The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-07-12
THO||SAAa'ss,''ll F, llITFND MPRESS|VEFUN OF MAJOR M|TCHEL Body of Dead Aviator Is Laid to Rest Former
 Comrades Drop Roses
 From Sky

New York, July 11.-Maj. John Purroy Mitchell. former mayor of New York, was laid to rest today in Woodlawn cemetery here in the presence of thousands of mourning citi- zens, after a remarkable and impressive funeral.
 The obsequies were attended by men prominent in world affairs, including former President Roosevelt, Joheph F. Iumulty, representing President Will son, envoys from the war and navy de- partments and official representatives of England, France, Italy, Japan, Cuba and Persia. Eighteen American aviators, in battle formation, lowered over the funeral cortege as it moved slowly up Fifth avenue to St. Pat rick's cathedral and thence to the cemetery.
 ROSES FROM AIRPLANES
 
 Thousands of American Beauty roses were dropped by the airmen into the streets and at the grave as the aviator's body was lowered into it's final resting place. Three thousand lilies. sent by the former mayors official family, car peted the spot as mourning pail
 Prayers for the dead, three volleys fired by American infantrymen. the sounding of taps by regular army bugler ITcm Governors s Island, and the simple service at the grave was over.
 The funeral procession, which had left the city hall, where the body had lain Ia state at a. m., arrived at,-the cena- etery at 1:30 D. m. Thousands of citizens. to whom the remarkable career of New 1ork's youngest mayor had been an in spiration, lined the sidewalks Still other thousands viewed the funeral from roofs. widows and other vantage points.
 CHURCH BELLS TOLL
 Meanwhile the c1ty's church bells toIIed and the chimes pealed sacred music. Sol diers, sailors, policemen flremen, Red GLOSS nurses, civilians, notable men rep resenting the allied and other nations. lo,o06 in all, composed the cortege
 Major Mitchers horse, shrouded in black, with boots reversed in the stir rups and bearing also his reverser sword. followed the gun carriage which bore the casket draped with the Stars and Strines Bands played funeral marches. Much of the citys business was suspend ed. All the exchanges and many commer- cial houses were closed for an hour and when the body was being lowered into the grave, street and subway cars stopped for an interval of one minute
 At the cathedral the beautiful Die Obitir mass of requiem was sung and tears stood in the eyes of mary as the great organ pealed the "Star-Spangled Banner at the close of the services
 AIRMEN FLY LOW
 The IS birdmen from Mfneola, in charge of Flight Commander Lieut. Frank C. Davidson desiring to honor the deceas ased even as Guynemer. the great French ace had been honored in France. flew at the lowest attitudes ever dared by flying men over New York city. Some went lower than SOC feet, it was said. notwith- standing the risk of deadly air pockets. They carried aloft more than two wagon loads of roses, gladiolas, carnations and other flowers. For half an hour after the last rites they continued to circle above the grave, like mammoth Amer ican eagles guarding the soldier dead.
 Major Mitchell was killed Saturday in a fall from an airplane in which he was making flight unaccompanied at Gerst- ner Field, Louisiana