Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1913-04-04

through the dangers of the famous
Santiago fight and had done efficient
duty throughout the Spanish war.
He was received gladly in the best
social circles, member of clubs and
organizations of recognized prom
inence. and was noted for his execu-
tive ability and scientific attainments-
He was scholar of ability and OF
wide reading He had been a profess
sor at the naval academy and had
written Interestingly on both histor-
ical and technical subjects.
Became "Town Character"
That was one side of the man. The
other showed him living almost iso-
lated on a back road in the country.
With no near neighbors and only an
occasional visitor he went his way
unmindful of any but his own con-
Germs. Any day he might be seen
wandering about his place in rough
clothes and overalls, doing the work
of farm helper.
From being one of the most looked
up-to personages in the community ne
became little by little hardly more
than town character" His strange
methods of life, his pecularities OF
personality, and his domestic difficul-
tics made him the object of eager
gossip. His past was often forgotten,
but his present was keenly remem-
bered.
During the week before he had
been seen in West Norwell apparent
ly in robust health. He had been
about his house and grounds or pot
tering as usual among his hens. Then
came the announcement of his death,
a death strangely in keeping with the
oddness of his latter days.
Secrecy Follows Death Report.
Just what happened has been made
a matter of secrecy by those who have
investigated the circumstances. There
was. however, something about the
death which caused the authorities to
become Immediately active. Medical
Examiner Osgood of Rockland at once
got in touch with the officers OF the
state police, following an autopsy.
Scarcely less remarkable than the
lonely death of this once honored nav
al commander was his lonesome and
pathetic burial Probably no other
officer of high rank in the service of
the United States was ever laid at
rest with SO little regard to his past
achievements.
Not single brother-in-arms of this
veteran sailor, who had given nearly
40 years of his life to his country
from the time he served as a MILDLY
under Farragut until he retired rear
admiral, was present to signify love
and regard. None of the bluejackets,
none of the marines who had fought
with him and done mis- bidding were
anywhere to be seen.
There had been a simple funeral
service at the Assinippi home which
was attended only by the family and
a scattering of neighbors and then
the body was taken to Lowell for bur-
ial at Dracut, beside that of his first
wife and daughter who had died
many years ago. OF all his friends and
relatives, only his wife and one of
his stepdaughters were present.
Strange Scene In Cemetery.
The rest of the little company that
surrounded the grave were strangers
The scene was in an out-of-the-way
corner of Oaklawn cemetery in the
town of Dracut A hearse arrived, a
carriage containing the wife and
daughter, and others containing the
his assistants, newspaper
men and photographers made up the
shabby cortege.
Then came the saddest incident Of
all in a sad day. The wife and daugh-
ter remained In the carriage looking
on dazedly. From time to time the
girl wept quietly. The hearse drew up
but there was nobody ready to move
the casket. The need of pall-bearers
had been forgotten
After moment of uncertainty the
called to the driver of
the hearse and a hackman. AS they
stepped forward a newspaper man and
q photographer offered to help. These
four, with the undertaken, and his as
sistant, bore the body to the grave
SIDE
There was another pause and then
It was discovered that the usual sings
by which a coffin is lowered were
While the little company of
strangers looked on in a silence.
punctured only by the clicking of cam
eras, the driver of the hearse unfas-
tened his reins, looped them beneath
the plain pine casket, and at a sign
from the undertaken the casket slid
at last from sight. No prayer was Of
fered, and no word of coincidence
spoken. Without more ado the watch
ers turned and filed into their car
riages.