Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-03-11
TO THE WHITE HOUSE
McKinSey Begins the Journey Ami,
Shouts OF Joy.

Shouts OF Joy.
With a crowd Of 5000 people yelling
their good-byes to him, brass band play
ing Home, Sweet Home" the explosion
Of frecrackers, and the footing Of horns,
William Mckinley started from Canton
on his journey to Washington to become
the ruler Of the greatest nation on earth.
The crowds that watched his departure
from the little city that has been his home
nearly all of his life covered the roofs Of
the houses about the railway station and
the tops of the cars in the railroad yards,
they packed the streets along the line OF
march, and We're jammed into the side
streets. When finally the procession Of
soldiers and citizens that surrounded the
President-elects carriage came In sight
the cheers were almost loud enough to
split the sky.
A long line of soldiers in blue overcoats
cleared the way on each side of the car
riage. -Four white horses with nodding
plumes of red, white and blue drew It.
Within were the President-elect and his
wife. Behind the carriage came a long
row of soldiers and citizens on foot and
a squad of cavalry.
The Presidents train of seven cars In
shiny red paint and gold lettering waited
In front Of the station for their arrival, the
special car for the President-elect in the
rear. 1t was fifteen minutes after the
time set for the departure of the traiu
when the President-elect stepped from his
carriage. He helped Mrs. Mckinley to
alight while Capt. Floyd of the Cleve-
land detective force threw heavy wrap
over her shoulders. They walked through
the line of policemen to the rear platform.
Mrs. Mckinley entered the car, bnt the
President-elect, hat In hand, turned to-
ward the people and said:
my Neighbors and Friends, and Fel-
low-C Citizens: On the eve of departure to
the seat of government, soon to assume
the duties of an arduous responsibility,
as great as can devolve upon any man.
nothing could give me greater pleasure
than this farewell greeting-this evidence
of your friendship and sympathy; your
good will, and, am sure, the prayers Of
all the people with whom / have lived so
long, and whose confidence and esteem
are dearer to me than any other earthly
honors.
''To all of us the future is a sealed book;
but if can, by official act or admnfstra-
ton, or utterance, in any degree, add to
the prosperity of our beloved country, and
the comfort and well-being of our splen-
did citizenship, / will devote to 1t the best
and most unselfish efforts of my life.
'The assumption of tho chief magis-
tracy is of such grave Importance that
partisanship cannot blind the judgment or
accept any other considerations but for
the public good of all to every party and
every section. With this thought upper
most in my mind, reluctantly take leave
Of my friends and my neighbors, cherish
ing in my heart the sweetest memories
and the tenderest thoughts Of my old home
my home now, and, / trust, my home
hereafter, so long as live. thank you,
and bid you all good-by."
The President-elect's voice was full of
feeling as he spoke, but it was clear, and
every word was distinguishable to the out
skirts of the crowd. When he had finish
ed there was a tremendous shout and a
volley of frecrackers, the bell rang, and
the train started.