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About The Omaha morning bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 7, 1923)
Crowd of 25,000 , Greets Harding Cortege in Omaha State and City Officials, Or ganization Delegations, Troops and Citizens in Vast Array. (Continued From First Face.) traffic manager; C. T. Dike, general superintendent of maintenance; E. B. Hall, general superintendent of mo tive power; T. H. Goodnow, super intendent of car department; Wil liam Bennett, superintendent of tele graph; W. T. Dinneen, chief of the secret service, and J. A. Peabobdy, superintendent of signals. A small battery of press photog raphers and newspaper reporters scurried here and there, about their task of recording the arrival and de parture of the funeral train for the public. But the crowd, for the most part, was silent. Inside the long line of darkened, crape draped cars the funeral party was hidden. Inside the last car, scarcely 10 feet from that silent, flag-draped coffin, was the one whose grief is the deepest. Mrs. Harding retired early last night, while the train was speeding across th#great plains of Nebraska, and did not appear during the stop here. But the heart of the great crowd gathered to see the train pass through Omaha went out to her In her grief. Viaducts l'ackeil. By 1:30 the station platform and Tenth street viaduct was ono seeth ing mass of humanity, waiting for i the train to arrive. The crowd was packed 12 deep all along the viaduct between the Union and Burlington sta lions, and the waiting loom and plat form of the Union depot was jammed to suffocation. At 1:45 soldiers of the Seventeenth infantry at Fort Omana, under com mand of Colonel Tillotson. in com mand of the post, arrived and began police duty. David Dickenson, United States secret service agent and personal friend of tho late President Harding, was at the depot, waiting for the train to arrive. Mayor Dahlman and Police Com missioner Butler were at the station early. City police, under personal command of Commissioner Butler Rnd Police Chief Dillon, policed the station until the arrival of federal troops. State officials who gathered at the depot were led by Lieut.-Gov. Fred G. Johnson of Hastings. Tollce on Duty. Fifteen police officers in uniform fires*, with white gloves amt white vests, were on duty under Police Sergeant William Carney until the arrival of military authorities, with MaJ. Gen. George B. Duncan, com mander of the Seventh corps area, in command. Stationmaster Adams represented the Union Pacific Bys tem at the depot until Union Pacific officials arrived on the train. As the hour drew near the crowd continued to grow, until it seemed there was not room for another per son within a block of the station. But still they' came, arid stiU they found places. Legion Men Arrive. About 2 o’clock 350 American Legion men arrived in a body. All three branches of the service were represented, many of the men being in uniform. Those in uniform stood saluve as the train passed while those in civilian clothes waited with bared heads. The navy recruiting service in Omaha under the command of Lieut. Fred D. Powers, reached the depot some time before the train arrived. About 300 members of the Klks lodge were present and a large floral tribute was presented by Congress man Willis G. Sears. Swords Draped. A taeling of deep sorrow for their dead president was plainly noticeable throughout the crowd. Little groups of army officers and privileged citi zens stood outside the iron fence which shuts the tracks from the sta tion platform, talking in subdued tones. Black streamers of crepe which decorated the swords of all army officers lent an additional touch of mourning to the scene. At 2:30 tlie crowd was still pouring in and was estimated by many at more than 25,000. Automobiles lined the street for blocks In each direction ing regular service. Many persons slept in their machines until tlie train pulled in. The huge mass of humanity was un usually quiet, and all conversation was carried on In hushed tones. At that time It was with extreme diffi culty that persons going from one part of the depot to another were able to get through the crowd. At 2:40 tho pilot train running ahead of the funeral train pulled Into the station. A squad of 40 uniformed and plain clothes policemen helped the aoldiers In keeping the crowd hack. The platform alongside track No. 7. on which the funeral train arrived, was reserved for Major General Dun can, his wife and staff. Fear Viaduct Collapse. At 2:45, only a few minutes before the funeral train arrived, police were attempting to keep the crowd on tho Tenth street viaduct from increas ing, In fear the bridge would col lapse under the weight. Soldiers at that time were also pushing back the crowd that had gathered on the plat form of the station. Mayor Dahlman and Randal K. Brown of the Chamber of Commerce Body of Warren G. Harding Pauses in Omaha on Transcontinental Journey The (op photograph shows the flag-bedecked casket of the late Warren O. Harding. The guard of honor stands by at all time* Itelow at the right is a close-up