The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-11-10
HONOR PAID TO
UNKNOWN HERO
Armed Comrades Kept Vigil
Alongside Dead COmrade I'm
der ShadOwy Dome of Capitol
OLYMPIC BRINGS BODY
FROM FOREIGN FIELDS
Booming of Cannon Along Poto-
mac River Gave Notice of
Vessels Approach.
tsy The Associated Press,

WASHINGTON, Nov "a plain
soldier. unknown but weighted with
honors as perhaps no American before
him because be died for the flag in
France. lay tonight in a place where
only martyred presidents, Lincoln,
Garfield and Mckinley. have slept in
death
lie 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
him.
But far above, towering from the
great bulk OF the dome the brooding
figure Of freedom watched too, as
though it said. We'll done" to the
servant. faithful unto death. asleep
there in the vast dim chamber below
Americas unknown dead Is home from
France ait last, and the nation has no
honor too great for him. In him, it
pays its unstinted tribute OF pride and
glory to all those sleeping in the far
SOIL of France. It was their home
coming today; their day of days in the
heart OF the nation and they must have
known It for tho heart beat OF ma
lion defies the laws Of space, even Of
eternity
Sodden skies and 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 full need OF honor was denied the
dead on that account. From the high
est officials of this democratic gov
ernment, to the last soldier or marine
or blue jacket. rain and cold meant
nothing beside the desire to do honor
TO the dead.
The ceremonies were brief today
They began when tho far boom of sa-
luting cannon down the river signaled
the coming OF the great gray cruiser
olympia. The fog OF 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 tho ship swung into her dock
Along her rails stood her crew in long
lines or dark blue. rigid at attention
and with a solemn expression uncom-
mon TO the young faces beneath the
jaunty sailor hats. Astern, under the
long. gray muzzle OF gun that once
made its way into history more than
twenty years ago in Manila Bay. lay
the flag draped casket. Above, a
tented awning held off the dripping
rain. the innerslde of the canvas lined
with great American flags to make
20 n - hoTA
tention stood five sailors and marines
nR guards OF honor for the dead at
rach corner and the head Of his bier
Just as the ships bell changed out
the quick double strokes OF eight
BELLS" the sailors form of four o'clock
and the hour set for the arrival, the
bugles rang out again and the crew
lined the rails far above the dock. The
marine guards filed down the gangway
10 face tho troopers across the dock.
the ships band came down and formed
beyond the marines. on deck at the
gangway head, four side boys took
their place on each side facing towarc
each other and the boatswain waiting
behind them to pipe a dead comrade
over the side with the honors accorded
only TO fun admirals of the fleet.
Cars bearing Secretaries Weeks and
DENLY, Assistant Secretary VAIN
wright. General Pershing. Major Cen
eral Harboard Admiral Coontz and
Major General LeJune. the marine
coinmandant. and their aides rolled up
10 the gangway.
Just as the casket passed out
through the rails. oversize to the
plank. the wall OF the bo'sun's pipe
sounded shrining the last salute OF the
sea TO the dead
Step BY step bearers labored down
the plank. sanded against the slip
perry murk of the rain, to the cobbIed
dock floor below. Again the pipe above
walled as they stepped ashore at last
and the unknown was again on Amer
ican soil,
The caisson waited in a space be-
tween the second and third squadrons
~ the full strength OF the third caval-
" from Fort Myer, and beside it
stood the eight body bearers Of the
army headed by Sergeant Woodfill,
Continued on Page TwoJ