The record-union., 1897-12-15
Thousands Of People Do Honor TO the
Memory of the Presidents Mother.
The Church Not Nearly Large
Enough to Accommodate the
Throng Which Gathered to Lis
ten to the Impressive Services
"A Beautiful Tribute to the
Dead Woman by the Pastor of
the Church.

CANTON, Dec. 14-Although it rained
almost necessarily all day, the crowd at
saending the funeral of Mrs. Nancy AL
Olson Mckinley were numbered by the
thousands. The First Methodist Epis-
-copal Church, doubled in capacity by
Throwing open the Sunday-SchoOl rooms
land gallery, was filed to overfiowing
acng before the beginning of the services.
'The great rostrum of the church was a
bank of flowers.
After the simple ceremony thousands
after thousands passed through the
church, each stopping an instant at the
gtltar to take a last look at the remains.
EThiS procession was composed of 5000
1'eople who had gained admittance to the
Tchurch and thousands of others who
stood out in the rain waiting for the time
when they could get inside the door,
pass the altar and go out at the other
side. When this had continued an hour
1T was found necessary to close the side
door and remove the casket to the fun
eral car, as ii was feared that the inter-
ment would be delayed until after dark.
During the services and until after
the remains had been viewed the family
and close friends occupied the front
pews of the central section of the
pew was his sister, Miss Helen, and his
brother Abner, with their sister, Mrs.
Duncan of Cleveland. Immediately
back of them was the aged sister of the
departed. Mrs. Osborne of Youngstown.
surrounded by grandchildren and other
near relatives. Back of these were
members of the Cabinet Washington
visitors, Congressman Taylor, represent
ing this district, Hon. Whitelaw Reid Of
New York, H. H. Koblsaat of Chicago
and many other intimate friends Of the
family from various points.
When the cortege reached the ceme-
terry the burial ground of the Mckinley
family was surrounded by an immense
crowd, who seemed to give no heed to
the inclement weather.
A canvas canopy had been erected near
the open grave for shelter of the family
and those assisting in the last sad rites.
Here the beautiful wreath of flowers
which the President and Mrs. Mckinley
had placed upon the graves of children
they lost long ago, and of the President S
father brother and sister, was literally
covered with the numerous floral Of
ferings sent by sympathizing friends
from all over the country
The hundreds of floral offerings in
ClUQed, peSlQP the Dedul1IQl pieces sent
by the Cabinet and the Washington
friends. a large emblem of the G. A. R..
in which the flag was worked out in red
and white carnations. sent by Canton
Post, of which the President is a mem
Der; a beautiful piece from the Presi-
dents old regiment, the Twenty-third
Ohio, and another from the Knights
Templar.
The services at the grave We're very
short and simple. The casket was ten
Gerly lowered into the grave by the pail
bearers, and the simple liturgy service
of the Methodist Episcopal Church was
read responsively by Presiding Elder Z.
D. Holtz of this district and Rev. E c.
Manchester. Rev. Mac Afee of Colum-
bus pronounced a benediction.
This evening the Cabinet officers and
other distinguished officers except the
Mckinley family took dinner at the
home OF Mrs. George d. Harter The
President and immediate family re-