The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1921-06-30
DOWNPQUR FAILS
STOP PEOPLE IN
TRIBUTE, TO LAD
Great Throne Turns Out TO Honor
Momory Of Robert Alexander.
War Hero Killed In France;
Services Wednesday
EX-SERVICE MEN AND
CUARDSMEN TURN OUT
Legion Handles Funeral; Solemn
Parade to Rose HllI: Firing
Squad In Salute. Taps Blown:
Grafton 10 Delivered.

A multitude OF people yesterday
afternoon dlsregarded the inclcmen
weather. faced the heavy downpoul
OF rain and witnessed the observance
OF the last rites over the body ol
Robert II. Alexander. Grady county
soldier who was killed in the battle
of st MIhicl.
The services were impressive, de
spite the rain which began to fall
only few minutes before the funer-
al procession started. From the An.
derson- undertaking parlor. corner
Seventh street and Chickasha ave-
nue.. the procession moved north to
Choctaw avenue. down Choctaw ave-
nue. to Third street, south on Third
street TO Chickasha avenue, down
Chickasha avenue to Seventh street
and thence TO Rose HIll cemtery.
wCere the services proper were con.
Quoted.
Leading the procession were the
color bearers and guards, Lyman FL
dred. Mayes Jones and A. c. Hard
esty, all dressed in full military at.
tire and the band under the direction
of ]. A. Sager. A squad of eight
National Guardsmen, under the COM
mand of Lieut.. Noble Ladd acted as
body guards. They were followed by
Legionaires In uniforms. The body
was carried on caisson. drawn by
four horses, the casket being draped
with an American flag.
A large number of automobiles
joined the procession at the corner
Of Seventh street nd Chickasha ave-
nue. and farmed one of the longest
funeral professions ever seen here.
Foster Delivers Grafton
The dead soldier was buried with
full military honors. The Grafton was
delivered by Rev Wendell Foster,
former army chaplain, who was
dressed in soldier uniform. He gave
brief outline of the deceased's
life, reciting that he was a son of
the late w. V. Alexander; that he
was born November Is, 1891, at Nor
man, Okla, that he was educated in
Norman and was graduated from the
University of Oklahoma law school
in 1918. He entered the service in
February, 1918, was sent to Camp
Travis and was assigned to duty
with the 25Sth Inf, Company A., Goth
division. He sailed for France in June,
1918, went to9the front in August and
was killed at'st. Mihiel on September
u. eh'
Rev. Mr.. Foster emphasized that the
cause for which Robert e. Aexan-
ar gave his life had not been won;
that we should forever guard the
principles of democracy that he shall
not have died in vain. Scripture read
ing, prayer and a song 20 Heroes
Brave" by the quartet, composed OF
Joe Burney, Rev. Clifford B. James,
j. L. McNeill and j. D. Wade, pre-
ceded the funeral grafton. The qaur-
tet rendered another number 1--WE
Come With Song
After the casket had been lowered
a valley of shots were fired over the
grave by the Legion firing squad,
commanded by Henry White. Taps
were blown, ending the services.
Relatives Were Present.
Mrs. W. V. Alexander, gray haired
mother of the honored lad; Mrs. Les
lie Reynolds, OF Chickasha, and Mrs.
Dave Chitwood of Pawhuska, sisters;
and Perry Alexanderlofithi ityc, a bro.
ther were preseau at slile funeral.
Other relatives presentawere: Mrs.
Ella Burch, oftNorman; Mrs. Bert
Alexander, OF Lindsay, and Dave
Chitwood, of Pawhuska.
Friends and Legionaires from
every section of the county were
here to pay honor to the deceased.
Heads of the local Legion post be-
lieve the attendance at the funeral
would have been many times larger
had the weather been fair.
Among the deceased's friends who
witnessed the utterance of the rites
was Edmond Rim, an employee of
the Purity Bottling company here.