Evening star., 1924-01-23
N'SB0DY BACK
IN RUSSIAN CAPITAL
Casket Carried Five Miles
Through Crowded Streets
While Nation MournS.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
MOSCOW, January 23.--The body of
Nikolai Lenin, late premier of soviet
Russia, was brought to Moscow this
afternoon from the little town of
Gorky, in the distant suburbs, where
his struggle for life after a long ill
ness ended late on Monday. On the
shoulders of his comrades of the
council of commisars, his coffin was
carried nearly five miles through
streets guarded by soviet troops to
the House of Unions. where it is to
rest IN state until the funeral cere-
monies.
The day was cold and dismal, but as
the casket, uncovered but for lid of
thin glass. was carried through the
streets, the windows, roofs and ga
bles of the houses. the adjoining
fences and all places of vantage off
the thoroughfares, on which all tref-
fic was stopped, We're crowded with
thousands of silent onlookers.
More than 10000 members of par
Lament and the communist party
and delegations from various depart
ments and labor unions gathered at
the railway station where the train
bringing the body, drawn by loco
motives, the upper part of which
were WOunu With Ttu anu IlD-
bons, drew itno the station quietly
and promptly at 1 o'clock to the
slow and solemn music of funeral
march played by the soldiers bands.
Keep Death Watch.
Only Lenin's widow. his mother and
some of his most intimate associates
in the communist party kept the
death watch in the Gorky Villa
throughout the night. AS this little
group waited the coming of the es-
cort, there were pouring into Moscow
a flood of kilograms that showed
that the world mourned the dead
chieftain deeply. The messages came
from organizations of workmen in
many cities of Europe, from the COM
munists of all nations who venerated
Lenin as the high priest of their po-
litical and economic faith and, as for
governments which have recognized
the soviet federation.
Vast Russia herself, from the far
flung villages of Siberia to the towns
Of the Crimea, is dazed by the pass
ing of her premier. Village commun-
ist committees in distant districts
awoke this morning to receive the
news. Some of the peasants hate
communism, but most Of them placed
their confidence in Lenin.
All night the telegraph instru-
ments clicked and the wireless buzz
ed as reports went out and as the
government in Moscow gave it's di
rections to it's Iieutenants In the
provinces.
'Lenin is dead. Rally about his
name ard memory and carry on his
policy" This was the purpose of the
messages.
The house Of unions is not far
from Moscow's great Theater Plaza
and in this square. beneath red flags
draped with mourning crepe, a huge
crowd began to gather with the
dawn, waiting behind police lines for
the hour Of Z this evening, when the
public will be admitted to view the
body as it lies in state. The govern
Of Dzerjinsky, head of the cheka and
chairman of the funeral committee,
are prepared to handle the hundreds
of thousands Of Russians who until
Saturday will march by the body-a
crowd which may rival in numbers
Edward.
Trotsky May Attend.
1t is not yet known whether Leo
Trotsky, who is i'll, will be able to
attend the funeral. Leaders of the
communist party have advised him
of the death Of his famous comrade,
and they expect he will exert every
effort to be at the services if his
health permits.
In the meantime the party diff
ferences which have been bitterly
aired during the recent official con-
ferences and discussions will be
subordinated. After the dead leader
Is buried the all-Russian soviet con-
gress will formally decide who is to
try to fill the vacant place.
Troops of the Moscow garrison
with fixed bayonets were scattered
about at points for blocks around
the railway station and the house of
unions this morning, keeping the
streets clear of traffic in preparation
for the arrival Of Lenins body.
No one was allowed to pass except
the members of the official funeral
party and its invited guests. The
streets through which the cortege
was to pass from 10 o'clock on lay
in a dead, snow white silence await
ing the late premiers last journey
to the national capital -.------