The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1916-09-22
PRESIDENT WILSON
VISITS COLUMBIA
Accompanied by Members of His
Family and Party, He Attends
Funeral of His Sister,
Mrs. Howe.
COLUMBIA Joins IN
EXECUTIVES GRIEF
Special Train Reaches City at
Noon and Left for New Jersey
Shortly After Six O'clock.


Columbia, S. c., Sept. 1S.-Presi-
dent Wilson, who came here today
for the funeral of his only sister, Hrs.
Anne E. Howe, left at 6:15 o'clock
for the summer White House at Long
Branch, New Jersey, shortly after 2
o'clock tomorrow afternoon and go
by automobile to Shadow Lawn.
After participating in the funel al
of Mrs. Howe, the president this af-
ternoon took an automobile ride
around Columbia, visiting relatives
| and the place where he spent some of
his boyhood days. He was accompa-
MED by Mrs. Wilson, Miss Margaret
Wilson and DR.. c. T. Grayson, the
White House physician.
When the presidents special train
pulled out late this afternoon several
thousand people thronged the rail-
road station and stood silently with
barred heads. The president bowed
quietly.
On his ride the president visited
Mrs. James Woodrow, an aunt, who
welcomed him as Tommy" and re-
marked to Mrs. Wilson:
"Since he took to writing books he
calls himself Woodrow"
Where His Father Taught
Mr.. Wilson then visited the Colum
bia Theological Seminary where his
father once taught land was shown
the chair and room used by the elder
Mr. Wilson. He was told of plan to
name library planned by the sem
mary after his father.
Afterwards he and Mrs. Wilson and
DR.. Grayson walked to the house
planned and built by his parents and
in which he lived for several years.
There he talked with four small
boys who now live in the house, DR..
Grayson asked one of them if he ex-
pected to be president; the boy said
he did not know
81 would not wish anything like
that on you," said the president.
Mr.. Wilson plans to spend tomor-
row night at Long Branch On We'd
nesday he will resume active direction
of his campaign plans, interrupted
by the illness and death of Mrs. Howe.
President Wilson today quietly and
sadly attended the funeral service at
the church and walked with relatives
to the adjoining grave yard and stood
with bowed head and tear stained
lace during the last simple rites.
Children Give Flowers.
The people of Columbia gathered
along the streets and outside the
church to see the president, but thew
respected his grief and made no dem
this morning the platform of every
station was crowded but there was no
cheering. At several stops flowers
were put aboard the train by schoo,
children.
The special train bearing the body
and members of the funeral party ar
rived here shortly before noon. Auto
mobiles took the president and mem
bers of his family directly to the First
Presbyterian church. The station was
surrounded by several thousand peo-
pie.
Members of Party
In the immediate party were JOS
eph K. Cothran. daughter, George
Howe and Wilson Howe, sons, Miss
Margaret Wilson, the presidents
daughter, and DR.. c. T. Grayson, the
White House physician.
The president and the other mem |
bers of the immediate family were
shown seats in the front of the church
and farther back sat many friends
who knew Mrs. Howe when her hus-
band was Columbia's leading physician
Inc funeral services were recited by |
the Rev. A. w. Blackwood, pastor
of the church, assisted by the Rev.
Thornton Whaling, president of the
Columbia Seminary.
The last services took place inside |
an enclosure of the shaded graveyard
where are buried Mrs. Howe's hus-
band, the father and mother of the
president and several other relatives.
"A modest shaft marks the plot.
All flags in Columbia were half
mast during the ceremony and the
church bell was tolled slowly.
All during the services the grave
yard, inclosed in a brick fence, was
surrounded by crowds. After the SER
vices Mr. Wilson stopped for a few
moments to look at the graves of his |
father and mother.