The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-05-12
Tribute Paid to Sailors
Who Died at the Front
Continued From First Page.)


ward Lower Manhattan: others mass
ed about the city hall where the pro-
cession was to halt briefly: still 9TH
ers lined the approaches to the Man
haitian bridge and finally a great
throng gathered at the navy yard
where eulogies were to be said. Many
wore little bows of back; others
wore bands of black upon their sleeves
President Wilson arrived from
Washington shortly after o'clock al
most unobserved. He was taken i'm
mediately taken to the home OF his
friend, Col. L. NJ. House and thence to
the Battery to take his place in the
procession. Tt had at first been ar
ranged that the president was to go to
the navy yard TO receive the nations
dead on government ground but at the
last moment Mr.. Wilson changed his
mind and was driven to the Battery
so as to participate in the ceremonies
from beginning to end. When he
reached the Battery the hero dead
were upon gun caissons, police had
lined the way and the procession was
ready to move.
Twenty four picked mounted police
led the way. Behind them were the
combined bands of the Greadnoughts
hands, 500 bluejackets from these
ships.
COFFINS IN LINE.
Next came the collins in single file.
At the side of each rode a police
man and at the corner of each Gals
son trudged 8 national guardsman. The
Stars and Stripes alone covered the
caskets.
Behind the last caisson came the
carriages bearing the president, the
gressmen and representatives of the
state and city.
Never had the Battery witnessed
such scene. Tugs. almost noise
lessly nosed up to Pier A and with
precision that is the navS e, the seven
teen dead were landed, grouped on
the caissons.
Immediately the bluejackets who
we're to march began to assemble. The
men from the Texas came by tug from
70 sail later in the day for Mexican
waters. The Wyomings men came
ashore in their own boats. It was the
Wyoming that conveyed the funeral
ship into the harbor yesterday and
all night. outlined In lights, she swung
at anchor 500 yards ahead Of the
Montana's bow.
The cortege began Is move at nine
o'clock, the ships bands playing a
funeral march; hluejackets with arms
reversed. The crowd stood with barred
cause we as a nation called upon them.
Are you sorry for the lads? Are you
sorry for the way they will be remen-
bered? l hope to God none OF you will
Join the list, but IL you will. you will
Join an immortal company and while
there goes out Of our hearts an affec-
tionate sympathy for them. we know
why we do not go away from this oc-
casion with our hearts cast down, but
with confidence that all will be worked
out.
we have gone down 10 Mexico to
serve mankind if we can find the way
We don't want to fight the Mexicans,
we want to serve them.
"A war Of aggression IS not q thinp
in which 1t is proud to die but a war
Of service IS a war in which 1t is a
Troud thing to die"
The president then referred to the
cosmopolitan personnel OF the VIC
Tins
AS think of these spirits that have
gone from us. l know that the way is
cleaner for the future, for they have
shown US the way
When the president had finished,
Rabbi Stephen Wise delivered a pray
er for the dead.
The religious service ended with a
prayer by the Rev. John T. Child
wick, chaplain of the Maine
II wah nearly noon when a navy
bugler stepped forward and the notes
Of taps sounded above the crowd.
The spectators departed slowly and
the distinguished group on the presi-
dents stand dispersed with scarcely a
word. The president and Secretary
Tumulty and DR.. Grayson entered an
automobile and were taken back across
the bridge to Manhattan.
The seventeen collins remained on
the parade ground for half an hour,
Sill guarded by the sailor pail bear