The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1923-08-10
SIMPLE SERVICE
IN FRISCO HOTEL
Widow, Though BraveIy Calm,
I'd Is Pathetic Figure
BODY IN STEEL COFFIN
casket Escorted To Waiting Special
BY High Dignitaries Thanked
BY Line OF
Troops.

| San FfanclScO.-ln sorrow un-
utterable, San Francisco babe
goodbye to all that was mortal
of Warren Gamaliel Harding, who
until a few hours ago was Presi-
dent of the United States.
To his widow, Mrs. Harding, the
city said au revoir with compassion
unwitnessed. here since those sad days
of the earthquake and fire when San
Francisco had unassuageable sorrow
| of her own.
The outpouring of this compassion
came at sunset when the city's thou
sands lined the streets leading from
the Palace Hotel, where President
Harding died the night before, to the
Southern Pacific Station where his
body was placed on board a special
train to be taken to Washington.
Escorted by cortege of Army,
Navy and Marine detachments, led
by men high in official life in city,
| State and nation, the body of the late
President was carried to the same
railway station through which he en-
| tered the city to be for a few days its
| guest of honor. The body was placed
| In the same car he occupied on COM
ing here and started on that final
| journey from which none, not even
| Presidents, return.
At 5:57 P. M. the body of the Presi-
| dent was removed from the sitting
room of the Presidential suite in the
Palace Hotel and started from the
eighth floor to the New Montgomery
street entrance where the hearse was
waiting.
At sos P. NJ the body was placed
in the hearse and started for the sta
ton, while airplanes from Crissy Field
at the Preside flew in battle forma-
tion overhead as an aerial escort.
Troop e of the Eleventh Cavalry
sat at attention before the hearse. AS
the body was removed from the hotel
cavalry buglers sounded attention,
| then the customary fourishes and ruf
fies. Then a Navy band played "The
Star-Spangled Banner" as the throngs
stood uncovered. The Navy Band
then played Lead Kindly Light" Mr..
Harding's favorite hymn, as it was
McKinley's. After the band played
Lead Kindly Light" the buglere
sounded right Wheel" the cavalry
troop swung into column at the head
of the cortege.
Before the body was removed from
the hotel chief services were held in
the Presidential suite conducted b.
the Rev. James S. West, pastor of the
First Baptist Church here. Mr.. Hard
ing was a member of that denomina-
tion
The casket, before it left theShotel,
had been heaped over with flowers
loving tributes from friends. Tele
grams and messages by hundreds wed
with the flowers for space. But when
the casket was removed it's only drap-
ings were the American flag and
wreath of carnations.
Behind the hearse came the notables
of the escort which included the hon
orary pallbearers and high city, State
and national officials. Among them
were Secretaries Hoover, Work and
Wallace and Attorney-General Daugh-
erty, Cabinet members The Attorney
Palace Hotel to take his place in the
line of march. He rode in an auto
mobile ahead of Mayor James Rolph,
Jr., General John ]. Pershing, Major
General Charles G. Morton, Rear Ad-
miral Edward Simpson and j. S. Nc
Kean.
The participation of the Army, the
Navy and the marines in the process
sion was solemn and imposing. All
officers were in full dress as is GUS
tomary on such occasions and their
swords were draped in crepe.
Mrs. Florence Harding, widow of
the late President, standing between
Mr.. and Mrs. George B. Christian, Jr.,
as the Rev. James S. West read the
prayer over her husbands body here,
tor raised his hand and said:
God is our refuge and strength"
AS the minister ended his prayer, Mrs.
Harding said amen"
The widow stood and watched the
half-hundred persons as they filed out.
waiting for the room to clear in order
that she might have a few minutes
alone with her dead before the body
was taken to the train for transport
tation to the National Capital.
The body of the dead reposed in a
drab brown steel coffin, lined with
white silk. The only inscription, en-
graved on silver plate was Warren
Gamaliel Harding"
Mrs. Harding. dressed in deep
mourning, with black cape reaching
to her shoe tops, was yelled. She held
her gaze on the minister while he
read his text, but bowed her head as
he raised his hand for prayer. Her
eyes were dry at the finish of the
prayer and in a half-chOked voice she