view of the special funeral car, showing the casket. By this door thousands passed early this morning. Below at (he left is (he Omaha delegation, left to right: Harvey Milliken, J. David Larson, Randall K. Brown, Fred Knapp, Thomas Frye, Mayor James llahlman and John L. Kennedy. presented a giant floral offering from the citizens of Omaha. At 2.50 the train waij heard. A minute's wait and then the headlight loomed into view'. The train jrulled into the station slowly. The Train Arrives. Warren 3. Harding had arrived in Omaha. Then began scurrying activities around the cars. The engine was un coupled and run out of the way and a fretjli greyhound of the rails was backed Into place. Station men hur ried across the platform with lee fot the cars, hoso lines were carried up the sides of the coaches and the water tanks W’ere filled. The trucks were inspected, and oiled and air lines were coupled. And the crowd massed back In the shadows and In tho dim light on the viaduct, waited in silence and with bent heads in reverence for the na tion's dead. Grim lines of soldiers held tho throng hack and only those with mili tary jmsses wore allowed through the lines. Soldiers on Guard. Inside tho rear coach, lighted aa it has been since leaving Han Frnnelr.j and as it will remain until ttie train arrlvea at Washington Tuesday after noon. could be seen the dim outline of the bier upon whleh the body of President Harding rests. Four silent figures stand at the head and foot of the coffin, guards from the artnv and navy. They stand silent, with downcast eyes. They nre the guard of honor accompanying the body back to Washington. livery four hours these guards are changed. Long wreaths of evergreen and cypress, symbols of Immortality, Harding’s Secretary Weeps as He Greets Relatives Here George Christian, President Hard ing’s secretary, amt Mrs. Christian broke dowit and wept when greeted nt the train by Mrs. George Bleeker, a cousin of Mrs. Christian, who is the guest of her sister, Mrs. It. U. Din ning, 307 Houth Thirty-seventh street. “Oh, George, this is a terrible trag edy.” sobbed Mts. Bleeker. Mr. and Mrs. Christian, in turn, embraced a 1 kissed her. Mrs. Chris tian sobbed. Tears came from Chris tian's eyea Mrs. Harding Is holding up well under her grout sorrow, Mrs. Chile tlon told friends. "Mrs. llurding has not left her stateroom since wo started from Cali fornia." said Mrs. Christian. "I vis Ited her yesterday morning She hasn't been sleeping well. Although her sorrow Is great, she Is trying to take It philosophically. "We are worried because she Isn't, able to sleep. 8ho Is a fine and noble wmrur,t Scenes in Marion Where Harding Will Be Buried I. Entrance to the beautiful Marion cemetery. In which the body of the late President Warren O. Harding will be laid to rest. The funeral cortege, after passing through this gate, will wind Its way along beautiful drives to the vault near the Harding family lot. whera his mother and sister are buried. J. Ivy-covered vault and rhapcl in Marion cemetery, where the body of Warren f>. Harding will temporarily rest. The vault Is near the family plut In the center of the cemetery. 3. tiraves of the late President Harding's mother and sister, showing the trunks of the giant elms In the background which will stand guard oxer the final resting place of Warren (1. Harding. drop* tho Inelde of the oar wherein tho body of tho late president lays. Overhead clusters of astora festoon tho celling and over tho casket Is draped the flag he served so well. New Knglne Attarhed. Tho Inst connection la made, the last water Junk Is filled, the last In apection la inuile. Tho new engine which Is to pull the train of sorrow to tho next division point on the Northwestern railroad has been at tached. Tho conductor in charge of (ho train steps to ona side and runa hla eye along the lino of dark coaches In one Inst general suiyjy. Then he lifts Ids lantern In the "highball" signal. A sharp hiss Is heard a* tha air brakes are released, A low cough as of some Iron monster getting He breath, comes from the engine. The slack between the cars la taksn up jalowly. A sharper cough from the engine n« the train hegtna to move, slowly at first, gradually gathering speed. The lights grow sntnller and closer together as the last coach ilrawa onto the bridge, then disap pear entirely aa the train draw* Into Iowa. President Harding Is gone. 100,000 Expected at Marion Funeral Rites Hr AiMM'leted free*. Marlon, O, Aug. 0—Upward* of 100,000 people ere expected to till thta city to the point of overflowing Krlday when Inst rites will be accord ed the late President llardlng. To handle the snttclpsted throng, enter* have been Issued from her* by State Adjutant General Henderson for the mobilisation of 91,000 soldiers nf the United Stste* Reserve forces of Ohio, Hundred* of person* motored to Marlon yesterday nod early in the afternoon Company I) of Marlon was mobilized, the men being stationed at points of llnrdlng Interests after souvenir hunter* became bo nutner oua that *uch a it. >v» vvn* deemed advisable to prevent destruction of property. No ore will bn permitted near the home of Dr Georg T. Harding, ar., where the funeral of (he Into chief executive will hr* hch*. the Harding homoatcj l in Mount ' '• rnon nvrmie, the "front porch.'