The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-11-18
IDEAL DAY FOR THE
HERO CEREMONIES
Washington Was All Astir
Bright and Early
SOLDIERS GIVEN BODY
Bearers Convey the Casket To
Cassion; Ready For
s- Program
Associated Press Dispatch. !

Washington, d. c.. November IL
Long before the rising sun broke
through a low bank of clouds, icns
columns of soldiers. sailors and ma
rines today began making their way
to the capitol plaza, there to receive
into their keeping America's un-
known soldier and to accompany him
TO his final resting place at Airing
toh.
The day promised to be clear and
sharply oool-an almost exact du-
plica.ion OF the first Armistice day
three years ago. There was scarcely
a breath Of wind stirring and the half
rnasted flags everywhere about the
capitol hung virtually stationary.
Just as the first of the suns beams
touched the statue Of liberty SUR
mounting the capitol dome, beneath
which lay the unknown soldier and
stood his unceasing guard. sharp
commands began 10 ring out about
the capitol as portions Of the mill
tary escort began TO take their
places.
Pennsylvania Avenue Roped On.
Historic Pennsylvania avenue, to-
day to see a new tribute to a ma.
tons dead, was roped off and all
traffic stopped as when an inaugural
parade passes over its broad way
Before sun rise spectators began
10 line the sides OF the avenue.
There was stir about the White
House and at seven thirty o'clock
automobiles were in waiting to take
President Harding to the capitol to
take his place in the funeral pro-
cession as the nations chief mour-
ner.
As the east door of the rotunda
swung open there entered the first
Hood of sunshine to light the bronze
figure sent by the president of China,
resting on the base. The body bear
ers, lifted the coffin and then put it
back. 1t was a test. The mountain
Of flowers stacked high against the
walls and in circle on stands closer
In remained undisturbed over night.
Trucks were waiting TO transfer them
TO Arlington ahead of the procession
but by another route.
Coffin Taken To Caisson.
AS the bad outside played Nearer
My God to Thee" the coffin was
lifted upon the shoulders of the body
bearers and taken through the east
door, to the caisson a sew moments
before eight o'clock. The honorary
pallbearers followed. There was no
ceremonies In the rotunda As the
body was removed the soldier guard
OF honor that had stood about the
bier since the night before last
broke ranks.
AS the flower strewn casket was
borne tenderly down The broad
steps OF the capitol. soldiers stand
Ing In line along the steps, and the
assemblage Of thousands ON the
plaza stood at attention. Flags of
the color bearers were dropped while
those on the capitol were half
masted.
President Leaves White House
AT S:15 O'Clock President Harding
left the White House and morored to-
ward the capitol to take his place in
the funeral procession: He arrived
there at S:27 o'clock. Meanwhile the
senate met and adjourned, going to
the rotunda to fall in line.
AT the house the delegation march
ed out and took up its position behind
the senate, Representative Alice Rob-
ertson of Oklahoma, the only woman
IN congress, took her place near the
front dressed in the uniform of an
American Red Cross nurse. A soldier
was detailed to march with her. The
procession moved out of the capitol
grounds at 1892 O'Clock.
President Harding, VINO mad stood
ahead of the line talking with Chief
Justice Taft and others, stepped for
ward and took his place by General
Pershfng as a ruffle OF drums gave
the signal for the line to move.
Nations Way To Victory .
Under the autumn haze, gilded with
shafts of light Clat broke down every
where, the cortege swung into Penn
sylvania avenue, the nations way of
victory. Ahead the broad sweep of
the avenue was banked solidly with
people crowded closely for a glimpse
of tie cortege. of the president, vino
a olynf ~ Ill
the famous men who trudged in the
column to pay honor to the dead.
1t seemed more like the celebration
Of great victory tlan funeral. Every
where flags waved. They tiuttered
in clusters and snapped and glittered
In the suns changing beams. They
were arranged to commemorate the
Saturday. But the gay bunting paid
its first tribute to the passing of tle
unknown hero.
Wore Medals and Decorations
AS the procession started, Major Gen
sral Bandholtz, riding at the fore. the
CLEAN OF Bright medals showing ON
the breasts of the Legion trooping
officer and man OF the army and
navy who took part wore today his
medals and decorations conferred by
q grateful people. There were no for
eign decorations to be seen. The dis
tinguished service cross, the distin-
guished service medal, the victory
medal and tokens that spoke OF high
deeds In older wars, alone were in ey
idence.
The avenue was free of obstruction
from the great gray bulk OF the cap
itol on it's hill to the eastern end, to
the pillared front of the treasury,
nearly mile away.
Even the trees that spread a reliev-
ing band of green and grateful shade
along the way under summer suns,
stood with branches almost stripped
leaves; only here and there cluster
ing mass Of yellow or autumn bronze
hid the view from the windows, crowd
cd with faces that looked down on
the roadway.
Wilson In Procession
Former President Wilson, riding In
a carriage with Mrs. Wilson, joined
the procession as 1t swung around tho
north end of tae capitol. AS he turn
cd into Pennsylvania Ave the crowds
along the way cheered him.
A fringe ,of Boy Scouts, armed with
white STATS and also police stood
close along the ropes that held back
the crowds rs the funeral train moved
along at shorter step than the army
knows. because of the old men who