New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-16
"TAPS" SOUND AGAIN
FOR DEAD OF MAINE
Spanish WarVeteranS Place
WreathS on Monument in
Columbus Circle.
CEREMONY AT HOUR
BATTLESHIP SANK
Admiral Sigsbee Retells Story OF
Disaster to Big Audience in
list ArmOry.

Taps sounded in this city yesterday
for the dead Of the battleship Maine.
blown up in Havana Harbor sixteen years
ago last night
At-the Maine monument at the @th
street entrance 10 Central Park five
hundred members OF the memorial eN-
ecutiye committee OF the United Spanish
war Veterans and their friends gathered
last night and az the sound Of taps
placed = two-foot wreath a the base OF
the monument
IT wss exactly e.l5 o'clock when the
wreath Of lockwood was hung. Those
participating were Ralph II. Parker.
department commander. Michael ". j..
Lessy. department aid: William Jones.
department adjutart. r. l.. Harvey. ma
tionsI aid; r. J. ODonnell department
ouartermastcr and - r. Her, com
mander
~ the side Of the wreath second one
was hung by members OF the Ladies
Auxiliary
The ceremony VAS simple but impress
sive. There was no speechmaNng. and
tho only thing to break the quietude
was the sounding Of taps by the drum
CORDS or the veterans.
Two thousand persons gathered in the
list Regiment Armory yesterday after
noon 10 do honor 10 the mon who persisted
when the battlcship Maine was blown up
in Havana hsrbor sixteen years ago. The
service was held by the Colonel John
Jacob Astor Camp. No. Is. United Spanish
War Veterans. and a the end OF the cX-
erc.ses Rear Admiral Charles II. Sigsbee
unveiled memorial tablet made from
metal taken from the Inflated ship.
For the second time since the disaster
ADMIRAL Sigssoe told ar audience the
story OF the occurrence. lie gave de-
tailed account Of his actions Al ca plain OF
the vessel and paid high tribute TO the
courage OF the men under him, dwelling
upon the bravery OF Anthony and VAIN
right
After the explosion. the admiral said
he and many Of the wounded were cared
for on board a steamer OF the Ward Line.
His first anxiety he said. was 10 transmit
the news TO Washington in such a manner
a. to keep the people OF the United states
as calm as possible
He told of the care he had used IN
wording the famous message which he
eventually sent how he wrote and re-
wrote it before I satisfied him. i was
finally delivered 10 George Bronson Ray
who took it ashore and sent II. While lie
was composing he telegram, the admiral
said, his ears were flied with the groans
Of the injured men.
one reason he gave for remaining IN
the vessel until she was nearly SUBJ
merged. he said was that his cipher oode
was in his cabin and he wanted 10 be
sure that il was we'll under water before
leaving the ship. Otherwise he said II
might have been stolen by entering his
cabin through the portfolio.
At the end Of his address Admiral SiSs-
bee. standing between q United States
flag and the state colors, removed the
draping from the memorial tablet. The
audiece remained standing throughout the
ceremony and while the band PLAYED
The Star-spangled Banner. The must
clans then sounded taps and benedic-
ton was pronounced by the Rev. DR..
William Geer, OF Trinity Chapel
Other addresses were made by Alfred
j. Kennedy. department chief Of staff,
L. s w. V and Bernhard Wall. past
commander y. y S. W. Y. William T..
Kelly presided and Brigader General +.
Ebert Davis was among those on tho
platform.
The Spanish War veterans are USING
their influence TO create sentiment 10
bring a bout the comforting upon Rear Ao-
mirsl Sigsbee Of the rank OF v.cc-ao-
miral.