Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 December 1899 — THE DEAD OF THE MAINE. [ARTICLE]

THE DEAD OF THE MAINE.

To Be Brought Home from Havana and Interred in Arlington. The United States battleship Texas will bring home the bodies of the heroes of the ill-fated Maine from Havana. It is siting that this vessel should be selected for the task, as she is the only sister ship of the Maine on our navy list. Congress has made an appropriation of $10,000 for the removal of the bodies of the dead sailors to the land in whose service they sacrificed their lives. The great silent majority of those that met their death in Havana harbor when the Maine went to destruction have been left buried pretty much as they fell, facing the enemy. A few of the bodies of officers of rank have been brought back to the land of their birth. A total of 192 bodies were buried in 176 coffins, which tells the tale of those mutilated beyond all semblance of individuality. Of the 192 but 74 were actually or supposedly identified, the others being mere parts, or so badly injured as to be beyond recognition. Nineteen of the bodies were buried with imposing ceremonies on the 19th of February, 1898—four days after that fearful night—in the beautiful Colon cemetery. Afterward 148 others were buried in Havana. Twenty-five of the dead were carried to Key West and buried on the Government reservation, and it is likely that the bodies will remain there. Of the total 269 lost 68 are still missing and buried beneath the wreck of the ship in Havana harbor. The bodies are to be transferred to zinc-lined caskets, hermetically sealed, after which they will be boxed up in the usual way and marked with the identifying or part identifying record already on file. From the moment the bodies are received on board ship the ensign will be carried at half-mast, and will so continue till the last coffin has been transshipped at Norfolk. Owing to the deep draught of the Texas it would be impossible for her to bring the remains to Washington, and it will be necessary to transfer them to a large barge, or a couple of the big navy tugs.