The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-16
DOWN in The DEEP
Last Rites Connected With
Burial of the Maine.
And the Return of Her Dead to
United States.
.SALUTED BY BIG GUNS
III-Fated Battleship Buried
With HOnOrs of War.
Rests in UnsOunded Waters of
Gulf of Mexico.

Havana, March 16.-The funeral rites
connected with the sinking of the bat
tleship Maine and with carrying to
their last resting place the bodies of
many of her gallant sailors are taking
place here today.
The old battleship is being sunk in
the waters of the gulf of Mexico, the
smoke of the saluting guns of war ves-
sells serving for a funeral shroud. while
with national mourning the bodies of
the sailors are being brought back to
Washington.
Followed in procession by the presi-
dent of the Cuban Republic and other
high dignitaries and amid concourse
of all classes of Cubans and American
citizens, the dead of the Maine were
borne on the shoulders of Cuban sailors
and artillerymen through the streets OF
Havana.
Cuban infantry lined the sidewalks
on which a great multitude reverently
uncovered as the bodies passed from
the mortuary chamber in the palace TO
the side of the harbor. There they were
placed in TIE custody of officers Of the
United States navy.
AS the caskets, draped with Cuban
and American flags and covered with
flowers, were borne out, guard of
honor saluted and all along the line
the salute was continuous until the
procession reached the harbor. At the
harbor itself stood a guard of honor Of
Spanish-American war veterans and
facing these was another guard of
honor of Cuban soldiers.
The other great function, the sinking
of the Maine wreck is taking place this
afternoon. The old battleship, her
decks hidden beneath great masses of
floral offerings and escorted by war
ships belonging to the United States
navy and the Cuban navy is being
towed out to sea. Under the salutes of
cannon from the Cuban's fortress she
is proceeding to find her last resting
place in the unsounded depths of the
Cult, of Mexicc,--gss
Wagon Loads of Flowers.
A huge gilded hearse drawn by six
horses and several wagons loaded with
magnificent floral tributes followed
At the last moment President Co
mez decided he would not accompany
the procession to the wharf but stood
on the balcony of the palace accom-
panied by the members of his family
and reviewed the procession. In his
Grafton, Father John P. Chadwick
said:
'tThe bodies of the Names seamen
are sacred mementos of long deferred
hope and prayer made bright with a
certainty which could not fail. Looking
back at the tragedy, Cuba must ever
regard the event as the first light on
the horizon which foretold the dawn of
her freedom and we hope of her pros
perity and happiness"
Father chadwick then briefly drew
a vivid picture of the great catastrophe
and again emphatically denied the
oft-repeated story that almost all the
officers of the Maine were on shore
saying: Il affirm over the bodies of
these dead that every officer of our
ship with the exception of four was
on board on the vessel at the moment
of the catastrophe and that of these
four only one was commissioned Of
ficer If it were not that the officers
were on board, l do not think any of
our men would have been saved"
The ceremonies were then suspend |
ed until the hulk of the Maine in tow
of the naval tug Oscelo and escorted
by American and Cuban warships pro-
ceeded to her last resting place.
Flags at Half Mast.
New York, March 16.-F1ags were |
half-mas sted on public and many pri- |
vate buildings today in commemoration |
of the burial of the battleship Maine at
sea which will be towed from Havana
harbor out into the Atlantic and sunk
in a final resting place in the sea this
afternoon. Bells on Trinity church and
its nine chapels will be tolled and the |
st. Patrick's day parade of 10000 has
for five minutes with colors trailing at
the time set for the burial of the Maine |
off the Cuban coast.
In Washington Next Saturday.
Washington, March 16.-Ela borate /
plans have been made for the funeral |
services for the Names dead here next |
Saturday. President Taft, members Of
his cabinet and other government Off |
ciaIs will attend the open air services
at the south front of the state war and |
navy department building. Business IN /
the capital will be suspended.
Leaving the Maine at her last resting |
place at the bottom of the sea today |
the cruisers North Carolina and Birm-
ingham, headed direct for Hampton |
Roads Arriving there the caskets con-
tanning the recovered remains of 65 of |
the warship's crew will be transferred |
to the Birmingham and brought to the |
navy yard. The Birming
ham is due here Friday. Saturday the |
caskets will be placed on flag decked |
army caissions and escorted to the |
scene of the funeral services by blue
Jackets, marines and soldiers from
nearby stations. After the services the /
funeral procession will reform for the |
march to Arlington National cemetery,
where already many of the Names VIC
Tins lie buried.