The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-15
Mrs. Nancy A. McKinIey's Memory
HonOred by n Great Throng, Despite
IncessaDt Weeping of the Clouds.
BRIEF, SIMPLE SERVICES
AT THE HOMESTEAD. THE CHURCH
AND WEsTLAWN CEMETERY.
Touching EuIOgy by the Rev. DIR. Man.
chester-PresisIent anS Cabinet EN-
Route to Washington.

CANTON, o., Dec. 14.-Although It
rained almost necessarily all day, the
crowd attending the funeral of Mrs. Nancy
Allison Mckinley was numbered by thou
sands The First Methodist Episcopal
Church. doubled in capacity by throwing
open the Sunday school rooms and gallery,
was filled to overfiowing long before the
beginning of the services. The great ros-
trum 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 altar to take
last look at the remains. This procession
was composed of three thousand 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, pass the altar and go out at the
other side. When this continued an hour
it was found necessary to close the side
doors and remove the casket to the funeral
car as it was feared the interment 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 Cleveland. Inn
mediately 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
members of the Cabinet, 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
various points.
When the cortege reached the cemetery.
the burial ground of the Mckinley family,
1t was surrounded by an immense crowd
which seemed to give no heed to the In
clement weather. canvas canopy had
been erected near the open grave for the
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 on the graves
of the children they lost long ago, and OF
the Presidents father, brother and sister,
were literally covered with the numerous
floral offerings sent by sympathizing friends
from all over the country The hundreds
of floral offerings included besides the
beautiful pieces sent by the Cabinet and
Washington friends, a 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 MEM
ber; beautiful piece from the PRESIDENTS
old regiment, the Twenty-third Ohio Volun-
teers, and another from the knights Tenn
plars
The exercises at the grave were very
short and simple. The casket was tenderly
lowered into the grave by the pallbearers
and the simple service OF the Methodist
Episcopal Church was read responsibility by
Presiding Elder r. ID. Holtz, of this dis
trict and Rev. r. c.. Manchester, Rev.
MacAfee, of Columbus, pronouncing a bene-
diction.
This evening the Cabinet officers and
other DISTINGUISHED officers, except the NC
Kinley family took dinner at the home or
Mrs. George ID. Harter. The President ana
the immediate family remained at the OLD
train on which the Washington party came
this morning left at $3.50 o'clock this even
ing the Presidents car Newport being
attached. The train carried President ana
Mrs Mckinley, General and Mrs. Alger,
Secretary Bliss, Attorney General and Mrs.
McKenna, Postmaster General Gary, Secre-
tary Wilson, Secretary to the President
Reid, Assistant Secretary and Mrs. Day.
Mrs. Abner Mckinley and daughter Mabel,
of New York; Congressman X. w. Taylor,
of this district; Hon. II. II. Kohisaat, Ern-
est Hamll and Walter II. Wilson, OF chi
cago; Miss Mary Barber, Mrs McKinley,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 business
was suspended throughout the city, Busi-
ness places and offices were closed, fac
tories and shops shut down and all work
suspended in courts and county and city
members of the bar attended the services
I'm bodV.