The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-10
WASHINGTON PAYS
TRIBUTE TO THE
AMERICAN HERO
Soldier Is Placed Where Mar
tyred Presidents Have
Slept In Death-Impres-
Sive Services

"a oANSs AAs ibAt8nl III a PAeA@1
where only martyred Presidents. Lin
coin. Garfield and Mckinley. have
slept in death.
He kept lonely vigil lying in state
under the vast shadowy dome OF the
capitol. only the motionless figures
of five armed comrades, one at the
head and one facing inward at each
corner of the bier kept watch with
MIN.
But far above towering from the
great bulk of the dome. the brooilng
figure of Freedom" watched too, as
though it said well Done" to the
servant. faithful unto death. asleep
there in the vast dim chamber be-
low.
Americas unknown dead is home
from France at last and the nation
has no honor too great for him. In
him. 1t pays its unstinted tribute OF
pride and glory to all those sleeping
in the far soil of France. 1t was
their home coming today; their day of
days in the heart of the nation and
they must have known 1t for the
heart beat of a nation defies the laws
OF space, even of eternity.
.sodden skies and a gray. creeping.
chilling rain all through the day
seemed to mark the mourning of this
American soil and air at the bier Of
this unknown hero. But no jot OF the
fun need of honor was denied the
dead on that account. FronA the
highest officials of this democfatic
government, to the last soldier or ma
rine or b1uejacket, rain and cold
meant nothing beside the desire to
do honor to the dead.
The ceremonies were brief today
They began when the far boom of sa-
luting cannon down the river sig
nailed the coming of the great gray
cruiser Olympia. The fog or rain hid
her slow approach up the Potomac
but fort by fort, post by post, the
guns took up the tale of honors for
the dead as she passed.
Slowly the ship swung in to her
dock. Along her rails stood her crew
in long lines of dark blue, rigid at
attention and with a solemn express
sion uncommon to the young faces
beneath the jaunty sailor hats.
Astern. under the long. gray muzzls
of gun that once echosi It's way
Into history more than 20 years ago
In Manila bay, lay the flag -draped
casket. Above P tented awing held
off the dripping rain, the inner side
OF the canvas lined with great Amer
lean flags to make canopy for the
sleeper below. At attention stood five
sailors and marines as guards of hon
or for the dead at each corner and
the head of his bier
Below on the cobbled stretch OF the
old dock at Washington navy yard q
regiment OF cavalry waited, sabers
at present and the black draped
gun caisson with its six black horses
TO carry the casket to thu capitol
The troopers formed in line facing
toward the ship as she swung broad
side to her place and the ganRway
was lifted to her quarter deck. 10
their right mounted band stilled
their restless horses.
On the ship. the trim files OF her
marine guard stood at attention. Rear
Admiral Lloyd II. Chandler, to whom
had fallen the duty of escorting this
dead private soldier over the Atlantic
from france, was CARRIED in the full
formal naval dress, as were officers
of his staff
Just as the ships bell changed out
the quick double strokes of eight
bells. the sailors form of 4 O'clock
ana the hour set for arrival, the
bugles rang Again and the crew lined
the rails far above the dock. TN
marine guards filed down the gang
way to face the troopers across the
dock, the ships band came down and
formed beyond the marines. ON deck
at the gangway head, four sideboys
TOOK thtir place on each side facing
toward each other and the boatswain
waiting behind them to pipe a dead
comrade over the side with the hon
ors accorded only TO full admirals OF
the fleet.
Cars bearing Secretaries Weeks
and DENLY, Assistant Secretary VAIN
wright, General Pershlng. Major
General Harboard. Admiral Coontz
ana Major General Lejune, the ma
mine commandant, and their aides,
rolled up. With Secretary Weeks on
the right, next the gangway, and Sec
rotary Denny next, the General Perish
ing anu Admiral Coontz. these high
est officers Of the army and navy
formed In line facing down the omen
space between the troops and the ma
rines.
Slowly the lag-drapped coffin was
brought down between the line OF
troops and marines and under the
eyes OF the bluejackets standing rig
IDLY at the ships rails high above
AS they came abreast of the ship
band the dirge was stilled, a marine
bugler sounded four flourishes OF sa-
Lutte to general officer Then the
stirring. lifting strains of The Star
Spapgled Banner" rang out to the
gray sky, the nations own hymn OF
freedom
Again the slow march to the wait
ing gun carriage was taken up: again
the wall of the funeral march cut
through with the crash OF the guns
above. The caison waited in a space
between the Second and Third squad
ron of the full strength of the Third
cavalry from Fort Myer, and beside
it stood the eight body bearers OF
the army headed by Sergeant Wood
fill, heroe of heroes among Americans
who fought in France.
Through the gateway the cortege
clattered to find great crowds lining
the way under the dull light of a
fading autumn day. IL moved quick
ly on through the streets. ringing to
tho melody OF the band and the drum
ming OF the horses shoes on the wet
pavement. On II went, to swing ~
last into the great plaza before the
capitol, and there the troopers again
drew up in line. facing the mas
sive building with sabers at present"
as the casket was lifted down and
carried up the wide stairway to be
placed on the catafalQue in the dim
rotunda The two secretaries. bare
headed, followed. and behind them the
officers and others.
There were few In the great hall.
The only lights were those high
among the pillars above the sculp-
tured walls and the last fading
CLEANS of the day through the high
windows. The waiting guard with
would stand through the long night