes
sci as souvenirs.
| Ever since Congress decided the Maine
should be raised tentative offers for the
purchase Of the wreck have been made
by individuals or firms who wished TO
CAPT talize the great popular interest in
the sunken hattleship. The war depart
ment, then In charge of the Maine, had
no authority TO dispose Of the wreck,
and SO these offers were not even con
sldered. One of these firms intimated il
would he willing to pay as high as 81.
| 100000 for possession Of the wreck
From the first such suggestions for
making an exhibition out of the Maine
aroused the greatest resentmen,
among naval officers. Secretary Meye,
sympathized with their feelings and
declared himself opposed to any such
disposition Of the wreck. The secre
tary, however, did favor the giving OF
portions OF the wreck to civic bodies
patriotic societies and similar organ
izations for memorial purposes, and II
was his suggestion which was incor.
porated in the urgency deficiency bill
passed by the House on Saturday ano
the Senate yesterday
1t is expected that. as result Of
the publicity given the fact that mum.
cipalities, patriotic societies and Others
may obtain on request portions Of the
vessel or her equipment for memoria
purposes n great many requests will
be received at the navy department
There are few guns, innumerablt
shells. unexploded, OF all sizes. avail
able for souvenirs or memorials. while
for the rest there Is little but stee
plates. portions of the armor and sides
of the old battleship.
Provision already has been made TO,
the disposition Of particular portion.
OF the wreck. Tho mainmast Is to b,
erected In Arlington National GENE
terry at Washington. where the bodie
Of the dead recovered from the wrecl
are to be buried. This mast has bee,
brought to New York and soon viii
be set up at Arlington.
The commission in charge of the cele
bration to be held at Putin Bay celebrat
Ing Perry's victory has asked for the sec
ond mast, but It Is likely this will 90 I,
the Cuban republic for erection in Ha
vana as a memorial to the Maine Suol
a request already has been received from
Cuba.
! The United States Naval Academy au
thorities have asked that the chrmom
' eters Of the Maine be added to the nava
museum maintained at Annapolis. Thi
request likewise probably will he granted
The forward part OF the Maine Is shat
tered and will have TO be cut to piece
for removal bit by bit. The after hal
OF the vessel, however. is to be fioate,
by the construction of a bulkhead acros
the forward end and the flooding of tn
caisson. The navy department intend
then TO tow the section Of the hull ou
to the depths Of the Atlantic and Their
sink her, It Is proposed to carry out thi
program with appropriate ceremonie
considered as betting to mark the en-,
of fighting ship A battleship convo,
will be provided and funeral salvos vii
be fired as the last of the Maine disap
pears forever below the surface OF tn
water.