The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-03-04
bADE FAREWELL TO Canton
THE M'KINLEY SPECIAL TRAIN
LEFT LAST EVENING FOR
WASHINGTON.
A BEAUTIFUL, IMPRESSIVE Scene
Prcsident-Elect Escorted to the Train
Along the Brilliantly Illuminated
Streets by an Outpouring Of
Friends and NeighbOrs.


Canton presented this evening when hei
citizens babe farewell to Maj. and Mrs
Mckinley as they entered the specia
train in waiting TO convey them TO the
Capital city. The people of the city
seemed 20 have turned out en- massc Il
do honor TO the distinguished ncighbOr,
and friends, who 80 long have been re
gardcd with the greatest love and esteem
and who, by the honors they have won
in the nation, have done 80 much to at
tract favorable attention 10 Canton. Nc
lines were drawn in the large cOncOurso
of people that followed the Mckinley
carriage to the train aud surrounded the
station TO minglc their cheers with tho
mighty roar that rose above the din Of
the train as il disappeared from the sta
ton. Rich and poor, richly gOwncd and
.lOwly dressed, people Of all political con-
victions and crccds and all social planes
touched elbows and jostlcd each other
about in the mighty throng which sur
rounded the Pennsylvania station, each
seeking some point OF vantage for Il
last look ut the speeding party, and each
good natured ana indifferent to the per
sOilal discomfort experienced through the
movements of others.
The day dawncd with the blustcry
quality of March weather which pOrtcndS
no good to outdoor programs. Gusts of
wind made the air seem far colder than
the thermometers registered, which were
followed by itful ilurrics of snow, and
they. in turn, by threats of slcCt and icy
rainfnll but as the day advanced n mod
Grafton in the temperature, with now and
then II ray of sunshine. set in. and by
noon all traces of rOughncss had sub
sided. At first there were signs of
rain, but the committee in charge of ar
engagements took courage that though
there might b. occasional showers of
rain the temperature would be mild and
the people would be able TO carry out
their oft-rcpcatcd wish TO extend some
spontaneous farewell to the president
elect and his wife.
II was not until G:3O p. m. that the
organization of the escort was begun.
Then the uptown streets began to fill
with people waiting cnriOusly and not too
patiently for the parade. Others were
lingering about the station anxious to
catch glimpse or to make an inspection
OF the handsome ear, the beauty of
which they had read about before. The
train was not long in the station. how
ever, nor was the opportunity given for
more than cursory review. They ar
rived from the Alliance, Ohio yards ut
about $3.50 o'clock, where the ears were
submitted to n careful inspection and
test during the day.
Promptly ut Il o'clock the bands, mill
tary, clubs and citizens began to or
ganizc in the city hall square. Capt.
Harry Frcasc, who commanded the
famous Canton troop during the cam.
paign, was chief marshal and Capt H. T..
Kurns his chief of staff They soon
Drought order out of chaos in the AS
'scmblcd multitude. and more devoted
escort man never had than that which,
shortly before I o'clock. marched to the
Mckinley home. A platoon of white
gloycd policemen headed the line and
back of II came the Canton troop. This
is an organization of nearly 100 repre-
sentative citizens, organized early in
the campaign To receive. escort and
otherwise entertain the visiting dclcga-
tons. They were all well mounted well
dressed and well drilled in cavalry tactics
The troop leaves for Washington tomor-
row and will participate in the inaugural
parade. Following the troop came Can
tons famous Grand Army band. This,
in turn, was followed 10y the Third bat.
talon, Eighth regiment of Ohio National
Guards. The latter was to have been
honorary escort to the prcSidcnt-clcct
from Canton and from the capital station
10 The hotel in Washington. but the fail
IRE 10 secure favorable arrangements pre-
vented this ms well ms other military or
CARNATIONS joining in the inaugural ccrc-
monies. Three other companies and n
hospital corps constituted the battalion.
In the order named We're the Canton
Business Mems association, Grand Army
of the Republic. First Ward Republican
club, other clubs and societies and I'M
organized citizens of Canton, Massillon
and other surrounding towns. This or
public square, up Market Street hill,
passing the Mckinley home. and then
Countermarching on Market street.
When the Business Mems association
was opposite the Mckinley gate the
column halted and waited for Mai. and
Mrs. Mckinley and their attendants to
enter the carriage in waiting. The
carriage was drawn by four splendidly
caparisoncd horses, and around il the
members of the Canton Business Mems
association stationed themselves MS u
guard of honor. Two mounted aides
rode abreast of the carriage horses, and
the business men completed the hollow
square in which the carriage moved.
The Mckinley arch just ut the foot
" Market street hill was illuminated rs
darkness fell over the city. and il shonc
resplondcnt ms the crowd marched under
il going and coming from the Mckinley
home. Hundreds of tri-colurcd mean
descent lamps sent their soft RAYS far
along the street on either side. 1t was
probably illuminated for the last time
tonight. and the marchcrs. as they
passed, looked backward for last
glimpse of what is now the most con-
SpicuouS reminder of the most exciting
campaign in Canton last fall. in which
hundreds of thousands of people from
all quarters of the country participated.
Ii will he with rcgrct that the ra2ing of
this Structure will he viewed by Can
tonianS.
There was no dctour from the direct
line of march from the house to the
station. All along the line the carriage
containing the presidcnt.clcct and his
wife was kept in halo of var-colorcd
fires. Al various points along the line.
where there was no organized effort in
than direction, individuals at various
places sent skyrockcts and Roman can
dies whiZzing into the air.
As the head of the column reached the
train and halted. the rear pushed for
ward. The crowds ON the sidewalks
mingled with the marchers until the
platform and streets were filled with a
surging and Seething mass of humanity.
each struggling to get near the point
where the president-elect would be last
seen. and some striving for n last hand
shake. although the committee had ar
ranged that there should be none of this.