* l \<'liangcs to Close Friday. New York. Auk. 6 —The New.York •lock, ootton and other financial and commodity cxchnngi m Imre announced today that they would he cloned ncxt( Friday, the day of i’reeldent Hard ing's funeral, All Creeds in N. Y. Pray for Harding By Awdstrd Press. New York, Aug. 'Thousands of persons, of all creeds and nations, bowed their heads In prayer Sunday in this city for the late Warren Gamaliel Harding. In the cathedrals along Fifth avenue. In historic old Trinity church, looking down Wall street, and in all the humbler churches throughout the city, wor shippers listened for a few moments to pastors, priests and rabbis eulogize the nation’s dead executive. "Our whole nation is bour.d to gether In a bond of common grief," declared Bishop Manning In the Pro testant Kptscopal cathedral of St. John the Divine. The keynote of the late president's life, he said, was loyalty, loyalty to home, friends, country and God. By Associated Press. London, Aug. 6.—A memorial serv ice for the late President Harding will be held in Westminster abbey at noon on Friday, it waa announced to day by the American embassy. Governor Bone Breaks Down. Juneau, Alaska, Aug. 6—Overcome by emotion, Governor Scott C. Bone, broke down and was unable to read a prepared statement eulogizing the late President Warren G. Harding, at a memorial service held under the auspices of the churches of Juneau Sunday. Burgess Bedtime Stories i By THORNTON W. BURGESS. Mistake# may #ometlm«a prov# to b# Moat fortunat# for you or me. —Nanny Meadow Mouse. Farmer Brown's Boy Change* His Mind. Holding Nanny Meadow Mouse in his hand, Farmer Brown's Boy could feel her little heart going pit a-pat, pit a pat with fright. She had startled him when she so unexpectedly scram bled up his trousers leg. But he knew that Nanny had been a thou sand times more frightened at the discovery of her mistake than he had. "You poor little thing!" said Farmer Brown's Boy softly. "You made a dreadful mistake. Anyway, I suppose It seems dreadful to you. You proba bly think that this la the end of everything for you. In that you are making a second mistake. Your first mistake really wasn't dreadful at all, because nothing bad is going to hap pen to you. I don’t know how you happened to climb up my trousers leg. But we all make mistakes some times. Now, don't do it again.” With this Farmer Browns Boy stooped over and put Nanny on the ground. For a second she didn't move. You eee, she couldn’t believe that she was free again. Then she realized that It w-as true and with a little squeak, half of fright and half of Joy, she scampered straight for the old scarecrow and disappeared up one leg of the old trousers. Farmer Brown's Boy laughed right out. He understood then how Nanny had made her funny mistake. "As I live, you took me for that scare i row!" cried Farmer Brown's Boy. and how he did laugh. Then an idea came to him. "I won der." said he. "If you have made your home in that old scarecrow. I do be lieve you have. I'll have to find out." So Farmer Brown's Boy carefully looked the old scarecrow all over. He i looked in every pocket. Then he un- | buttoned the coat. When he did that he heard a faint rustle In the straw- j with which It was stufTed. He j promptly buttoned the coat up again. "That settles it," said he. “You've got a nest In the middle of that bun- j die of straw. I guess I'll have to j change my mind about taking down ! I Kf*n * With that Farmer Brown"* Boy stooped over and pat Nanny on the ground. tills old scarecrow, after all. I didn't auppoae it waa of the least bit of use any longer, but now I guess it is of more real use than it ever was be fore. It waa a good thing for you that you made that funny mistake and ran up my trouaera leg. If you hadn't. 1 would have taken down that old scarecrow and so destroyed your home. It's queer how mistakes acme times turn out for tha best, after all. Now I'll leave you alone. You’ve had fl ight enough for one morning " Farmer Brown s Boy whistled for Bowser ths Hound, and together they started for hon-e. Behind them, in the middle of the old scarecrow, they left two frightened little people, try ing to make up their minds whether or not they should move again. .(Copyright 11H > The neat gtory: "Nanny and Danny Decide Wisely." Iowans Honor Funeral Train Tributes Touch Heart# of Those on Special—Speed Is Cut Down. Rj Associated Press. Chicago, Aug. 6.—The funeral train bearing the. body of President Hard ing passed through Calamus, la., 16t miles from Chicago, at 11:33 a. m . running 40 minutes behind schedule Crowds are holding up the funeral special all along the line, according to reports to the Chicago & North western railroad offices here. Th« train passed Wheatland, la., 173 miles from Chicago and 37 miles from the 1111' is line, at 11:32, running 37 min utes late. Hr Associated Press. Chicago, Aug. 6.