Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1912-03-30
Thirty.Four Collins Borne to
Cemetery with Naval
Escort.
Rev. Father John r. Chidwick
Delivers the Funeral
Grafton.
NATIONS CHIEFS WERE THERE

At Washington last Saturday
fitting tribute, marked by all the
patriotic spirit of grateful nation
was paid to the memory of the Maine
victims, whose bodies have only re-
Gently been recovered from their
tomb in Havana harbor From the
President of the United States to the
smallest urchin of the street, men
and women in every walk OF life,
gathered for the memorial services at
| the south front of the State, War
and Navy building, and heard
prayer and praise for the unnamed
heroes whose bodies were to be laid
beside those of their comrades OF
the Maine disaster in the Arlington
cemetery. The scene at the memorial
services brought vividly back to the
minds of many the memorial services
held for President Mckinley. Indeed
the pomp and ceremony of the occa-
sion made IL seem as IL the Maine
victims had perished only yesterday
instead of having remained in the
wreck of the sunken ship for four
teen years Fully ten thousand peo-
| pie were present at the services,
| igns ring the little squalls of rain and
hail that beat down at intervals.
Upon the spacious south front steps
of the State, War and Navy building,
above the crowd, were improvised
seats for the President and national
foreign dignitaries, besides several
hundred who had special tickets for
the ceremony, Seats were set apart
for Admiral Dewey and Lieut.. Gen.
Nelson A. Miles, the ranking officers
of the army and navy.
Besides the President sat Senor
Antonio Martin Rivero. the Minister
! from Cuba; designated by President
| Gomez to act as his representative at
Una sas ssEysss ssgs 3 tsiE saS itSr%s ss%s
were conspicuous in the gathering
Among these were the surviving off,
GERS of the Maine. Directly in front
Of the steps stood the thirty-four
caissons with the thirty-four coffins,
each buried in wreaths of flowers.
Clustered about these in every avail
able space was the throng of Ameri-
cans. young and old men, women and
children. that spread out far beyond
on the white lot and on the grounds
to the right and left. The religious
services were conducted by George L..
Chaplain. U. S. N. parts of the
Episcopal burial service being used.
AS the Chaplain walked to the top
OF the stone steps and raised his
right hand. hats went off by the
thousands and heads were bowed.
Then came the memorial address, de-
l;vered by Father John p. Chidwick.
who was Chaplain of the Maine at
the time of the disaster. In a round
sonorous voice that carried far and
easily, Father Chadwick eloquently
pictured the Maine victims as a sacri-
flee to the cause of humanity and
liberty. and paid tribute to the men
he had known and lived with up to
The hour when they went to their
leaths.
IL shall recall the catastrophe only
In few words" said Father Child
wick. Its horrors impressed you
too viyidly even TO be forgotten. The
dark, starless night; Havana
sDarkled with light and gay with
pleasure. It's people apparently
careless of the war waged just be-
yond the city limits. The harbor
dark and quiet. The silence broken
only by the occasional cries and
plying Of oars of passing boatmen
Our men asleep in their hammocks.
They lay calmly, peacefully in the
hands of God In whom We trust and
to whom we commend their spirits.
Suddenly the fateful flash, the loud
report, the bursting forth OF flame,
the bodies of men with fragments OF
the ship shooting into the air, and
then the cries OF the wounded,
drowning and dying. Here let me
draw the curtain upon the narrowing
scene OF human suffering, although
, II also closes upon the view of many
a brave and gallant action. Let me
rather turn to the country stricken,
astounded. appalled,. When the news
OF the terrible calamity flashed over
the country, what cry OF horror and
Indignation rent the heavens. Was
there single family which did not
feel as II the murderer had crossed
the threshold Of their own home and
had stricken down one OF their own
circleg Then the Ship Of State tossed
and strained In a sea swept by a
tempest OF passion. The storm waves
OF anger seemed 10 bear down all
that dared oppose them. Today AZ
we stand over the remains OF our
dead. We thank God for the power
which calmed the sea and held IN
check rash and unwarranted accusa-
ton. We thank God for the strength
which made passion wait upon Inyes.
tigation and give time for the prev,
aience OF wiser and truer counsel. y
Presiuent Taft's address followed
that OF Father Chldwick. and after
the three volleys OF musketry at the
graves and taps, the army battery
let Arlington cemetery beloved
forthF twenty-one guns. and the last
esa''er IN the Urine tragedy wa.
closed.