The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-03-23
NATION HONORS
HEROIC DEAD OF
OLD maine TODAY
With Pomp and Solsmnity Sixty
Four Bodies Of Seamen are
Given Burial
EXERCISES AT The CAPITAL
Last Rites at Arlington Cemetery
Attended by Many
Government Business Practically suss
pended by Executive Order.
Taft Is Speaker.

Washington. March 23.--With all the
pomp and solemnity a mighty nation
can pay its war heroes the last of the
Names dead were laid away today in
Arlington cemetery. Government busi-
ness was practically suspended by ex-
ecutive order. President Taft, most
Of the members of the cabinet, officers
Of the army and navy. the marine
corps officials Of departments and rep
resentatiyes of many foreign powers
participated in the exercises. over the
government buildings flags were hung
at half mast, while Congress adjourn
ed for the day
The ceremonies began with the re-
moval OF the sixty four dead from the
cruiser Birmingham, which brought
them up from Havana, and ended with
the fring OF three volleys Of musketry
over the new made graves across the
Potomac. The escort for the march
through the streets OF the capital from
the Birmingham to the state. war and
navy building was picked from the Bir-
mingham and other vessels now at
Washington.
Taft and Chaplains Speakers.
The speakers, who faced the crowd on
the plaza behind the navy building,
were only three-Pres. Taft, Father
Chadwick chaplain OF the Maine when
the explosion on February 10, 1898,
sent her to the bottom, and Chaplain
Bayard OF the L. S. n. The Marine
band was chosen to play the solemn
music for the dead. and the army bat
terry, stationed near the Washington
monument, was selected TO fire twen-
ty-one gun salute.
The ceremonies at the naval building
ended. the march TO Arlington started
Conspicuous among the officials. for
whom reservations were made just be-
hind President Taft on the steps of the
big building, We're Rear Admiral Sigs-
bee, who commanded the Maine at the
time of the explosion. Rear Admiral
Wainswright Lieut.. Bird and Medical
Director Heneberger officers under
him at the time; and Admiral Dewey;
Lieut. General Nelson A. Miles.
During the exercises the committee
had arranged for the toling of the
Paul Revere" bell in All Souls Uni
tartan church, which had been tolled
at the funerals of presidents, sdmirals.
generals and other prominent men.
Noted Persons in Line.
To Rear Admiral Bradley a. Fisk
had been assigned the command of the
funeral procession. and just ahead of
the army caissons, bearing the sea-
mems caskets, were placed Chaplain
Bayard and Father Chadwick. The
place at the head of the mourners was
given To President Taft The pres-
dents personal escort was a troop of
cavalry, and the line behind his auto
mobile included the secretary of war.
secretary of the navy. officers of the
Maine and major general command
ant of the Marine corps. Behind these
officials came distinguished persons.
United Spanish war veterans. Ladies'
auxiliary veterans. societies and citi-
2ens.
over the graves i'm Arlington the
simple exercises included burial serv-
ices by Chaplain Bayard and Father
Chadwick. With the firing of three
volleys of mus<etry by a company Of
marines. the national salute Of twenty
one guns from the army battery in the
cemetery and the sounding of the
plaintive call of taps the dead were
given TO earth.
EuIogy by President Taft.
President Taft, in eulogy. said:
I'VE meet TO pay appropriate honor
to the memory OF the first of our
country's sons to lose their lives in
cur war with Spain. / do not mean
by this to charge responsibility to the
Spanish government for the explosion
of the Maine, but that the tragedy was
part of the causes which led to the
Spanish war no one familiar with the
circumstances can now doubt. That
war every American can feel proud
Of because IL was fought without
single selfish instinct and was prompt
ed by most altrulstic motives. Ii is
well we should stay the hum of in
dustry to take time TO note. by appro-
pirate ceremony the debt TIVE owe
those who gave their lives for the ma
ton. We raised the ship from Ha-
vana harbor 10 give her remains an
honorable burial In the blue waves OF
the ocean. We now consign TO the
sacred soil of Arlington the recovered
bones of those who gave the Maine
her personality and made her a living
weapon for the protection of the ma
tional honor and vital interests"