Arizona republican., 1912-03-24
Bodies of Sixty Seven Vic tins of Maine Disaster
 Were Buried
 Yesterday
PRESIDENT TAFT
 WAS AT SERVICE
Vast Throng Attended the Funeral Which Was Held in Heavy
 Downpour
1 ISSOCidicd Press DiSbatchl


 WASHINGTON. March 23.-The American nation today wrote the final chapter in the tragedy of the Maine and paid its full measure of tribute to the heroes who were sacrificed on the altar of patriotism fourteen years ago. With q wealth of sentiment the bones Of sixty y-seven unidentified dead. res urrected from the harbor of Havana. were consigned to the soil of the Ar lingtOn national cemetery. to be mingled with the dust of the country's hallewed dead.
 President Taft. his cabinet. both houses of congress. and all other of ficials Of the government did homage to the dead Although rain began to fall early in the afternoon President Taft and his entourage made their way to the cemetery and remained bareheaded in the downpour until the last coffin was lowered.
 The solemnity or the moment inn pressed itself on everyone. Before the services at the graves. a service was held on the south front or the state, war and navy building. This was attended by the president. vice. -presi- dent. Chief Justice White and his as sociates. members of both houses of congress, al offiHrs of both branches of the military service. and members Of the diplomatic corps
 Thousands thrOnged the streets Of the capital as the funeral cOrtege proceeded All business in the city was suspended The crowds were greater than any known here except on inauguration days. Amid much cere- mony. the collins had been removed from the scout cruiser Birmingham at the navy yard at noon and escorted to the state. army and navy building, the scene of the first ceremonial. President Taft occupied a chair in the center of the esplanade On his right was the Cuban minister On his left Rear Admiral Charles D. Sigsbee. who was captain of the old Maine. and Rear Admiral Richard Wainwright, who was executive officer of the ill., fated ship. Father Chidwick. chaplain of the old Maine. recounted the scenes that attended the destruction of the vessel. Before him stretched half a mile of cortege that contained all that was mortal of the men tO whom he ministered spiritually more than four teen years ago. President Taft spoke of the men as hurled into eternity without the inspiration of battle or hoped-for victory. But they were on duty when they went down. he sald. long line of cavalry, artillery, sea men. and marines marched six miles from Washington to the cemetery across the Potomac to strains o1 urges and funeral marches. One by one the collins were borne to graves on the rainswept hill There stood the old anchor of the Maine. Its iron shank hore plate inscribed "U. S. S. Maine blown up Feb. 15, 1898. Here lie the remains of 163 men of the Maines crew brought from Havana Cuba re-interred at Arlington. De cember 2S. 1899"
 After impressive services, the bands hroke into a dirge which was stilled only when the firing squad left the massed soldiery. came forward on the double-ouick. and fired three Volleys. Then the navy bugler sounded taps. When the last note died the first crashing note of the guns at the Tort was heard. twenty-one times repeated Then the president and the multitude made their way back to the capital