New-York tribune., 1918-07-11

Pay Tribute
To Mitchell

Continued from page
eral intimate friends who accompanied I'd
the body from the home of Major
Street, were allowed to file past the
casket before the public were admitted,
All the preliminary arrangements were
carried out quickly, so that the waiting
thousands outside, who had gathered in
and near City Hall Park hours before
the body arrived, might not be held
! back
Casket Draped by Flag
The air of the City Hall was heavy
with the door of the thousands Of bios
SONS in the floral pieces which were ar
ranged In the rotunda. just beneath
the high dome, where the body of the
late Mayor Gaynor lay in state neatly
five years ago and the bodies of LIN
coin, Grant and Henry. Clay had found
q public resting place in years gone by,
! the heavy mahogany coffin rested yes
terday. Its silver tinishings were COW
cred by the flag and the dead aviator's
service hat, which lay on the Stars and
Stripes.
SIX tall candles, their tiny flames
burning, stood on either side of the
coffin. The military guard Of honor
stood III the tickering shadows Of the
candles, two stalwart young men at the
head and two at the foot Of the bier. A
vide purple velvet runway had been
laid from the outside door up to the
foot of the coffin. A strong reflected
+ ilght shonc from the balustradc above
directly down upon the coffin, which
was not opened. Palms and green BAY
trees were banked in profusion around
the bier and through the hall corridors,
relieved by the brilliant colors Of the
abundance of flowers.
The most Impressive floral piece was
set at the back of the rotunda on
the first landing of the winding stairs
which led to the Aldermanic chamber
and Council chamber OF the Board of
! Estimate. Thousands of white and
purple-colored immortelles had been
woven into its centre in the form OF
the historic shield of the City of New
York. This was surrounds d by three
deep borders, the first of waxen pink
roses, the second of Easter Lies and
the outer border of mountain laurel
The whole piece was about ten feet
square and was a token of respect
from the Board of Aldermen, of which
Mayor Mitchell was president before
becoming Mayor.
over this magnificent floral display
reaching upward from the balustrade
was group OF large sized flags of al
the Allies. with the American flag in
the centre. A service flag of white
silk with a lone gold star and mar
row black border stood in its gilded
pedestal a little to the left at the foot
OF the coffin. A large silk American
flag, with the municipal flag of the
City of New York, stood at the right
The decorations on the outside of
the City Hall were simple and impress
slve. Evergrcens shaded the darkened
old marble pillows on the portico. A
large silk service flag, with its lone
gold star, the insignia of dead sol
der, hung from the balcony over the
entrance. The flags on top of the hall
were at half-mast.
City Hall Bell Toled
Dark clouds were banking up over
the Wcoiworth Building, and the new
bell in the City Hall cupola tolled with
mourntui tones as the body and its
escort of motorcycle police. eight sol
der bodybcarcrs. the clergy, Who viii
officiate at The funeral in st. Patrick $
Cathedral to-day and the former
Mayors city cabinet swung into City
Hall Plaza. 1t was the first time the
bell on the Hall had been toned.
Men promptly rested their hats in
salute. There was scarcely sound
to be heard except the tolline of the
bell and the pop" of police motor
cycles. which were quickly mufhed.
The clattcr of the horses hoofs OF
the police mounted guard was quickly
cortege arrived promptly at O'Clock
The body and its escort left the home
OF Mrs. James Mitchell, the mother, at
4;l0 and made q quick trip downtown
owing to the stoppage of traffic on al,
the principal thoroughfares traversed
The motorcycle police cleared tho traf
hc southbound ahead of the cor1cge
but TENDERS Of the party said that all
northbound traffic along Fifth Avenue
from 1lOth Street to Washington
Square, out of respect stopped Of its
own accord.
Lieutenant William Kennel, who has
been the bodyguard at the City Hall
OF Mayors for the last twenty-ti five
years, had supervision of the police
arrangements on the way downt own.
and assisted Borough Inspector Jonn
O'Brien at the City Hall A large
crowd collected at the Mitchell home
prior TO the removal of the body. Good
sized crowds had collected in st. Mich
olas Avenue. Fifth Avenue and Lafay-
cite Street to view the procession on
it's way to City Hall. There was no
military escort on the trip. The body
was carried IN an automobile hearse.
To-day the funeral cortege will include
10000 persons The majors body viii
be taken from the hall to St Patrick S
Cathedral on an army caisson The
funeral procession viii leave the City
Hall at Il. m. The hall will be closed
20 the public at s O'Clock.
Mayor Hylan Meets Procession
AS the hearse drew up at the CITY
Hall Mayor Hylan and his secretary.
Grover Whalen. stood at the ton Of