Imperial Valley press., 1923-08-06

firm, kindly features evidences Of
the anguish Of her spirit.
Each silent crowd beside tho rail
road brings fresh reminder Of
the nation s loss and must be an adj
ditional pang Of sorrow for the
widow. But when she speaks Of
this at all, it is with expressions of
gratitude for the American people 5
thoughts.
Gratitude To People
81 cannot ever tell these people
how they have helped me ard up-
held me in this hour" Mrs. Hard
ing said, her hand on 4 stack Of
telegrams that come pouring in at
every station.
1t is her inordinate pride in her
dead husband and achievements of
his life time that keeps Mrs. Hard
ing going.
At two or three Iowa points
Boone, Clinton and Cedar Rapids
the funeral special was to pause or
stop. The throngs along the route
now are so dense that hundreds
cannot catch even a glimpse of the
floWer-strewn compartment contain
ing the presidents S casl:et.
The wide stretches of the west,
paid their tribute and have been
replaced by the more frequent and
more thickly populated communi-
ties as the train draws near to the
last lap of its journey. Everywhere
along the line, hour by hour, it is
the same story-the American peo-
pie lining the steel highway along
which the last journey Of President
Harding is being run.
The people of Illinois, as well IS
those OF Iowa, have the opportun-
ity to pay their tribute today.
Chicago This Afternoon
The train is due at Chicago,
where a tremendous crowd is ex-
pected to be gathered for few
moments of tribute, at 3:30 p. m.
One of the most remarkable gath
erings of all these along the first
half of the journey was at Omaha,
early today. Although the special
was reported behind time as Il re-
suit Of the incident at Chappell,
many thousands stood in the early
hours awaiting its arrival. On the
station platform are heaped high
scores of wreaths and floral tributes
to President Harding. In the
darkness, along the tracks for Il
mile in either direction from the
station stood the massed, waiting
throngs. Now and then a match
fIared or the racing of a flivvcr en-
CINE made suddenly bright its head
lights, but for the most part all was
quiet as eyes were strained into the
darkness for sight of the expected
train and ears listeaed for its
whistle.
When the funeral special finally
came like a sable ghost out of the
west and paused, its drivers grind
ing more and mora sicwly between
the long rank, an absolute silence
grippcd the crowd.
Flowers Fill Entire Ca
And the train itself was Ike a
veritablc train ct HE dead. No
sign Of life or light appeared down
its long length as it rolled in di-
miuished speed until .he last ca.
carie into sight. The windows Of
one compartment Of this car were
lighted from within but still it was
rs though everything within was
craven, so motion,es3 were the
guards bowed over their rifles,
around the. fIag-draped casEct.
Omaha 5 floral trib.tes were
added to the hundreds already re
ccivcd along the route which now
fiji the entire ear of the special,
in addition to those hoapod high
about the bier
When the train reaches Chicago
it viii be taken over the belt line
TO thc Baltimore and Ohio and will
hc off on it's fast run through to
the capitol. Its route win lie
through Gary and 81. Joseph, In
diana, Dosplcr, Fostoria Akron and
Youngstown. Ohio; New Castle
Junction, and Conncllsville, Pa.
Harper s Ferry, W. Va, ana thence
to Washington.
Tonight it will be crossing the
late President 5 home state