The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-02-16
IMPOSING CELE-
BRATION IN
HONOR OF DEAD
Commemoration of Sinking of the U. S.
Batt1eship Maine Was Held at
the Arlington National
Cemetery.

Washington, D. c., Feb. l6.---An inn
posing street demonstration, followed by
impressive ceremonies at Arlington Ma
tional cemetery, marked the commemo-
ration here to-day of the sinking of
the United States battleship Maine in
Havana harbor, that historic event which
startled the whole world and famed into
flame war fever eliminating in the
Spanish-American war.
Although l6 years have passed since
that day in February, 1898, when the
Maine was literally torn to pieces and
260 of her officers and crew persisted, yet
each year seems to bring added venera-
ton for those who lost their lives in
the explosion. To-day's exercises, while
centering about the graves of the Maine
heroes, took on. however, larger sig
nificance in including all those of the
land or sea forces who had sacrificed
themselves in the line OF patriotic duty.
Large bodies OF cavalry, artillery, sail
ors and marines began assembling
through the morning for the street pa
rade leading to Arlington. The forces
included the troopers stationed at Fort
Meyers, the artillery with their long
line of rumbling field pieces, large de-
tachments of bluejackets and marines
from the warships and marine barracks
in this vicinity and the full strength Of
the National Guard of the District of
Columbia. Many patriotic societies also
participated and in the line of march
were carriages bearing the commander
in chief of the G. A. r., Washington
Gardner OF Albion, Mich; the eomman-
der of the Spanish War Veterans. John
Lewis Smith; the head Of the Army and
Navy union, III. Ogden Lake, and others
prominent in civic and patriotic affairs.
Great crowds lined the streets as the
procession moved through the downtown
section and across tho Aqacd ,ct bridge,
over the Potomac river to Arlington.
Crossing the bridge, lhe parade halted
to witness novel and impressive fea
ture of the days ceremony the unloos
ing on the river below of 4 boat laden
with flowers, which was sent adrift down
the historic old stream. making its way
slowly sea-ward until lost TO y,ow--a
memorial TO the uncovered dead, not
only of the Maine but OF other times
and places.
Arriving at Arlington, al about Wee
seen the mute reminders OF the Names
glories. On one side @ere the graves
of the sailors recovered srom the wreck
of the ship and brought home by the gov
eminent for final burial here. In the
lay a huge cylinder of taper
ing steel, rusty and indegtsd, but still!
the stately outline, of the
foremost of the Maine. This. too, had
been brought back from the tangled
to be erected and unveiled lat
err in the spring or summer, alongside
the graves of those who in life had seen
the flag whipping from its topmost
point. At either side of tie mast lay
two great anchors of the Maine. To-
day mast and anchors wee strewn with
overs. two large wreaths coming from
the White House and Others from pat
riotie bodies and citizens
As the parade made its way slowly
through the grounds, salve of artillery
greeted the raising OF the flag to full
mast. The invocation of the day was
by Bishop Harding, Protes-
tant Episcopal bishop of Washington.
The exercises included addresses by Mr..
Lake, Col John McElroy, q commemora
tive address by Mrs. Ida II. Galloway,
past president general of the United
Spanish War Veterans auxiliary, and
The reeiting of the recessional by ans.
Isabel Worrell Ball. chairman o. tie
voman's executive committee.
An impressive feature of the closing
exercises was the sounding of taps--tle
inal good nightly many buglers wide
v separated at remote points through
,ut the vast cemetery, one after another
aking up the dying echoes and passing
hem along from point to point like old
line signalling of war days.