Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-11
All Classes Join
in Pilgrimage
to Capitol.
FLOWERS BANK
PLAIN CASKET'
Sorrowing Crowd Is
Unheedful of
Pelting Rain.
BY REX COLLIER.

The rank and file of the Ma
tons people paid sorrowful hon.
age today to a fellow citizen who
rose from those same ranks to the
two highest Offices of the republic.
Joining in a pilgrimage to the
great, gray rotunda of the Capitol,
men, women and children from
all walks of life today filed slowly
and reverently by the hag-draped
catafalque on which the body OF
william Howard Taft lay in state.
It was a scene hallowed by ira
dition and history into which the
simple black casket of the former
President and Chief Justice was
carried to receive the peoples
tribute.
On that same low catafalque the
bodies of four other Presidents and of
the Unknown Soldier had lain in state.
Lincoln, Garfield and Mckinley, all VIC
tins of the assassin, and the late Presi-
dent Harding, received similar honors
beneath the lofty dome of the National
Legislature, and when the nameless
warrior of the World War was brought
home to rest he, too, was reverenced
in the historic columned chamber.
Presidents Wreath at Foot.
A single wreath Of flowers, bearing
the presidential card. rested against
the foot of the catafalque, but banked
in a glorious semi-circle around the
rotunda was a marvellous profuSlon OF
floral tributes from those high IN on1-
cial life. Notable among the gorgeous
pieces which formed the huge horal
horseshoe was a six-foot circular spray
az Easter lilies, Pernet roses and or
cnids, sent by the diplomatic corps. a
large offering from the American Red
Gross consisting of red and white car
nations arranged to form the well
known emblem of the organization OF
mercy, which Mr.. Taft at one time
The White House wreath was made
of butterfly roses, delphiniums and
mignonetteS.
The procession of mourners oblivlous
to the pelting showers which blew
across the east plaza, filed up the broad
steps and into the rotunda at the rate
of about $500 per hour. AS the double
breasted line reached the door OF the
rotunda it separated into single niles
which moved on each side Of the caSket
and passed out the other side Of the
building.
AT the head of the bier stood two en-
listed men at attention, and at the
foot were two men of the naval service.
This detail was relieved every 20 min
yates from the detachmentS Of soldiers,
sailors and marines lined up outside
the building. The military guard was
in charge of Capt. Frank Goettee,
White House aide.
Bugles Herald Arrival.
The caisson bearing the body of the
former President clattered up to the
east steps of the Capitol at 10 o'clock
this morning. A flourish OF bugles
heralded the arrival of the funeral pro-
bearers composed of enlisted men of all
branches of the military service, lifted
the casket carefully from the vehicle
and carried it slowly up the sharp as
cent, between rows OF bayonets and
sabers.
Inside the rotunda waited a group of
several hundred members of both
houses of Congress and employees OF
the Capitol.
AS the pail bearers brought the
casket through the door and into the
rotunda, an attendant temporarily re-
moved the White House wreath and the
body tenderly was put at rest in its
place of state.
The large silken flag which had COW
cred the casket was folded toward the
foot. The flag was spotted with rain
from its trip to the Capitol. The upper
(Continued on Page S, Column g.