The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-08-08

4 81
bier with bent, uncovered heads to
bid farewell to the upright, kindly
man SO soon to leave Washington
forever.
| Move From White House.
1t was few minutes past ten
o'clock when the great procession Of
sorrow swung out from the White
House gates to begin its pilgrimage
up the historic avenue where 80 many
other long caravans Of grief and OF
rejoicing, Of regret and Of triumph,
had preceded 1t in years gone by.
Tenderly the, President had beer
carried for the last time from the
portals of the White House and
placed again on the artillery caisson
that had borne him last night from
the funeral train through the east
room to lie for few hours amid
flowers that had been placed there in
tribute by the potentates Of the earth
and by the plain pee le the fallen
chieftain loved 90 we'll.
,, Casket Is Opened.
As the funeral hour approached the
casket was opened so that near rela
tives and friends might have their
last look there in the East Room q,
the bier, Of their beloved dead who
lay with. a peaceful smile in the re.
pose of eternity. za
Former President Wilson, himself
broken by the cares Of the chief
magistry, came to the great portico
just before the hour Of departure to
take his place In the cortege at the
invitation of President Coolidge.
I Chief Justice Taft, the only other ex-
Prssidsnt, also vas waiting when the
casket, enshroud in the Stars and
Stripes like that OF other soldiers
who have made the supreme sacrifice
to their country was liftd from its
setting Of flowers to be borne to its
place amid another and perhaps
grander array Of floral coloring and
fragrance in the rotunda. President
Coolidge who enters the White
House with heavy heart upon the
duty Of the highest Office In the land.
arrived to take his place also just a,
the hour set for the departure.
AS the, corteHe was forming under
meath the shadows of the great tree
through which many Presidents
have looked out upon the world.
sometimes in triumph and ma,
times in sorrow, the bell of s.
Johns Episcopal church across l.;
fayette Square known as the churci
Of the Presidents. began tolling ii
doleful lament at the passing of :,
great heart in the galaxy Of immor
tails.
Mrs. Harding Alone
Only as the procession started did
1t become known that MO-. HARDING
had been with the body in the East
Room for half an hour at O'Clock
this morning. She was alone al
times and at other times attended by
one or two relatives. But while the
officials were gathered at the funeraj
hour to take up their places ia the
cortege she remained in her room
alone with her grief.
Before the casket, as It was car
ried down the steps, walked the two
ministers selected to officiate later.
at the funeral in the rotunda. They
walked side by side, Doctor A. Free
man Anderson, pastor Of Mr.. Hard
ing's church here, and DR.. James
shera Montgomery, chaplain Of the
house Of representatives. Then came
the military and naval aides who had
been near to the President at ali
the dramatic moments Of his brief,
full service as the first leader of his
people. -.
In Pennsylvania avenue the long
silence that hitherto had been dis
turbed only by the champing Of tue
restless mounts of the troopers was
broken by the strains Of 5Chopin's
funeral march. played by an arm
band. There was only brief delay,
then until the last journey OF War
rem Harding along the historic
thoroughfare had begun between the
dense crowds Of humanity that made
long aisle Of grief from the very
gates Of, the executive mansion 10
the towering capitol mile away.
AZ the same time bugler came to
the portico and sounded shrilly yha
single note Of the soldier's call to att
tention. The cavalry opposite on the
avenue came TO G;ssharp salute with
their blades flashing In the sunlight.
Then there was 4lurrJAsfS the
drums just ~ the guns Of Fort Aey-
er acress the silent Potomac awoke
the echoes With . salute to the de-
parted eomrads. 81 u