The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-08-08
FINAL TRIBUTE
PAID DEAD CHIEF


plete silence reigned along the way
Of death. Only the cry of a young
child was heard.
Then the strains OF Nearer Ny
God to Thee" a favorite hymn OF the
dead President, were echoed back
from the buildings lining the avenue
as the dead black caisson, bearing the
body OF President Harding, rumbled
by.
The dead march passed, the old ia
miliar hymns. the thoughts of their
loved ones brought tears to eyes of
watchers all along the avenue. Men
and women drew their handkerchiefs
and wiped their eyes without embar-
rassment
President Coolidge, as his automo-
bile passed, was slumped over, his
chin resting on his chest, as If sor-
row for his dead chief and the great
responsibility weighed heavily upon
him.
The procession was miles long
When the head of the column reached
the Capitol at IL a. m, the civic sec
ton of the parade was still forming in
front Of the White House and Just
getting away.
School Children Collapse
Fifty school children of the thou
sands organized by the Fairgrounds
to march to the district building and
lapsed from the heat as the pageant
was passing. They were carried in
side and given first aid.
AS the police escort at the head of
the column moved through the Cap
itol grounds, General Pershing and
his mounted aides swung to face the
rotunda and came to attention.
The massed infantry bands pro-
ceeded beyond them, wheeled, faced
north and made the south edge of a
hollow square, formed on the east by
General Pershing and aides. on the
west by the capitol and on the south
by the bands.
In this square, the body of the
president was received. The cavalry
and artillery escorts moving al steady.
solemn pace, colors draped, moved out
the south entrance of the grounds.
Minute Guns Boom
All during the progress of the pro-
cession, minute guns doomed at FIT
Myer, Va, across the Potomac from
the Capitol. They could be family
heard along the line of march
At one point, a school band
massed at the curb struck into
Nearer My God Thee as the flag
draped eaisson passed. Uncon.
sciously, the crowd began to hum
the strains, until the sound rose in
the hot air like moan.
From the back streets, as the cor
tege passed, came the clang OF ambu-
lance bells and the shrill rasp Of 81
rens, as many persons overcome by
the heat and crush were hurried to
hospitals or rendered first aid in near
by homes.
The sun beat down through the haze
that cast a pail over the Capitol. The
infantry column preceding the Gals
son bearing the President wheeled on
arriving before the rotunda and
massed by companies in columns of
platoons around the edge of the broad
plaza to the left of General Pershing.
The mounted officers took their places
at the head Of their columns. Bayou
cts were fixed, glittering in the sun.
Flag Droops Listlessly
The half-masted flag over the Capt.
toll dropped listlessly in the still air.
The battalion of marines, preceded
by their famous band, formed in
columns of companies behind General
Pershing. The only sound aside from
the shouted commands of the officers
was that of the muff1ed drums.
The caisson entered the capitol
grounds and at 11:21 a. m. it was
driven out on the broad plaza,
where little more than two years
ago a dense crowd stood to see
Mr.. Harding inaugurated Presi-
dent.
To the muffled BEAT of the drums the
men of the Navy moved into the vast
plaza, to the right and behind General
Pershing. The Blue Jackets were uni
formed in dazzling white with neck
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