The Washington herald., 1912-03-24

Continued from Page One.
where the wind swept like an angrs
wrath. there was an unbroken fringe Of
blue. save In the southeast corner. where
the scarlet uniforms OF the Marine Band
broke the harmony of color.
In front of the thirty-foUr graves were
the guests OF honor: President Taft
Secretary Of the Navy Meyer. Secretary
OF War Stimson, Surgeon General
Stokes. Senator Miles Poindexter. Repre-
sentative Murray, OF Massachusetts, "a
veteran of the Spanish war;; Represen-
tative Tilson. Of Connecticut. and other
notables.
Near them, in the somber robes OF Of
fice, were Chaplain Bayard. of the Unit
ed States navy; Father Chadwick, who
was on board the Maine the night Of the
disaster. and Bishop Anderson, OF the
Methodist Episcopal Church.
In another tent not far away were the
officers of the Spanish War Veterans
Society. who were 10 hold the ritual of
their organization over the bodies. There
was Commander-in-Chief Morris Sim
monds. who was to speak the eulogy.
and Edward Lawton. f. W. LArsin, and
Wilson I. DeVeinny. who were to take
the parts OF first. second. and third COM
rade as the ritual proceeded.
Beyond them. standing exposed TO the
rain and wind. was another group OF i've
men, One was clad In the uniform OF a
sailor. another wore on his breast four
medals for bravery. and another limped
when he walked. This little band was all
OF the sixty-three survivors Of the Maine
disaster who attended the services. They
rHrar l.r-ar - In. frK~h a
medRls); Arthur Rau. the Teuton sailor
who reused four companions on the hor-
rible night when the explosion took place;
Charles P. Galpin, Frank Roach. and J.
Flynn.
Near them in carriages were relatives
of the unidentified dead Of the Maine.
There was something tragic in the look
they bestowed on the open graves Each
seemed TO realize that his brother, his
father. or his son was in those sember
cofifns.
Beside the raw dirt Of the new made
graves wreaths and floral designs were
piled. There was an anchor from the
men Of the Washington Navy Yard.
wreaths from the battle ship Missis-
sippi. New Jersey. Rhode Island, and
Connecticut, and the cruisers Birming-
ham and Concord There were broken.
pillars of evergreen and designs in lilies,
roses. and violets from Individuals
enough in all to cover each of the coffins
In blanket Of flowers.
Bands Play DirEes.
When the circle had been formed the
artiIlerymen began their slow march
around the driveway. The circle of troops
stood at attention and the little outer
fringe OF onlookers climbed upon tomb
stones, in trees. anywhere to get a
glimpse OF the somber sight. One by
one, the caissons were driven to the
head of the graves. There the six blue
Jackets detailed as palIbearers lifted the
coffin from the vehicle and
,arried 1t beside one OF the graves. The
,aisson would then drive slowly down
he hillside toward the river and another
would replace II.
All the while the Marine Band played
Urges Of historic note. "Garfeld's Fun
5al March" would slowly die away and
IN its echo would come Heroes of the
Maine" to be succeeded again by Colts
shalk's Last Hope"
The haIf-lights of dusk had come over
he cemetery before the last Of the cof-
ms was lowered and the symbolic ritual
Il the Spanish War Veterans was begun. |
Then Commander-in-clIief Simmonds be-
AN HiS duuAtoSs du douh CHf Ine |
doctrine of heroism. self-sasrifice. and |
evotion to duty stood above all else. |
rom time to time those who took their |
arts In the ritual responded TO the for |
nal interrogations of the commander |
n-chief.
Then came the simple Episcopal service |
( the dead by Chaplain Bayard Over
he thirty-four graves the black-robed /
Minister offered the age-old and undying-
y beautiful appeal for the rest Of sthe /
ouL As he spoke. the heads Of the grim |
dmirals were bowed and onlookers. not /
eeding the rain, lifted their hats in ST.
mt recognition Of the prayer.
From the line of marines grouped on the
astern side of the graves came the FIR
lg squad. Reaching the side of the
earest tier of graves they halted. and
he carriages Of relatives and guests to
he rites drove in a circle around the /
raves.
Last Tribute-Taps.
1t took but few minutes to complete
his drive. The carriages. one by one.
assed through the arched gateway Of
he cemetery, and the rife squad stood
/ attention. The command came at last.
lies were loaded. aimed high above the
raves. and, in quick succession. three
olleys were fred.
There was another silence as a single
CURE, wearing the uniform Of Jackie
epped In the center Of the amphitheater. In
his was ]. z. Ivy, bugiar of the Mayhow- III
!. Lifting his instrument toward the rain
vept heavens he began .thatssaddest of
I dirges-taps. The long. wailing notes
wing for the moment then dying away,
again and finally passing like ,
memory In the last low tone. sounded
'er the graves.
While the last note was still in the air i
ere. came a thunder Of cannon from ,
e valley Just beyond the graves. One
ter another the heavy guns OF the fieid I
tiIleFy shook the earth ~ they pssled {