Evening star., 1933-02-15
MARKANNVERSARY
OF MAINE SINKING
Veterans Take Part at Cere-
mony Before Ships Mast
in Arlington.

Thirty-five years ago today, the
American warship Maine was sunk in
Havana Harbor by an explosion, trag-
edy which precipitated the Spanish
American War. With fitting exercises,
the event was commemorated today at
the mast of the famous battleship,
NOW reposing in Arlington National
Cemetery.
At least one Washingtonian- Brig.
Gen. A. w. Catlin, u. s. M. c., retired
who lives at 1902 Crittenden street
has vivid memories of the sinking.
Gen. Catlin, who earned an enviable
reputation with the Marines in France,
commanding the famous 9th Regi-
ment with the I'd Division. was fleet
Marine officer aboard the Maine. After
the explosion he floated for four hours
In the water, before being rescued.
Receivers Possessions.
In the disaster, Gen. Catlin lost his
pocketkntfe, sword and belt, as well
as other personal belongings Fourteen
years later, when the Maine was raised,
he found the pocketknife, sword and
belt in his cabin.
Gen. Catlin was wounded at Chateau
Thierry and his health was impaired
by his war experiences. He retired in
1919. The officer was out of the city
today. on a brief vacation in the Blue
Ridge Mountains. Before retiring, he
was commanding officer at the Quantico
Va, Marine post.
The Navy Department revealed today
there Is only one survivor Of the Maine
tragedy now on the active commissioned
list. He Is Rear Admiral Wat T.
Cluverius of New Orleans, now COM
mandant of the Great Lakes. Ill, Naval
Training Station. The enlisted men,
the department. asserted, have all gone
out into civilian life, having retired on
80 years service. There were "a officers
and enlisted men survivors of the
Maine sinking. According to the Navy,
253 lives were lost.
Eight Officers Living.
The department said that, in addition,
to Admiral Cluverius, there are eight
living who served as commissioned or
warrant officers. They are: Carl w.
Jungen. New York City; Anon Bronson,
Rochester, N. Y; David F. Boyd, San
Francisco; Pope Washington, Green
wood Lodge, Longwood, Fla; Msgr. j.
P. Chadwick, pastor of st. Agnes Cath
ouc Cnurcn, new YORK, chaplain OF the
Maine; Joseph Hill of Philadelphia,
Gen. Catlin and George Helms, Booth
wyn, Delaware County, Pa.
At 1915 o'clock today the Ladies'
Auxiliary Of the United Spanish War
Veterans placed a wreath, presented by
President Hoover, at the Maine shaft in
the cemetery. Veterans of the Spanish
War arranged a program, to start at
1880 O'Clock, in the riding hall of Fort
Myer. Va. Oscar B. Cintas, Cuban Am
basador to the United States, was to be
principal speaker.
william ]. Ttjen, commander in chief
OF the United Spanish War Veterans,
also was to speak, and Patrick ]. CAL
Ian, commander of the District Of CO.
lumbia group of the organization, was
to be master of ceremonies. An over
ture by the United States Marine Band,
q Navy color guard presenting the COL
ors, Rev. Ralph c. Deibert, Army chap
lain, pronouncing the invocation, and
Miss Hazel Arth, radio singer, giving
vocal selections, were on the program.
Benediction by William M. La Roche,
chaplain Of the District Department of
the Spanish War Veterans, was to close |
the exercises.