The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-11-11

H1fIF0D OF the LU1UutE guns ~ 1NAN
Never over the river broke the morn
ling silence. From $3.50 a. M until
far past noon, the distant booming
wrote the story of the minutes with
but one halt, as the nation stood silent
lfor two minutes just after midday in
honor of the dead.
Up in the rotunda of the capitol
resting on the catafalque where Lin
coin, Garfield, Grant and Mckinley
laid, the casket had stood amid heap
ing piles of flowers with its silent
guard of honor, a soldier. national
guardsman, sailor and a marine,
through the night at the four corners
of the bier Then there began to
gather a little group of fellow sol
diers, each wearing hero's decora-
tions, to bear the casket to the wait
ling gun carriage. They were led by
Sergeant Samuel Woodfll, first mem
toned IN Pershing's list of war
heroes, and with him were Sergeants
Harry Taylor of the cavalry, Thomas
D. Saunders of the engineers, Louis
Razga of the coast artillery, James
w Dell of the field guns and for
the navy. Chief Torpedo Man James
Delaney and Chief Water Tender
Charles Lee O'Connor and Sergeant
Ernest A. Janson of the marines.
At the head of the column rode Gen.
Pershing and his officers and just be-
side the gun carriage up Pennsylvania
avenue. At their head was Major
General Harbord, executive assistant
to General Pershing as chief of staff;
himself a former enlisted man. With
him were other major generals, Nor
ton, Edwards, Menoher, Bailey, Rick
ards and Organ. For the navy was
Hugh Rodman, rear admiral and COM
mander of the battle fleet that went
over; Henry B. Wilson, former chief
of the Atlantic fleet, and Admiral
Plunket. For the marines, was Major
General Neville.
At the head of the column rode Gen.
Pershing and his officers and just be-
fore the gun carriage came the clergy,
led by Bishop Brant, former chaplain
of the A. E. F., but with men of every
faith about him to participate in the
religious exercises at Arlington.
/ Behind the casket and the row of
high officers which f1anked the gun
Timber on either side as it wound down
the hill to Pennsylvania avenue, walk
led President Harding with his aide,
Colonel Sherill, then came Vice Presi-
dent Coolidge, then Chief Justice Taft,
next the members of the supreme
court, walking in line, next the cabi-
net, also IN line, then eight abreast,
the senators and members of the
House.
A roll of muffied drums marked
the next division in which were first
tie Medal of Honor men. Then came
comrades of the American Legion,
rank on rank, then veterans of the
civil and Spanish wars.
When the cortege arrived at Airing
lton, the casket was lifted from the
gun carriage by the body bearers, to-
ward and swinging around to the west
entrance to the amphitheater, the es-
lcort moved into line and with rifles
at present, stood as the casket was
. carried through the colonnade to the
right and around to the apse at the
. front where President Harding and
members of the cabinet, Bishop Brent
! and many dignitaries awaited it.
! The platform had been raised high
, and the front was mass of flowers
, as the casket bearers, followed by the
officers as honorary pail bearers, NOV
!. led slowly around the colonnade. Or
4 special stand, well to the front. the
narrow box was placed and Genera
Harbord stepped out from the Officer
) group to assume his duties as master
of ceremonies.
Il As Bishop Brent concluded the in
q vocation which opened the ceremony
E the bells in Washington across tn
river were ringing the noon hour. Tn
e whole company in the amphitheate
;, rose and stood in silence for two min
utes as the whole nation stood b.
5 presidential proclamation. in rever
/ ence for the dead.
!. Then came the singing of Americi
h rising in mighty chorus. After tha
o President Harding moved forward t
4 stand beside the casket and speak fo
e the nation. Far below him, out o
sight under the stone work, me
! toiled with nerves strained to th
breaking point that no word he sal
might be lost by the thousands VIII
were gathered in New York, Chicag
= and San Francisco about the electri
= sound transmitting devices. Frol
: :, the top of the amphitheater also th
: amplifiers caught up his words an
: threw them out to the multitude.
= After his address President Hart
{ ing pinned on the top of the caskt
= the two most valued decorations
Ameriea-the Medal of Honor, b,
slowed by act of Congress, and Il
Distinguished Service Cross, given /