Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-16
|TOWED UNDER ESCORT
FROM HAVANA HARB0R
Cuba Pays Honors to Ill-Starred
Vessel and Her Dead.
BODIES ON WAY TO THIS CITY
Sailors Who Perished Aboard the
Warship to Be Brought Here
for Funeral Rites and
Interment.

| HAVANA March 16.-The solemn fu-
neral rites connected with the sinking of
the United States batteship Maine and
with the carrying to their last resting
place of the bodies of many of her gal
liant sailors are going on here today.
The old battleship is being sunk in the
waters of the Gulf of Mexico. the smoke
of the saluting guns of war vessels serv-
ing for funeral shroud. while with all
the paseantry and pomp of national
mourning the bodies of the sailors are
being forwarded to Washington.
Followed in procession by the president
of the Cuban republic and by all the 9TH
er high digntaries of Cuba and amid a
vast concourse of all classes of Cubans
and American citizens, the dead of the
Maine were borne on the shoulders of Gu
ban sailors and artillerymen through the
streets OF Havana. Cuban infantry lined
the sidewalks. on which great multitude
reverently uncovered as the bodies passed
from the mortuary chamber in the palace
to the side of the harbor.
There they were formally placed in the
custody of officers of the United States
Navy. in the service of which they had
given their lives.
Chapel Was Draped.
The mortuary chapel where the bodies
lay until the arrival of the bearers was
most imposing chamber. The walls
were draped with black. and at the end
gilt altar was erected and covered with
many lighted candles in silver stands.
The caskets were arranged round the
salls, covered with black and draped with
Cuban and American flags
Up to 10 o'clock this morning the bodies
lay II state, and a continuous procession
passed by to pay their last respects. As
the caskstS~Xere~hoEpe out guard OF
honor saluted, and all along the line the
salute was continued until the procession
reached the harbor.
Hundreds OF wreaths and crosses and
other floral emblems were sent to be
piaced on the cOffins-
At the harbOr itself stood a guard OF
honor of Spanish h-American war veterans.
and facing these was another guard of
honor of Cuban soldiers.
The day was clear and warm with no
wind blowing, and the population OF Ha-
vana came out to witness the procession
almost to man.
PROCESSION Forms at Palace Front.
The funeral procession was formed on
Obispo street. in front of the palace. II
was led by the municipal band and fol-
lowed by the scarlet-coated marine band
Of the North Carolina, company OF
marines in full dress and two companies
of sailors in white uniforms.
Then came the thirty-four cases con-
tanning the caskets with the sixty-hve
bodies, covered with wreaths of palms
and flowers, each on the shoulders of six
khaki-clad Cuban artillerymen.
Afterward came Vice President Zayas.
the members of the Cuban cabinet,
American Minister Arthur NJ. Beaupre,
all of the other members of the diplomatic
corps. Brig. Gen. w. III. BiXby, chief
of the Engineers Corps of the United
States Army: Col. William Nj. Black,
Lieut.. Col. Mason NJ. Patrick and Maj
Harley q. Ferguson, all of the Corps OF
| Engineers.
The judges of the supreme court, a
number of senators and representatives.
with officers of the Cuban army and
navy, the rural guard and the national
police the Havana camp of Spanish
American War Veterans and a detach-
nent of Cuban sailors followed