The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-08-07
FUNERAL TRAIN
MOVES SLOWLY
THROUGH EAST
Will Reach Washington Sew
eral Hours Late-Now Is
In Pennsylvania and
Maryland
7 HO u s A NDS GATHER
Thr0ngs Line Pennsylvania
Avenue Awaiting Body to
Be Taken Into White
House
THOUsAN NDS GATHER
(By The Associated pressl

""cHiu6sOup Auk. ts-A Clty OF
mourning awaited today to pay su-
preme tribute at the bier of Warren
!, G. Harding before his body is taken
to lie forever in the Ohio soil among
the kinfolks and neighbors he loved
and who loved him, not for the great
ness Of his place in life but for the
generous heart SO suddenly stilled in
death.
Hours before the long special train
with its freight of sadness was due
the folks Of Washington, high and
low, had begun to gather along the
way to the White House.
Reports of the trains delay had not
altered the plan Of thousands here to
be in their places early. Steel cables
that but short time ago held back
rollicking thousands gathered for a
Shriners' conclave In which the Pres
ident played So large a part, again
girded Pennsylvania Avenue, this
time to hedge the ranks of silen.
humanity waiting patiently in tho
summer heat to glimpse the caskei
as 1t rolled behind the cavalry escort
WV IU"CUt OItICS9 NIO0e
As the time of arrival grew near,
the machinery of government ceased
to move; the great departments OF
government were blank and silent and
the thousands of government worker,
trooped to join, the other citizens in
the sorrowful throngs.
There were ne ceremonies planned
at the brief military honors at thn
station and again at the White House
The Marine Band was to play a.;
the casket was carried and lifted
with gentle hands to the black -whee
ed gun timber that awaited it.
President Coolidge and the fe,,.
cabinet members in Washington upor
whom has fallen the sad duty o.
planning the honors to be maid H.
the name of q hundred million Amer
leans to the fallen chieftain arrange
their program so as to be gathered a.
the station only short time before
the funeral train was to appear an i
to assemble in the Presidents wal,
ing room designed especially for IL 9.
happy event of the nations life, for
the welcoming of new Presidents a, Il,
Of honored guests of the nation.
BY that route came many men 20
Washington in the yesterdays. Thu,
came the men Of place and power IN
Europe during the war to consult a.
to Americas part in that great ad
venture; thus Pershing came to re-
ceive thanks and plaudits of a grea1
ful nation; thus came Harding hin,
self only two short years ago, wall
ing strongly, his wide shoulder;
erect, his face lifted, his eyes aliglt
with elation, yet showing the though
full resolve to spare himself nothir =
of his best endeavor in the natior
service. - ~
Back to President,s Room
That service was given slayishly. go
lavishly that death swept down wit b
terrible suddenness to check him In
full course and turn him back to
come again, to Washington to The
Residents roSH Ikdtsthis time SLEEP
ing IN flag-draped casket, free for
ever from the cares of the great of
flee that sapped his life away.
Before when Harding came to claim
the post his countrymen had giver
him cheers and shoutings greeted
him as he stepped outside under the
arched entrance Of the Presidents
room to- see the wide flung plaza
packed with happy people waving him
friendly acclaim. A little beyond tow
cred the gray dome Of the capitol
where he had sat through contented
years as Senator. with flags stream
ing from the staff on senate and
house wings, the door to the great la.
Dor he was to know.
In preparation for his expected re-
turn today, flags were dropping at
half-staff from the triple staffs that
that front the station and from the
roof Of the silent capitol beyond.
He will come to honors here pre-
pared for him such as only dead
presidents may know and to . nieft
Of peace and utter rest at last in the
dim. stately setting Of the East room
Of the White House.
Cavalry Escort There
Befare the time when the train
was to arrive the cavalry escort from
Fort Meyer was to form line across
the plaza at the station and wait mn
tai the casket IL delivered into keep
Ing Of the army comrades Of the dead
commander in peace. TO be carried to
the White House as fallen soldiers
are carried. .s y
A battery IL steel guns Has been
ordered to walt at the station also
and over at the entrance the Marine
Band has been ordered 70 take up is
position. ready 70 share in the sorrow
% It has 90 often through tile, years
led the Joys of the nation,
Through the ssoldiery no pains have.
been spared that each man and aninaal
might do honor 70 the deaA II, his ap-
(Continued On pses 1heas) @s