The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-11
VAST HUSH F|LLSMOURN|NG THRONG' ALL NEW YORK AS JAMS MARION FOR. MILLIONS MOURN HARDING FUNERAL
How Many Thousands Viewed Body Or Attended Burial
 .WiII Never Be Known

MARION, O., August 1o.-(By As- sociated Press.)-How many of Ohio's and the nations citizens join ed with the 3O,O00 Marion neighbors and friends of Warren G, Harding never will be known. They could only be roughly estimated.
 They came and came and came from everywhere until they literally crowded every street and by-way which the late President knew and loved so well.
 Tonight they are going, each to his home, sad of heart for him who they loved. Mingled with all the sadness. however. is a measure of joy that 1t is all over or the frail woman shrouded in black who Is speeding back to the nations White House to turn 1t over to Its new mistress.
 Thousands still were strolling the streets tonight or were grouped about the little home in East Center street which has been the shrine of the nations sorrow since early yester- dead President was brought to abide among loved ones at home. They seemed to be unwilling to forget.
 But AS soon as the funeral cortege that was formed in San Francisco seven days ago and travelled across the continent and part way back back again, had started on its last lap to the cemetery, many who had been privileged to pass by the bier broke ranks and departed, leaving to the less fortunate chance to at least get glimpse of the depart ing coffin.
 Thousands View Face.
 How many had the rare privilege of seeing the face of the President while the body lay in state at the homet of his father, pr Georse T. Harding. Sr., will never pc known. For l6 hours they o,dred nned heads at the rate of about 40 per minute. When at last it became necessary at l o'clock today to close the doors to make ready for the Jour ney to the cemetery, there still were thousands waiting and disappointed The solid mass of humanity that ex- tended for eight blocks on the north side of Center street and had been constantly moving eastward toward the Harding home since CLOCK in the morning, was forced 10 turn away in sadness. Earlier in the day the line had extended more than fifteen blocks down through the heart of the city.
 One. wish of Mrs. Harding could not be fulfilled. She had expressed a desire that every person who so desired should be permitted to pass bv the bier and pay their tribute Of sorrow She issued instructions last night that the house be kept open until morning If necessary to accom- modate all who might come Ihey came until 1 o'clock In the morning. Many Are Disappointed.
 There were thousands, too, who early gave up hope of being able 10 see the dead President because or the volumes which already were III line with little or no chance or reaching their goal. But not to de- mart from Marion without having done their best to bestow tribute of love. they took to the opposite side of the street and joined Tn lne solemn conclave which 1ourHegeu GU past the Harding home, paused theIe a few moments with bowed heaas and moved on TOT otneAs !" their place. .
 But the tree-lined street leading to the Harding home was not the only place where crowds assembie ed. Ine entire route of the funeral corteee from the home to the cemetery was lined with other thousands, many Of whom had been waiting there since midnight to catch the first glimpse or the sombre gray hearse as it bore Warren G. Harding. their 1rieno' neighbor and beloved to his tomo'
 Even at the cemetery gates there was no break in the crowd. For hours they had been gathering within the city of dead about the vault which was to receive the body. They stretched along the graveled paths over which MT. Harding would make his last journey and they oVerfloweu
 
 elms which make the final resting place of the twenty ninth president Of the United States and one Of na- lures beauty spots. Nation Surrenders Leader.
 How many were in the cemetery never will be known. They mum bered in the thousands. Only faint sound as of a distant echo, now and anon, could be gathered from the tomb. Detachments of infantry kept the surging throng back from the where Mrs. Harding made the final surrender of her life's helpmate ana the nation surrendered her leader.
 But through it all it was most orderly crowd. Whether in the down town business sections, in the vicinity of the Harding home. the lanes to the cemetery or elsewhere, it was a crowd of mourning. Soldiers were needed badly, but only to keep the lines straight and to direct the throng along routes laid out for them. Boy Scouts locked hands and aided the soldiers in keeping the crowd back on the sidewalk opposite the Harding home when the coffin was borne tenderly to the waiting hearse.
 Distant outposts of soldiers were withdrawn soon after the funeral and from the business section as speedily as possible. By morning 1t was eX- pected that possibly all soldiers would be gone or leaving.
 Special trains. bearing the nations mourners back to their homes, began to pull out within few hours after the funeral and long streams of auto mobiles literally crowded the high ways in all directions on the home ward journey Never was such heavy automobile traffic carried over the roads of the central west as that which came and went from Marion yesterday and today.