San Francisco, August 4—Marked by simplicity, and yet by reason of its simplicity all the more heart rending, the last tribute of respect was paid here Friday night by California to the man who had until a day ago been the well loved President of the United States, and in his death all the world joined with this far Western state in a demonstration of the regard in which it had held Warren G. Harding, the man and the president, and expressed its grief at his passing.
Service at Sunset
Just as the golden sun was sinking below the far stretched horizon of the Pacific, a few gathered in the Presidential suite at the Palace Hotel for a simple service read by the Rev. James S. West of the First Baptist Church.
High dignitaries of the state and church were there, and in their midst, never for a moment giving way to her intense grief, was Florence Harding, widow of the late President, and in the streets about the hotel and leading to the station there was gathered the citizenry of San Francisco, silent and with bared heads expressing the grief of the nation at the passing of its Chief Executive.
The simple service over, the journey to the station was begun.
As the casket was borne by the pall bearers from the three branches of the American service to the state, the Navy band played “The Star Spangled Banner,” while all stood with bared heads and at attention, the men of the service who acted as an escort of honor coming to salute.
Then “Lead Kindly Light,” a favorite hymn of the dead leader, was played. To the solemn strains of Chopin’s funeral march, the procession to the station began between lines of cavalry, navy, marine and soldiers.
Pershing Leads March
General Pershing led the march and other high officials followed, and in a closed car came Mrs. Harding, accompanied by George T. Christian Jr., the late President’s secretary.
In a car in which he had begun his trip from Washington seven weeks ago the casket containing the mortal remains of the President was carried, while in another car were placed the flowers expressing the sympathy of leaders and commoners of all sections of the globe.
A slight delay, another moment, and San Francisco bade farewell forever to the man who a short 24 hours before had been thought well on the road to recovery. The train started, the crowds with bared heads saw the lights of the last car—the President’s car—fade in the distance.
The long journey to the capital had begun, the saddest transcontinental journey in the history of the nation.
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Marion Awaits Body
Marion, O., August 4—Citizens here mourn the death of their greatest fellow townsman and sadly are making preparations to receive him back and lay him to rest in the little cemetery beside his mother.
Dr. Harding, the late President’s father, is heart broken, but facing the future bravely.
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Washington, August 4—President Calvin Coolidge and Mrs. Coolidge arrived here last night and the President consulted with Secretary of State Hughes preparatory to taking over the reins of government.
Secretary of State Hughes becomes Vice-President now, with former Vice-President Coolidge taking the office of the Chief Executive.
President Coolidge announced that he would remain in his apartments in the New Willard hotel until Mrs. Harding, at her convenience, has relinquished control of the White House.
From the front page of The Daily Advance, Elizabeth City, N.C., Aug. 4, 1923
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