Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-05-11
Joy AND SORROW
IN HOMECOMING
OF THE MONTANA
Dead and Living Heroes of Vera
Cruz Passengers on
Cruiser.

ON BOARD THE L S. s. MON
TANA, NEW YORK, May 11.-with
seventeen flag -draped caskets on her
superstructure, this veteran armored
cruiser, bringing home for triumphant
burial the lads who fell at Vera Cruz,
early today lay glstening and gieam-
ing off the Battery.
Back home." Joyous home-com-
ing for the men Of the Montana after
five months in the tropics and for the
boys returning from Vera Cruz, where
their enlistments expired. But the
great ceremony being prepared on
shore is not for them. They will par
ticipate in the solemn welcome home,
a welcome not to the living but TO
the silent boys, sleeping under the
flag for which they died. Everywhere
about the big sparkling ship, cleaned
and polished and dressed in her best
for the occasion, was evidence Of the
solemnity of the duty to be per-
formed by sailor and land-lubber
alike, from the stoker in the hold to
the president of the United States.
The Montana had done 2,050 miles
at an average of IL knots, using LOCO
tons of coal costing about $4,000.
from the tropical waters of Mexico.
Armed bluejaekets, pacing the super
structure, where only the nation
dead and the officers and crew on at
tention on the quarter deck showed
the sorrowful mission of the ship.
The eventful trip began May 3, in
the harbor of Vera Cruz.
Fleet Honors Dead.
With flag at half-mast and her crew
at attention on the quarter deck the
Montana after taking on her cargo of
dead from the hospital ship Solace
steamed through the Atlantic fleet
drawn up in two long and imposing
lines.
As the Montana passed each dread
naught silently saluted by dipping
her flag. which was left at half-rnast.
Mustered on deck was the entire crew
of each warship, and as the MCn1ana
PASSED by the ships bands struck up
mournful dirges, THE Dear March
from Saul Nearer My God to Tnee
and kindred airs. More than ? 600
miles from home, after five months
in the South, the departure OF the
Montana was highly dramatic to her
officers and crew, and TO every one
else in the harbor.
On the trip up, covering seVen
days. the Montana was about every
srrt of a ship that the log Of the
navy records. With the seventeen
bodies on the superstructure she was
funeral ship. With six court mar
tialed bllejackets from the heet IN
the brig coming home for dishenor-
able discharge she was a prison snip
with two insane men in her hospital
ward caused by five months OF neat
in the tropics she was an asylum
shin and with siNty-nine men whose
terms of enlistment had expired the
Montana was a passenger ship.
The first care of Commander L. NJ.
N-nlton. captain of the Montana, was
the preservation of the bodies en-
trusted to him.
As soon as the Montana passed
tbe battleships and Vera Cruz was
| sbulI down" on the horizon the cas-
| lSets were hoisted 10 the port side OF
the superstructure and ranged IN
| three rows OF four each and one of
| five They were elevated on blocks
to allow free circulation OF air and
covered with tarpaulins TO protect
them from the weather.
/ ON last Thursday night there came
mn a storm off Cape Hatteras. The
/ rain come down in torrents, and as
| the old Montana rolled and pitched
/ and reared UP on the waves, the
| flashing lightning, with its accom-
/ pauying thunderous detonations re-
vealed the tapping tarpauiins over
the seventeen boxes in picture that
win never fade from the eyes of those
who saw il.
Bodies Guarded Night and Day.
| Throughout the voyage the bodies
of the dead were guarded night and
| dav bv two armed bluejackets. As
/ the ship entered lower New York
/ bay after anchoring Saturday night
off Scotland Light the caskets were
draped with the stars and stripes
and the guard was doubled. For the
| funeral services today the body bear
ers for each casket We're detailed
| from the discharged men. They
begged to be allowed TO serve. They
were men from the Atlantic feet
who saw actual service at Vera
Cruz. Among them were same who
actually caught the slain men in their
| arms as they fell