, 1923-08-15
The Capital In Mourning

freSiuentS were pulu TO the m
Of Presidents. Harding In the state fun
eral services here Tuesday night and
Wednesday morning, August Z and 8.
Preparations for the saddest cere-
mony In the history of the city since
the martyred Mckinley was brought
here from Buffalo % years ago. were
completed Monday under the guidance
of President Coolidge. Monday night
the capital, draped in mourning. await
In deepest grief the arrival of the
Presidential cortege, hours behind Its
schedule owing to reverent throngs
who stood in front of the train at every
town along its route to pay tribute to
the nations lead leader.
President Coolidge, Chief Justice
Taft, Senator Cummins, of Iowa, speak
or pro ten of the Senate, and cabinet
members met the train as it drew into
MO station at 10 ID Tuesday night.
Remains Removed To White House
Members of the guard of honor-sol-
diers and sailors who had guarded the
body during its long journey-removed
the casket from the train and bore 1t
to the black draped cassion at the ent-
rance to the presidents room at the
station. AS the casket was carried
through the c%oncourse of the depot
he Marine band played Nearer My
God To Thee" On the broad plaza
outside the building a squadron of cav
airy and a battery of field artillary
were drawn III at attention. AS the
casket was lifted to the cassion they
formed in line to present arms and,
on signal, the cavalry swung away in
column formation and led the way to
the White House. Behind the military
escort came the casslon and flag drap-
ed casket, then some members of the
party who had made the Inflated trip
with the President, President Coolidge
and other officials and the battery of
artIllary brought up the rear.
Passing through streets cleared of
all traffic n thronged with a rever-
ent and silent populace, the cortege
turned south to the capitol grounds,
down the winding roadway t Pensyl-
vania Avenue and then over the his
foric route that has witnessed every
great momeut of joy or sorrow in the
nations life. The cassion alone enter
ed the White House grounds, the troop
ers swinging aside to line the broad
avenue and sitting motionless with
sabers at present" until the casket
was lifted down and carried into the
stately East Room where 1t rested
Tuesday night and Wednesday.
A Sad Homecoming
Mrs. Harding did not ride from the
station to the White House with the
.cortege. Accompanied by members Of
the presidential party she selected as
her escort h wen Immediately to the
White House where she was met by
Mrs. Coolidge and wives of cabinet
officers, who waited with her the
arrival of the body.
As soon as the casket had been plac-
ed on its . bier In the East Room a
wreath was placed for Mrs. Harding,
one by the President and Mrs. Cool
idge. one for the Supreme Court by
Chief Justice Taft. one for Congress
by Senator Cummins and Speaker Bill
lette. and also other wreaths from the
heads Of different state and foreign
governments.
Noted Legislators P~aiibearers
Members of both houses of congress
were chosen to act as honorary pail
bearers by Mrs. Harding. They were
Senators Lodge. Curtis, Watson, Over
man, Fletcher and Kendrick and Rep
resentatives Burton. Butler, Cooper,
Garrett, Garner and Haughten.
Impressive Funeral Procession
On Wednesday. at 10. a. M, the cas-
ket was again placed upon the cas-
sion for the Journey along Pennsylvania
Avenue to the Capitol. where were
paid the last tributes of loving re-
membrance by n Borrowing populace.
The historic t~horoughfare was roped
off by cordons of police on guard as
the cortege moved slowly to the Inn
pressive music OF muffled DRAINS and
funeral dIrges by army, navy Ind mar
Inc bnads.
General Pershing and his staff head
ed the military escort. consisting of
the first battalion 18th Engineers and
band. the 18th Infantry and band, a
compost regiment Of sailors. n bat
talon of the DIstict OF Columbia nat
Ional guard. the first battalion 9th.
Field Artillery and the second squad
ron 3rd Cavalry and band.
A civilian procession. with Senator
Henry Cabot Lodge MS chief marshal.
followed The military escort. In this
section OF the cortege were the clergy
men. the Rev. A. Freeman Anderson.
acting pastor Of the Calvary Baptist
church and the Rev. James Shera
Montgomery. chaplain OF the louise OF
Representatives, the physicians who
attended the late president. Brig. Gen.
Charles u. Sawyer and 1T. Com. J.. +.
Boone, and the cassion bearing the
rasket.
The cassion wa followed by Presi-
lent Coolidge and his military aide.
Chief Justice Taft n aide. former
President Wilson and aide. foreign
ambassadors. associate judges OF the