The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-08-16
NATIONS DEAD
AT WASHINGTON
President Coolidge and Sor-
rowing Throngs Pay Silent
Tribute 10 Dead Chief
ENTIRE NATION IN MOURNING
Thousands Upon Thousands Mourn
As Funeral Train Crosses Continent
Entire City Is In Mourn
ing When Party Arrives.

Washington. D. c., August The
White House tonight received its
dead
The fag-draped casket Of Warren
Gamaliel Harding, twenty-ninth Pres
ident OF the United States. stricken
while leading his country back from
shell-torn fields to paths OF peace, was
drawn gently tonight into the capital
by a funeral train that had crossed a
continent.
Nine hours late was the train.
which east OF Chicago crawled
through great crowds reluctant TO
end their tribute. It was after 10
o'clock when it arrived. but tens OF
thousands who stood for hours be-
meath a blazing sun and through a hui
mid evening still stood sorrowfuIly
from railroad plaza TO White House.
Tenderly the casket was carried
from train through the terminal. past
the new President and his cabinet.
standing in silent salute
Tenderly it was placed on an artil-
lery caisson
Tenderly it was drawn through the
lane Of silent thousands TO the great
mansion that had been Mr.. Harding's
home
The guard OF honor-marines sea
men and soldiers-lifted it from the
caisson under the portico OF the
White House ana carried FOR a night
OF rest into the east room in which
had lain Lincoln and Mckinley.
Then the new President. his CAB.
met. high officials Of the government,
military escort withdrew leaving 10
Mrs Harding her dead
The arrival OF the funeral train AT
the end OF a corridor OF grief that
reached across a continent. was a
tense. dramatic picture that will new
er fade quite out Of American history.
The train backed into the station
so that the funeral car with it's flag
draped casket rolled in first to stop
where the little group. headed by
President Coolidge. waited.
Mrs. Harding stepped OF the car
leaning on Secretary Christians arm.
and with Dr.. Sawyer on her other
side.
The band on the concourse began
playing Nearer By God To Thee"
Mrs. Harding walked erect. but
slowly, along the station platform.
While her hand was on Secretary
Christians arm she apparently need
ed no support
AS the solemn strains Of the com
rOrting old hymn filed the station. the
casket was tenderly lifted down
through the special door cut in the
side Of the car It was placed on a
rolling platform.
A single wreath that had been wait.
ing at the station was laid on the
great flag spread over the casket.
Secretaries Hoover Wallace and
Work. Attorney General Daughertv
and General Pershing walked slowly
behind the casket as it was carried
down the living corridor.
President Coolidge gave his formal
greetings to his dead chief as the cas-
ket reached the head Of the aisle Of
soldiers before the Presidents room.
He stood hat in hand as it passed.
then turned to follow slowly with
bent head
The iag draDed burden that carried
with it the sorrowing heart Of ma
ti0n was borne through the long room
to the plaza beyond and lifted TO the
blackdraDed gun caissou It was
strapped In place as the troopers. of
the escort sat with sabers raised high
at present" A moment later. al
low command. the troops turned slow
~ away to- lead the march t1 the
White House.
10 was few minutes before IL
o clock when the sad procession be.
gan moving toward the CAPITOL
grounds where it would swing utc
Pennsylvania avenue The hidden
flooded lights that usually bathe the
Capitol with a white glow had been
sxtinguished and the great dome stood
against a mOOnless sky as II in mourn.
ing a thing Of mysterious beauty lift.
ing above the great pile It surmounts
Behind President Coolidge into the
cOrtege rode Chief Justice TAFT and
Secretary Hughes In second car
then Secretaries Work and Denbv rid
ing together The newspaper men of
President Hlrding's party walked be.
side President Coolidge car and the
secret service men danked it on the