—The running time of the Harding funeral train from Cedar RapldB, la., eastward, was ordered slowed down by Col Walter V. Shipley, division passenger agent of the Baltimore & Ohio rail road at Washington, who is in charge of the train, He believed that on account of the crowds at the railway stations the speed of the funeral train should be reduced. This led railroad operating officials to estimate that the train woulld not make up further lost time but would reach Chicago about 30 minutes late or ap proximately 3:43 p. m , central stand ard time. Bjr AiwrlttH I’mt. On Board Harding Funeral Train at Cedar Rapids, la.. Aug. 6.—Mrs. Harding again today rested in her room in the private car. “Superba.’* which carries the body of her dis tinguished husband. She rested from the strain of last week and to store up strength to carry her through the trying hours of the state funerdfc services in Washington Wednesday and the even more trying hours in Marlon preceding the commitment. The widow of the late president had a fairly comfortable night's sleep. She talked today as yesterday with some of the ladies of the party. Mr*. Harding's conversation is said to be largely concerning her hus band, the things he had been doing and the plans he had made for the future. Courageously calm, she had outlined in her mind everything that is to occur from the time the funeral train reaches Washington tomorrow afternoon until the last sad services Friday under the elm trees in the cemetery at Marion. Members of the party on the train were continuously touched and their eyes often grew misty today as the train sped through the broad state of Iowa. The silent throngs at the stations such as Boone. Ames. Mar shalltown. Legrand. Belle Plain ar.d here at Cedar Rapids were Impres sively sad. But it was the individ uals beside the railroad tracks that touched hearts to their depths—a farmer standi*?- among his corn rows, his head bared, and bis rough straw hat clasped to his breast: a wounded former service man standing as much at attention as hi* crippled condi tion would permit: an engineer stand ing with bowed head beside his lo comotive and an old lady crying soft ly to herself. Thus was the truth made known to those aboard the neral train that America need fear no threats of revolution and no warn ing* of radical uprising, for the heart of America is sound and true. By liwcktMl Ftm. Oh.cago, jg. 0—A spec.a 1 train was made up here this rroraing to carry Dr. George T. Harding, jr., brother of the late president. D-. Carl AY. Sawyer, and other Marion, O . friends of the president’! family, westward to meet the Harding fu neral train which was passing through Iowa this morning. Anb-Coolidge Talk Winds Up in Near Riot New York. Aug. €.—A city conven tion of the socialist party of New York nearly broke up in a riot Sun day when a resolution denouncing President Calvin Coolidge as a "reac tionary and a foe to labor’’ was read by William Karlem of the resolutions cotnmmittee. All over the convention hall dele gates leaped to their feet with violent protests against the spirit of the res olution and the terms In which it was couched. "Kill It. kill it." resounded from the auditorium and order was not ie stored until the chairman had order ed the resolution hack to committee for revision. It »a» not present'd again. “Open Mind” on Special Session Washington. Aug. «.—President Coolidge has an "open mind" on ths necessity of calling an extra session of congress. Samuel Gompers. presi dent of the American Federation of I-abor, declared today following a half hour conference with the presi dent. Gompers declared the president has not yet decided to accede to or reject demands from agricultural Interests for an extra session. State Delegation Brings Wreath and Condolences to Mrs. Hardin« F Governor Bryan was not present with the Nebraska delegation to pay tribute to the lale President Harding. United Slates Senator U B. How ell, republican, of Omaha, and MaJ. Gen. George B Duncan, command ing officer of the Seventh army corps area, were among those present State officials, headed by Ueutenant Governor TYed B Johnson of Hast ings, came with a huge floral wreath hearing the word. "Nebraska '' They brought with them, too, a resolution of Nebraska's sorrow for the depart ed one and a meeaage of sympathy for l\i* VMM ’< f Tows: "It is with Inexpressible sorrow thst we hear of the death of our hon >ored and beloved president, Warren G. Harding. In his passing we hsve sustained an irreparable lose that will be felt in th* hearts and homes of ail true citiaen* of th# republic. We bow in humble submission to th « affliction with th* hop* that the God in whom our departed president be lie\ ed and in whom he placed b;« trust will guide our people In the future as In the past "To his faithful wife, whose here lam and Christian fortitude have been an inspiring example, w* wish to on 'ey the sympathy of th# people cf'X our state." I tankers and laborers; railroad off Clals and switchmen; men and women of every class and creed, brushe \ elbows ss they awaited th* funeral train. AU stood as American eltisens. pay Ing their last respecta to ea* th*' loved.