Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 September 1900 — TO BRING HOME OUR DEAD. [ARTICLE]

TO BRING HOME OUR DEAD.

Remains of Those Who Fell Abroad to Be Transported. Col. William S. Patten, on duty at the War Department, has completed arrangements for the free transportation to the United States of the remains of soldiers, sailors and civilians who lost their lives and were buried in the island possessions of the United States and in China. According to the present plans of the department a burial corps will take passage on the transport Hancock, which is to leave Sab Francisco for the Philippines. At the request of the Secretary of the Navy the same burial corps will undertake to perform similar service with respect to officers and enlisted men of the navy and marine corps buried in China and the islands of the Pacific. When the transport stops at Honolulu to coal, the bodies buried there will be taken up and made part of her cargo. Similar action will be taken at the island of Guam and in the Philippines. Col. Patten says that the prevailing conditions in China will scarcely render practicable any disinterments in that country earlier than next spring. All the remains recovered are to be given honorable burial in the United States, at places selected by the next of kin. In all cases where not otherwise ordered the interment will be made in the national cemeteries, with preference for the cemetery at the Presidio at San Francisco and the Arlington cemetery, near Washington. The approximate number of remains to be exhumed is 1,331.