New Britain herald., 1930-03-11

ed men from the marine barracks at the Washington navy yard. Follow ing them were three squads of tall and husky bluejackets from the div ing school at the navy yard.
 Three squads of soldiers from Fort Myer represented the army.
 AS the soldiers stood at attention a huge wreath, red cross of car nations, the whole surrounded by Easter lilies, was placed in the southwest corner of the rotunda by representatives of the Red Cross. Mir. Taft was president of the soci- ety when he was the chief executive of the United States.
 On the opposite side, huge wreath of yellow roses, orchids and Easter lilies was placed by represen- tatiyes of the diplomatic corps. Blue ribbons hung from this wreath.
 Stir Among People
 AS soon as word reached the capi- tol that the funeral procession had started from the home on Wyoming avenue there was perceptible stir among the rapidly growing crowd standing in the misty rain on the outside of the restricted area on the capitol plaza
 The funeral procession passed slowly from quiet Wyoming avenue into the swift rush and noise of mo- tor vehicles on Connecticut avenue. There it was picked up by a squad of motorcycle policemen, who form ed a fan in front of its as the cor tege swung south toward the capi- tol.
 All along the way people formed a thin line that stood and watched solennly. Hats were removed as the casket passed. Many of the watchers were neighbors and friends.
 Others were servants in the fash ionable residential district who knew and loved MT. Taft because of his kindness and genialty.
 All were sorrowfully revercnt as their distinguished neighbor left his home block for the last time.
 As the procession slowly was winding through the northwest sec tion of the city final preparations were made at the capitol. A black draped catafalque, which has borne the bodies of other distinguished Americans, was placed in the center of the rotunda shortly before 9 o'clock.
 At it's head was d simple floral piece of white lilacs and yellow roses.
 Flowers continued to arrive at short intervals and were grouped about the catafalque. One was a wreath, fully five feet in diameter, built up of orchids, iris and lilies, with a large silken flag on an or nate staff through the center. More Spectators Arrive
 Spectators arrived at the plaza in increasing numbers and by S:45 o'clock several hundred had gather ed. standing about in respectful si- lence or speaking in lowered tone. On historic Pennsylvania avenue down which an army caisson will bear the casket to the capitol, traf. flc was kept on the move, with nc parking allowed along the line o march the funeral procession was tc | take.
 AS the cortege' reached Dupont circle the rain let up. A few mo. | ments before it arrived, the circle was filled with people hurrying tc their offices. When the procession approached all paused The red green and amber traffic lights blink ed on and off but no one moved Only the clattering of horses hoof' and the rumble of the caisson wheel. could be heard as the procession passed by the big Patterson man sion, once used by the Coolidses as temporary White House, and moved on into Massachusetts avenue.
 Slowly moving down Massachu sets avenue, directly in front of tn
 procession, several blocks distant could be seen the statute Of Genera Winfield Scott a Mexican war hero
 A big British flag was dropping a
 half staff as the caisson slowl
 rumbled vast the Canadian legation
 part way between Dupont and Sec,
 circles.
 From Scott circle the cortes
 swung into Sixteenth street, ono l nf
 dents. Both sides of the broad stret
 are lined with fashionable homo
 and apartment hotels. On the lef
 and only block from the circl
 stands a big brick building, the en
 bassy of the Russians in the days (
 the Car. In Taft's time it was file : with gay, happy people. Today i
 windows were closed and it's dool
 barred.
 Roof of White House Seen Further down 10th street, aboN the trees Of Lafayette park, the roc of the White House could be see Reaching the park, named for tl Revolutionary hero, the processlc turned into II street, passed tf Veterans bureau, and wheeled int West Executive avenue, which bounded on the west by the Whi House and by the treasury on II cast. It was 9:30 o'clock as the pr' | cession entered Pennsylvania aVenl from the street running just south { the treasury.
 As the procession passed Il White House, President and Mir
 Hoover stood bare-headed under Il | north portico of the big mansio l After the caisson moved on towal l Pennsylvania avenue the preside | slowly walked toward his offic l temporarily located in the state ar l war departments buildings. Pennsylvania avenue was clearc l of all traffic, on the south side. TT 1 lAI I 1iN