The Washington times., 1923-08-07
TRAIN WILL Be
HOURS LATE
IN CITY
Reverence Of Crowds in Ohio
and Indiana Slow Up
Speed.
Continued from First Page.)

Continued from First Page.)
Notwithstanding silent and sor-
rowful as the remains Of the late
President moved slowly by them.
In a sense, 1t is these reverent
people who are running this train
today-not the railroad officials.
When the crowds are great the
train runs at q snail's pace or
stops; when people are few the
train runs fast
Calmly accepting the situation
as inevitable, despite her intense
desire to see the body Of the late
President lie in the historic east
room of the White House before
shutdown, Mrs. Harding herself is
sued instructions that the silent,
respectful throngs are not to be
disappointed-even If the train does
not reach Washington until late
tonight.
Early today as the train swung
through President Harding's home
State of Ohio, railroad officials esti-
mated they would make Washing
ton between 5 and s this evening.
But they even shook their heads.
1t may be earlier, it may be later.
1t is, they said, in the hands of
the people of Ohio, Pennsylvania,
West Virginia and Maryland. To
this extent, at least, a saddened
people have claimed the dead Pres
ident as their own.
Those OF the dead Presidents
own State, in particular, were not
to be denied today. They who had
honored him so signally in life were
no less concerned that he should in
death receive that honor befitting
one Of Ohio's sons who had fought
the good fight and died in his coun.
try's service.
Throughout the long night and
early day, as the train alternately
crawled and flew across the State,
Ohio came from its factories and its
farms, from its offices and shops,
to stand quiet and uncovered be-
side the tracks over which one of
Ohio's most noted sons was being
borne back to rest for time where
the remains of two other great
Ohioans, Garfield and Mckinley.
have rested under the dome Of the
Capitol.
Train Near Marion.
The train crossed into Ohio from
Indiana shortly after midnight, and
from then on until early day,
crowds were to be seen at every
station, varying in size according
to the place, but never varying in
their attitude Of mute respect for
Warren G. Harding. Sherwood,
Defiance, Dessler, Fostoria, Willard,
Lodi, Akron, Ravenna, and so on
down to Youngstown, near the
pennsylvania line, they came and
went as the night progressed.
At Fostoria and Tiffin the re-
mains of the late President were
only a little way north Of grieving
Marion, where on Friday they will
be laid away with all the simplicity
and lack Of ostentation that his
simple, kindly heart could have
wished.
Never before in the history of
America has there been a journey
comparable to this caravan of sor-
row that for four days has wended
its way across the continent. Quite
probably there will never be an
other.
There have been such crowds
that have never been witnessed
in this country. No one could
estimate with any degree of accu-
racy the numbers of people who
left their works and their homes
to do him reverence. They have
been endless, enormous and we'll
nigh Uncomfortable in their siZo,
their reverence and their desire
to show It.
And everywhere there have been
flowers-wreaths and blankets and
bouquets OF every bloom known
to horticulturists. The flowers
long since have choked to over
flowing the narrow space in the
rear car where lies the metallic
casket. And today another car
was filled completely. At every
stop they were placed aboard,
beautiful, fragrant, symbolic and
mutely expressive of a community
sorrow which could only finds its
outlet in gifts such az these.
Words could not express this