Imperial Valley press., 1929-11-25
TIGER s
FUNERAL.
SIMPLE
Only Immediate Family
Present When Clemen-
ceau Is Buried.
PICTURESQUE GRAVE
Site Chosen BY Premier
Because OF Difficulty
In Reaching It.
By RALPH HEINZER
United Press staff Correspondent)

UNITED Press Staff Correspondent
SAINT VINCENT SUR JARD,
France, Nov. 25. WR-Amid tn"
tangled briars of woodland grave
in his beloved Vendee, the body Of
Georges Clemenceau was laid to
rest today with all the simplicity
asked in his dying request.
While cannons throughout the ma
ton doomed their tribute to the
"Father of Victory" the simple un-
s.ained oaken box which held the
shell of the fierce old warrior was
lowered into the soft mud of the
open grave which years ago The
Tiger had prepared for himself be-
side the grave Of his father.
His faithful servants, Albert and
Francois, loved almost as his own
children, lowered the oaken box into
the grave shortly before noon. In
every respect, save one, the dying
wishes Of The Tiger were observed.
There was no religious ceremony at
the grave.
Only Clemcnceau's wish that he
be buried standing up" was not
observed. His family of n son and
two daughters had overruled that
one last request and the casket was
laid horizontally in the grave which
only n few hoars before had been
cleaned Of leaves and prepared by
the servant, Francois Brabant.
Strong gusts of rain and wind,
blowing in from the Atlantic, stir
hat Ia, nj a N ~ n6
~ the briars of The Tigers burial
plot. His grave was as near as pos
sible TO that in which his father
was buried years ago" standing up"
With all its simplicity the cere-
mony was most impressive because
it represented the simple ending OF
ore Of the greatest careers of con
temporary French history.
Rings of gendarmes kept back
thousands of curious, journalists and
photographers, while only few Of
The late statesman's closest friends
stepped through the barbed wire
fence to the side of the grave.
Ceremony Brief
The ceremony lasted only three
minutes. On the top of the oaken
box few flowers were scattered.
They included the withered pale
blue blossoms which were presented
to Clemenceau by n French corporal
in 1917 and which he had preserved
in his library. The handful Of blue
blossoms offered by Sir Basil Zahar.
off, another old friend, also were
among the floral offerings at the
grave.
There had been no attempt to
tidy the woods for the ceremony.
The Tiger for years had resisted
any attempts to clear out the briars
of his beloved woods overlooking
tine styx-like river Petit Lay. The
weeds had grown wild, choking all
PATHS up to the wind'blown cliff
above which Clemeneeau chose as
lis final resting place because the
climb was $50 bad that none will
wish to disturb me-"
The barbed wire which he had
strung with his own hands to keep
the cattle out of the woods, was cut
to allow passage of the family to
the grave.
Ali night long while the funeral
cortage Of five ears moved swiftly
over the 223 mile road from Paris,
che crowds had gathered, trampling
the fields Of COlombier farm into
mud, but at daybreak gendarmes
forced the crowds back 100 yards
from the woods.
Even The Tigers beloved neigh
bors, who for years had jealousy
guarded the secret Of the location
If his grave from curious tourists,
were prevented from approaching
the burial plot. The Tiger had
,layed in those fields as boy and
as man he had pulled many poll.
Teal strings to obtain favors for
his neighbors, but he was not privi'
legged to grant them the last favor
Of standing beside his grave.
There were no official representa-
tlves of the government at the
grave, only The Tigers son, Michel,
lis two daughters, Madames Jac-
quemarie and Young, his grandson,
/ DR.. Andre Jacquemarie, the two
servants, Albert and Francois, and
g few close personal friends.
Servants Are Mourners
The two faithful retainers were
the last to leave the grave. After
the family and all others had de.
parted through the rustling leaves,
Albert and Francois stood with
barred heads in the chill drizzle, lin
Cering for one last tribute.
Albert had ridden with the motor
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