Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-08-04

ruffies. Then Navy band played
throngs stood uncovered. The Navy
band then. played Lead. Kindly
Light" Mr.. HardinE's favorite hymn,
as ii was Mckinleys.
Swing Into March.
After the band played Lead Kindly
Light" the buglers sounded right
wheel" and the cavalry troops swung
into column at the head of the cor
tege. Chief of Police Daniel ].
O'Brien had gone ahead in his car to
see that the way was clear. The
Navy band started Chopin's Funeral
March" and the procession began its
slow march to the train.
All traffic had been stopped. All
The only sounds were made by the
tramp of men and horses. There was
no hysteria or audible weeping or
commotion of any sort. Only once
was the silence broken by more than
foot falls That was when the chimes
of ST. Patricks Catholic Church. d
block from the hotel, played Nearer.
Ny God to Thee" as the cortege got
under way. Before the body was re-
moved from the hotel brief services
were held in the presidential suite,
conducted by the Rev. James s. West,
pastor OF the First Baptist Church
here Mr. Harding was member of
that denomination.
The casket, before IT left the hotel.
had been heaped over with flowers,
loving tributes from friends. Tele-
grams and messages by hundreds We'd
with the flowers for space. But when
the casket was removed its only
drapings were the American flag and
a wreath Of carnations.
Notables In Parade.
Behind the hearse came the nota-
bles of the escort. which included the
honorary pallbearers. and high city.
state and national officials. Among
them were Secretaries Hoover. Work
and Wallace and Attorney General
, Daugherty, cabinet members. The
Attorney General got up out of a
sick bed at the Palace Hotel to take
his place in the line of march. He
rode in An automobile ahead of Mayor
James Rolph. jr.; Gen. John ]. Per-
shing, Maj. Gen. Charles G. Morton,
Rear Admirals Edward Simpson and
J. S Mexican.
The participation of the Army, the
Navy and the marines in the process
sions was solemn and imposing. All
officers were in full dress, rs is Gus
tomary on such occasions, and their
swords were draped in crepe.
Under the command of Brig. Gen.
Ira A. Haines select units were de-
tailed from the Preside and Fort
Scott.
The active pallbearers and the
guard of honor to the station con-
sisted of two marines. two soldiers,
two sailors and two members of the
National Guard.
Mrs Harding did not leave the hotel
with the cortege. She waited until
Z o'clock, when she departed, accom-
panied by DR.. Charles E. Sawyer and
Secretary George Christian. They
rode in a closed car with the blinds
drawn.
Men from the S0th Infantry at the
Preside formed a line on each side
of the route to the station as an
add tional guard of honor.
All patrolmen in the city, except
those absolutely necessary to patrol
the districts, were assigned to the
procession and wore small wisps of
crepe on their shields.
Crowds Honor Mrs. Harding.
Mrs. Harding left the Palace Hotel
for the station I'm a closed car at z
o'clock accompanied by DR.. Sawyer
and Secretary Christian. The shades
of the car were drawn and there was
no draping on 1t in either crepe or
colors. Spectators along the sidewalk
barred their heads as the car passed.
lne SCcHe lnSlQe the railroad STA
ton where the presidential train was
awaiting was a strange one. Plat
forms that ordinarily are crowded
with passengers were bare. Passage
ways to and from the trains were
empty. Tracks usually occupied by
trains were vacant. Only on the
farthest track, near an arched trav-
erse TO the street, stood the same line
of cars that the Presidents party had
occupied on the trip west-and one
more.
Car Decorated.
Rearmost was the car in which War
rem Harding had lived and laughed