The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-05-11
THEY DIED FOR THE FLAG
N FAR OFF VERA CRUZ


a sharp command rang out and as ons
man, soldiers and sailors OF the ma
ton, sprang to attention, carbines to
the front and swords at present.
Throughout the whole procession, the
president was closely watched by the
throngs in the streets. Generally his
passage was observed with grave At
tention, but in several places the
crowds broke out into brief. hearty APP
plause. When the first bodies left the
death ship Montana. at 7:10 O'Clock.
the great grey fighters nose was
swung out from the battery towards
the Jersey shore and the oaskets
could be plainly seen as they were
swung down from the battleship's SUI
to the navy yard tug
Traffic and the dock departments YES
sci which brought them to pier A. Il
was only few moments afterwards
that the nrst casket, that Of Private
Summerlin. OF the marines,
touched the soil Of his native land.
One by one the bodies were landed
on the dock departments structure
and as they came ashore, were placed
in line behind the barred gate way OF
the ship while on each side of the cor
fin four stalwart jackies stood at at
tention. Shortly before eight O'Clock
the boats Of the Montana and Wynn
ing swung into the little stone-locked
harbor by pier A, the marines and
the blue jackets of their battalions
streamed out to shore and formed BY
In the plaza facing the har.
Dor while from the dock building r.
sued the nag-draped and flower-cov-
cred caskets of the boys whom the
nation was to honor.
Drawn up outside the dook build
ing. were seventeen crepe-wound gun
their sides and st the
head of the horses . detachment Of
first artillery, National Guard Of New
York, In field uniform. Summerlin's
casket was the nrst hoisted to = calls
SON. Those Of the others followed.
Accompanying the caissons the body
bearers blue 5sckete, aJAeA IN LASH
ing the caskets for their march ana
for few moments the scene was one
of activity. The boys in blue and the
artillery men moved side by side
while out in the plaza, tho battalions
of the Wyoming and. Montana, or part
Of them, marched and countermarched
among the clustering police until all
had found their appointed places.
Then came long wait. It was 5roken
at $40 when the presidents automo-
bile arrived in the plaza and almost
1t the same moment . launch from
the Mayflower bore Secretary oftth
Navy Daniels to shore. The head OF
The government and his cabinet offi-
Ger met at the entrance to the dock
and both bowing, disappeared
inside, while all present stood at
salute.
Then another long wait. All was
still and the groups moved quietly
while the soldiers and sailors stood at
sase. Suddenly rang out. "Oh Say
Can You See at the Dawn's Early
Light" and to the strains Of the
Wyoming's band, all sprang to life.
Bust1e instantly succeeded quiet. The
.roops sprang to attention, the presi-
lent and his encourage walked out OF
he docks building to their carriages.
he mounted police in the van OF the
started to move and the
march was on.
Up through the jammed streets
which center In the battery, past the
'ilent throngs, the procession moved
It stately pace. First were fifty
police in three lines which
Jwept the roadway clear between
ines of their fellows who ten feet
part covered the whole line of pa
.ade. Under the elevated structure
hey swept slowly. while behind them
anne two naval officers with trum-
,eter between them and then the
,and and flags of the Wyoming. Ma
ines and more blue jackets from the
Wyoming and the Montana followed
nd then the massed bands OF ths
wo warships came.
Just as the procession counter
narched into slle end Of Bowling
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