The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-05-15
NATIONS DEAD HONORED
IMPRESSIVE FUNERAL SERVICES
HELD OVER BODIES OF VERA
CRUZ HEROES.
FIVE HUNDRED CHILDRED SING
President Wilson EuIoqizes Marines
and BIueiackets Killed in Mexico.
Their Heroism MemoriaIized.
Salute Fired.

simple dignity the heroism Of the nine
teen bluejackets and marines who
gave their lives at Vera Cruz. AS the
most impressive funeral pageant since
ahe Spanish war started from the bat
terry to the Brooklyn navy yard, it
was as if the pulse of the city had
stopped. All business was suspended,
The president came from Washing
ton and was with the procession from
the time it left the battery until the
squad of marines fired their parting
volleys over the flag-draped collins at
the Brooklyn navy yard and the navy
bugler sounded the taps" that pro-
claimed the end of the ceremony.
On the stand with the president at
the navy yard were relatives of the
dead sailors and marines, mothers, Sis
tiers and wives, but in all the throng
of mourners none seemed more deeply
touched by the spirit of the day than
the man whose word sent the lads of
the navy to fight for their country's
honor at Vera Cruz.
And to the president was left the
privilege of voicing the nations grief
and the nations belief that those who
died in the performance of duty had
done their country service not to be
measured by their individual deeds.
1.-THE feeling that is uppermost," he
said, lis one of profound grief, and
yet there is mixed with that grief a
profound pride that they should have
gone as they did, and if / may say it
out of my heart, a touch of envy of
those who were permitted so quietly,
so nObly to do their duty"
The head of the nation looked out
over the thousands massed about the
collins on the parade grounds and his
voice shook with emotion as he de-
clared his creed;
I'VE have gone down to Mexico" he
said, ito serve mankind if we can find
a way. We don't want to fight the
Mexicans. We want to serve the Mex,
leans"
There was a wistful note in his
voice as he added: Il never was IN
der fire, but Il fancy that there are
some things just as hard to do as to
80 under fire. fancy that it is just
as hard to do your duty when men
are sneering at you as when they are
shooting at YOU When they shoot at
you they can only take your natural
life; when they sheer at you they can
wound your heart"
The dead were landed by the tugs
Traffic and Correction early in the
morning and lay in state in the Bat
terry Park plaza for over an hour be.
fore the procession started. There
were seventeen collins. The other
two victims of Mexican snipers hon
ored died after the Montana left Vera
Cruz with the bodies of their com,
rades.
AS the procession entered the city
hall plaza the voices of 500 children
rose to meet them. The children sang
Nearer, My God, to Thee"
Mayor Mitchell briefly eulogized the
dead and laid upon one of the Gals,
sons huge wreath symbolizing the
city's appreciation of the service rem.
dered at Vera Cruz.
After this brief halt the cortege re.
sumed its measured progress over
Manhattan bridge to the Brooklyn
navy yard. The quiet restraint that
had characterized the crowds in the
streets gave way as the procession
proceeded to the east side and Brook
lyn in storms of applause Here it
seemed that the presence. of the presi-
dent eclipsed the brief of the occa.
sion. In the naval parade ground the
demonstration found small physical
compass. Less than 10000 were able
TO pack themselves into the Enclosure
and face the stand where stood the
president with barred head. Mayor
Mitchell was at his right and Secretary
Daniels at his left.
With sharp precision, the blue.
jackets, their white hats catching the
dull sunlight, drew up into military
formation before the stand. At the
same time the seventeen caissons,
draped with flags and banked with
flowers contributed by the comrades
of the dead, were laid directly in front
Of the stand.
A moment later the crowd was per.
mitted to enter and Immediately if
filled the entire field. The band of
the battleship Texas played softly
Nearer, My God, to Thee" and Naval
Chaplain Cassard began his invoca.
ton. In referring to the dead heroes
he prayed it would not be necessary
to make a further sacrifice on the
altar of patriotism.
Three volleys fired by the marines
across the consecrated dead, the final
melody Of taps, and the funeral serv-
ices were completed. They had lasted
a little less than an hour.