Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-11-12
Distinguished Guests of Ma
tion Compelled To Walk
Through Virginia Mud.
PRESIDENT DETOURS
Cabinet Officers Reach Amphithcatrc
After Climbing GTlr hedges and
Jumping Stream.

Washington. Nov. l2.-ThOusandS
of men and women and many children
who crowded the Capital today--some
of them distinguished guests Of the
ration-failed to participate in the
solemn ceremonies incident to the
burial Of the unknown hero of the
World War. They tried desperately,
out vainly, TO reach Arlington, or,
failing in that, to return to the city
in time to catch glimpse Of the
funeral cortegc as it filed slowly and
reverently through the heart of the
city.
But these thousands were caught
as in visc in the most maddening
traffic Jam this city has ever expert
enced. They were literally blockaded
fer what seemed iuterminabie hours
along the single open roadway lead
ing TO the national cemetery, or upon
the long bridge across the Potomac
or upon the approaches to the bridge.
Even officials of the Government
and their official luests-scores OF
them-were either held up or turned
back or abandoned their automobiles
and trudged through the mud OF p!o"-
ed fields for one or even two miles
in order to reach the cemetery gates.
So intense was the jam to the
north that an automobile bearing the
President himself detoured through
a furrowed field, mIr'ng at times TO
the hubs. but finally blowing its way
to the head of the lire.
Nothing quite like it was ever
known here before. While more than
100000 lined Pennsylvania avenue to
pay their note Of tribute to the un-
known dead. it seemed that hail rs
MANY turned their faces toward Ar
lington, and cvcn before the flag
drapcd caskct was lifted from IT'S
temporary resting place, under the
Capto! dome. miles Of automobiles
we're moving slowly toward AIRING
ron
Through orders Of the War De-
par,ncnt only one Of the two ap-
prcachcs from the city was left open
to IL" public The Aqueduct Bridge,
which crosses the Potomac ut George
town. was closed at 8 o'clock To
,laffic in order to permit the co"tcge
to pass over it undisturbcd.
This forced all the vchicular traf-
fic 70 pass over the lower or long
bridge. and by 9 o'clock streams OF
automobiles were converglng at the
rorthern approach TO this bridge from
every part Of the city.
Arriving at the neck of the bottle
the cars become jammed. For miles
behind them the lines formed. A
single soldier. with only one arm, but
with !. military police insignia band
cd around it. undertook to regulate
the traffic at the entrance TO the
bridge He was helpless. -Four lines
of cars formed to cross the river
ahreaSL. They soon iammed also ana
any forward movement was next 10
impossible. Seeing the blockade ahead
hundreds of cars turned on tn" Nlr-
ginia side in the hope of getting PACK
to the city. This resulted in double
line of cars on the bridge, moving or
attempting to move in opposite drec-
tions. adding 10 the confusion. to the
delay and the desperation on the part
cf those were felt impelled 10 be
present at the ceremonies.
From 9 o'clock until past noon the
! lam remained uncontrolled. Finding
cars unable to move, hundreds of
men and women alighted and walked
! for miles. Occasionally an official
party would BE- identified and almost
bv sheer force It would be dragged
/ from the blockade and passed over.
] Marshal Foch and his aides were
/ in one car which seemed hopelessIy
stalled Finally, r.: driving the lines
( ,rto single file laomentariv, he was
I allowed to get through and to reach
the amphithcatrc in time.
Another ear filed with Chinese
( Delegates managed TO break through
/ and cross the bridge. Observers were
unaDie 70 learl, what happened to
/ them heyond.
/ Secretary of State Hughes crossed
the bridge after painful delay, but,
quitting his car, struck out across
wheat field afoot Arriving at
ditch. he Taused for an instant. then
crashing his silk hat firmly in his
hand. Jumped for it, landing safely on
The other side. Secretary Of COM
r1erce Hoover likewise was caught
ard. climbing two hedges and ne
gotiat;ne another li.ch by !eaping,
succeeded in reaching the cemetery.