Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-12-15

Canton, Ohio, December 14.-Al-
| though it rained almost necessarily all
day, the crowd attending the funeral
of Mrs. Nancy Allison Mckinley was
numbered by thousands. The First
| Methodist Episcopal Church, doubled
| in capacity by throwing oren the Sun
| Gay school rooms and gallery, was fill
| ed to overlooking long before the be-
ginning of the services. The great ros-
| trum of the church was bank OF flow
| erS.
| After the simple ceremony thousands
after thousands passed through the
church, each stopping an instant at the
| altar to take last look at the remains.
| This procession was composed of 5000
people, who had gained admission to
the church, and thousands of others
| who stood outside in the rain, waiting
the time when they could get in one
side door, pass the altar and go out on
the other side. When this had contin-
ued an hour, it was found necessary to
close the side doors and remove the
casket to the funeral car, as it was fear
until after dark.
the remains had been viewed the family
and close friends occupied the front
pews of the central section of the
church. With the President in the first
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 Youngs-
town, surrounded by grandchildren and
other near relatives. Back of these
were the members Of the cabinet and
the Washington visitors, Congressman
Taylor, representing this district: Hon.
Whitelaw Reid, of New York; H. H.
Kohlsaat, of Chicago, and many other
intimate friends Of the family from var
iOus points.
When the cortege reached the ceme-
terry, the burial ground of the Mckinley
family was surrounded by an immense
crowd. A canvas canopy had been
erected near the open grave for the
shelter of the family and those assist
ing in the last sad rites. Here the
beautiful wreaths Of flowers which the
President and Mrs. Mckinley had
placed upon the graves of the children
they lost long ago and of the Presi-
dents father, brother and sister were
literally covered with the numerous
floral offerings sent by the sympathiz-
ing friends from all over the country.
The hundreds of floral offerings i'll
cluded besides the beautiful pieces sent
by the cabinet and the Washington
friends, large emblem of the G. A. r.
in which the flag was worked out in
red and white carnations, sent by Can
ton Post, of which the President is a
member; a beautiful piece from the
Presidents old regiment. the Twenty
third 0. V. l., and another from the
knights Templar.
The exercises at the grave were very
short and simple. The casket was ten
derby lowered into the grave by the
pall-bearers and the simple liturgy
service of the Methodist Episcopal
Church was read responsibility by Pre-
siding Elder E. D. Holtz, of this dis
trict, and Rev. E. G. Manchester, Rev.
McAfee, of Columbus pronouncing
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 the immediate family
remained at the old homestead until
train time.
The special train on which the Wash
ington party came this morning, left at
$50 this evening, the Presidents car,
Newport" being attached.
The train carried President and Mrs.
Mckinley, Gen. and Mrs. Alger, Sec
rotary Bliss, Attorney General and Mrs.
McKenna, Postmaster General Gary,
Secretary Wilson, Secretary to the
President Porter and Mrs. Porter, Hon.
Whitelaw Reid, Assistant Secretary
and Mrs. Day; Mr.. Abner Mckinley
and daughter, Mable, of New York;
Congressman R. w. Taylor, of this dis
trict; Hon. H. H. Kohlsaat, Ernest
Hamill and Walter H. Wilson, of Chi
cago; Miss Mary Barber, Mrs. McKin-
ley's niece; Miss Sarah Duncan, OF
Cleveland: the Presidents niece, Mr..
Jack Duncan, Mrs George Harter, COL
]. n. Taylor, of East Liverpool.
During the hours of the funeral. bus
mess was suspended throughout the
city. Business places and offices were
closed: factories and shops shut down.
and all work SUSPENDED in courts and
county and city buildings. County and
city officials and members of the bar
attended the services in a body.
THIEVES GALORE ATrANTON