Evening star., 1923-08-07

continued from First PageD
of Iowa and Illinois and in the city of
Chicago. II was practically certain
would not reach Washington at the
scheduled hour of 1880 pm, but how
much later the arrival would be was
somewhat of a question.
Tribute EpOchnl.
Though the trip through Iowa and
Illinois. including Chicago, caused the
train to lose time on It's eastward
journey. the tribute paid TO the mem :
ory of the late President throughout
that section will be told. and retold
for years to come. Estimates of
those accustomed to gauging the size
of crowds were that more than a
million persons had witnessed the
passing OF the cOrteGe, all with barred
heads and sorrowing hearts. No chief
executive of the nation. living or
dead, ever received such tribute, in
the opinion of the members of the
funeral party.
The state Of Indiana, not to he out
done by her sisters to the west, paid
an almost continuous tribute last
night as the train thundered along
i'm the darkness. Those who reverent-
~ waited the passing of the train
could be distinguished by those
aboard by the lights at the station
platforms and by the glare of auto
mobile lights at almost every point
the railroad crossed a highway. But
they were there and they were able
to present their respects to the hon
ored dead and catch a glimpse of the
flag covered coffin with its military
guard in the last car.
Throngs Increase fin Size.
Entering Ohio. the throngs seemed
to increase in size despite the ex-
treme lateness of the hour, and at the
1 Il, ,ft rf aud NnnnES-
town. several thousand were waiting
to pay q final mark OF respect TO
their fellow Ohioan. If the bereaved
widow could have directed the train
without regard to the other consld,
erations, II probably never would
have left the boundaries of Mr. Hard
ings native state. and the considera
tion of the nations claim prevailed
with her approval, and the train sped
on into Pennsylvania and then to
follow the route through West Wiz
ginia and Maryland to the Union
Station at Washington.
Mrs Harding was steeling herself
today as the train hurried onward foI
the scenes of sorrow and mourning ir
the Capitol Those who had talked
with her said she was quite prepared
TO go through the formal services II
the same calm manner she has main
tanned during the trip across thf
country. Everything Will be made as
easy for her as possible. and wher
the train arrives in the capital she
will be escorted from the station he
fore the body is taken from the trair
and driven to the White House in ad-
vance of the cortege. She Will take
a route through the quieter streets
avoiding the more crowded thorough
fares. such as Pennsylvania avenue.
Mrs. Harding will be accompanied
to the White House with few OF
her most intimate friends from amons
those on board the train. The other
members of the party which accom-
panied President Harding to the Pa
cific coast and to Alaska will go t.
the White House with the body ant
its military and official civilian escort.
Floral tributes in large number:
continued to be placed aboard thf
train today. with the result that fresi
blossoms ever lay beside the bier
Among the wreaths presented in Chi.
cago was one bearing the card of the
grand dragon of the realm of 1lli-
nois' and the initials of the ku Klu,
Klan in blue letters through the cen
ter of a cross.