Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1923-08-07
CAPITAL.
AWAITS
Washington a City of Mourn
ing Awaits Body of Presi-
dent-Delays Feared
THOUSANDS IN LINE
No Ceremonies Planned Aside
from Brief Military Honors
at Railroad Station

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (BY
The Associated Press Brood
ing skies, heavy with potents OF
storm but broken occasionally by
hot, hazy sunlight, hung over
Washington through the last
hours of waiting today for the
| funeral train that is bearing
President Harding to the ulti-
mate honors his sorrowing coun-
trymen can pay him.
Hour by hour messages poured in
telling of the slowing pace of the
train as crowds at stations along the
way forced changes in the schedule
that they might pay their silent trib-
ute to the dead. 1t seemed likely
that darkness would fall before the
flag draped casket would be laid for
its brief space of quiet in the East
Room of the White House.
Plans for the reception of the dead
were unchanged except as the slow
hours of waiting were dragged out
longer and longer as each Ohio and
Pennsylvania town through which
the train crawled lavished its voice
less acclaim at the bier of this dead
Ohioan. At whatever hour it came,
Washington would be waiting, hush
ed, reverent, sorrowful. In daylight
II do I'll IL mill ha ha
Hours before the long special train
with it's freight of sadness was due
the folk of Washington high and low
had begun to gather along the way
to the White House. Reports of
the trains delay had not altered the
plan of thousands here to be in their
places early. Steel cables that but a
short time ago held back rollicking
thousands gathered at a Shriners
conclave in which the President
played so large a part, again girded
Pennsylvania avenue, this time to
edge the ranks of silent humanity
waiting patiently through the sum-
mer heat to glimpse the easket as
it rolled by behind the Gathering
cavalry escort.
As the hour of arrival drew near,
the machinery of government ceas-
ed to move; the great departments
of government grew blank and sill
ent, and the thousands Of govern
ment workers trooped out to join
the other citizens in the sorrowful
throngs.
There were no ceremonies planned
aside from the brief military honors
at the station and again at the
White House. Only to those closest
to the station could be audible the
solemn strains of the Marine Band,
playing as the casket was carried
out to be lifted with gentle hands
to the blackwheeled gun timber that
| awaited il. Yet there was no place
of vantage along the whole way to
which the plain folks had access that
was not crowded with silent watch
ers long before the train slowed to
a stop under the train shed.
President Coolidge and the few
cabinet members in Washington. up
on whom has fallen the sad duty OF
planning the honors to be paid IN
the name of hundred million
Americans to the fallen chieftain,
had arranged their program to be
gathered at the station only a short
time before the funeral train ap-
peared and to assemble in the Presl-
dents waiting room, designed es-
pecially for the happy events of the
nations life, for the welcoming OF
new Presidents and of honored
guests Of the nation.
BY that route came many great
men to Washington in the yesterdays.
Thus came the men of place and
power in Europe during the war TO
consult as 70 Americas part in that
great adventure thus Pershing came
! t. receive the thanks and the plaud-
It's of a grateful nation; thus came
Harding himself only two short years
| ago, walking strongly, his wide
shoulders erect, his face lifted mis-
eyes alight with elation, yet show
| ing the thoughtful resolve to spare
himself nothing Of his best endeav-
or in the nations service.
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