Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-03-26
Nation Pays Sincere Trib-
ute to Memory of Heroes
Of Catastrophe That Pre-
cipitated War.
EXECUTIVE ORDER
SUSPENDS BUSINESS
Departments of Government
Closed and Congress ADJ
journs for Day Out Of Re-
spect to Nations Dead.

SpeCL 10 NdLlOu DedO.
(From Saturdays Daily.)
Washington, D. c., March 23.-With
all the pomp and solemnity that a
mighty nation can pay it's heroes OF
war, the last Of the dead of the Maine
were laid away today in Arlington
cemetery.
Side by side with the bodies Of
those brought back from Havana har-
Dor after the war with Spain, they
were consigned to the earth Of the
old dominion, while nation paid its
last measure of honor to the "uniden-
tifed' Of that great catastrophe that
brought on war, changed the map
of the world and extended the empire
of the United States into the corners
Of the earth.
Seldom in the history Of this coun'
| try has there been planned higher
! tribute to the memory of any man or
men than that for the sixty-four dead
of the Maine Government business
in Washington practically was sus-
pended by executive order. President
Taft, most of the members of his cab
met, the highest officers Of the army,
the navy and the marine corps, off,
Gals of the department and the repre-
sentatives Of many foreign powers par
ticipated in the exercises. Over the
government buildings flags hung at
half mast, while congress adjourned
for the day. The booming Of minute
guns and the tramp Of soldiery added
teh touch of military pomp and GER
emory.
Elaborate and careful preparations
had been made for the ceremonies OF
the burial. Beginning with the re-
moval of the dead from the United
States Birmingham which brought
them up from Havana and ended with
the firing of three volleys Of musketry
over the new made graves across the
Potomac, the exercises were designed
to show all honor and respect to the
martyrs of the doomed battleship. The
escort for the slow march through the
streets Of the capital from the Birm-
ingham to the state, war and navy
buildings was picked from the Birm-
ingham and other vessels now in
Washington.
Three Speakers Give EuIosies.
The speakers who faced the crowd
in the plaza behind the navy build
ing were only three-President Taft
and Father Chadwick, chaplain OF the
Maine, when the explosion of Feb
ruary 49, 1898. sent her to the bottoms
and Chaplain Bayard, U. S. N. The
marine band, the show band OF Wash
ington, was chosen to give the solemn
music for the dead and an army bat
terry stationed near the Washington
monument, was selected to fire the
twenty-one guns just as the ceremon-
les at the navy building ended and the
quiet march to Arlington was begun.
Conspicuous among the officials for
whom reservations had been made
just behind President Taft on the
steps Of the big granite building were
Rear Admiral Charles D. Sigsbee, who
commanded the Maine at the time of
the explosion, Rear Admiral Richard
Wainwright, Lieutenant Boyd and
Medical Director l.. G. Heneberger, Of
fcers under him at the time. For
Admiral Dewey and Lieutenant Gen
eral Nelson A. Miles, the ranking Of
ficers of the navy and army, special
places had been set aside.
During the memorial exercises the
committee had arranged for the toll
| ing of the paul Revere bell Of All
Souls Unitarian church, which has
been tolled at the funerals Of presi-
dents, admirals. generals and other
prominent men.
The Funeral Procession.
Winding slowly out from behind the
navy building into Pennsylvania
avenue, the funeral procession found
it's way through the older part OF
Washington, across the aqueduct
bridge over the Potomac river and up
the gray road to Arlington cemetery.
, Rear Admiral Bradley A. Fisk had
been assigned command of the parade
and behind him were placed, first, an
escort of police, detachment OF
troops from Fort Meyer, the marine
band, a battalion of cavalry and the
first battalion Of engineers.
The naval escort comprised bat
talon of marines, two battalions Of
seamen. the naval band and the Dis
trict of Columbia naval militia.
Just ahead of the thirty-four army
cassions bearing the leaden caskets
were placed Chaplain Bayard and
Father Chadwick, and just behind the
flag draped collins the pallbearers from
the navy. the honorary pallbearers
from the United Spanish war veterans,
and forty eight body bearers.
| The place at the head of the mourn
ers was given to President Taft. In the
white house automobile, his secretary,
Charles D. Hilles, and his naval aide,
Lieutenant Timmons, also had seats.
1.-THE presidents personal escort was a