The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1897-12-18
THE FINAL SUMMONS
Death of Mrs. Nancy A. McKin-
ley, at Canton, o., Sun
day Morning.
PASSED AWAY QUIETLY.
All of Her Children and Numcr-
GUS Other Relatives at
the Bedside.

The demise of Mrs. Nancy Allison
Mckinley. mother of the president
of the United States, occurred at
her homie in Canton, Sunday morn
ing, shortly after 2 o clock, and was
painless. The friends of the family
were gathered about the couch. All
night long the members of the fami-
| ly We're watching and waiting for
what was thought to be- the time of
dissolution From II O'Clock until
| the time of death the Mckinley house
was quiet and shrouded in stiffness
that was suggestive of the mournful
! and sacred scenes within the walls.
No response could be obtained by
messengers or reporters who sought
in vain for news The end had come.
Tne attendants discovered what
were thought to De certain signs of
! dissolution. The fact was commun-
| icdted to the inmates of the house
hold who had gone to their rooms,
but had not retired for the night.
Taey expected the summons of
death to come. And it came III last,
About the sacred couch, now the
bier of the mother who had rounded
out long life of usefulness, were
| the children and other relatives
Around the dcathbed when the final
scene was enacted were President
Mckinley, his wife, Abner Mckin-
ley Mrs. Duncan, and Miss Helen
Mckinley, children of the aged wo-
man whose life breath had been
hushed forever, whose tongue had
taken on the eternal palsey. The
aged sister was there, Mrs. Abigail
Osborne, the only one of the Allison
family now living. Mrs. Bowman,
of Lorain, Misses Grace and Mabel
Mckinley, James Mckinley, Miss
Duncan and Jack Duncan, grand
children, were all in the sad party
that witnessed the last breath of the
noble parent. The end came with
out a struggle. 1t was sleep whose
significance could not be mistaken.
Canton, o., Dec. l4.-Although it
rained almost incessantly all day the
crowd attending the funeral of Mrs.
Mckinley was numbered by thou
sands. The First Methodist Episco-
pal church, doubled in capacity by
throwing open the Sunday school
rooms and gallery, was filled to
overlooking long before the begin
ming of the services. The great
fostrum of the church was bank OF
flowers. 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 process
sion was composed of 1900 people,
who had gained admission to the
church and thousands of others who
stood out in the rain waiting the
time when they could get in one side
door, past the altar and 90 out at
the other side. When this had con
tinucd an hour it was found neccs-
sary to close the side doors and re-
move the casket to the funeral car,
as il was feared that the intermcnt
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 church. With the president in
the first pew was his sister, Miss
Helen. and his brother Abner, with
their sister, Mrs. Duncan, of Clevc-
land. Immediately back of them
was the aged sister of the departed,
Mrs. Osborne, of Youngstown, sur
rounded by grandchildren and other
near relatives. Back of these were
members of the cabinet and Wash
inpton visitors and many other in
innate friends of the family from
various points.
When the cortege reached the
cemetery, the burial ground OF the
Mckinley family was surrounded by
an immense crowd who seemed to
give no heed to the inclemcnt wealth
er. A canvas canopy had been
erected near the open grave for the
shelter of the family and those as
sisting in the last sad rites. Here
the beautiful wreath of flowers which
the president and Mrs. Mckinley
had placed upon the graves of the
children they lost long ago, and OF
the president father, brother and
sister, were literally covered with
the numerous floral offerings sent
by sympathizing friends from all
.,.....t...I .,. ,,o .,a aiuht