The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-13
EHd Game Peacefully to Hrs. McKin-
ley.
PASSED AWAY SUNDAY MORNING
AT $50 O'CLOCK.
President and Family Were at Her Bed
side-Funeral Service Will Occur Tues
day Afternoon-Me mbers of the Cabi-
net VIII Go to Canton ON Special Train.

Canton, Ohio, December 12.-Mother
Mckinley died at 2.30 a. m.
The end was most beautiful in it's quiet
and peacefu1ness. Mrs. Mckinley seemed
to sleep so soundly that it was difficult
to tell whether she had breathed her
last. This continued for half an bour.
There was no struggle, The President
and all of her family were by her side.
There was no recognition, however. Her
last CONSCIOUSNESS was hours before her
final taking away.
All night long the members of the
family were watching and waiting for
the time of dissolution. From IL O'Clock
until the time of death the Mckinley
house was quiet and shrouded in still
ness that was suggestive of the mournful
scenes within the walls. Shortly before
midnight the attendants discovered what
were thought to be certain signs Of death.
The fact was communicated to the in
mates of the household who had gone to
| their rooms, but had not retired. Around
the death bed when death came We're
| President Mckinley and Ms wife, Mr.
Abner Mckinley, Miss Duncan and Miss
Helen Mckinley, children of the aged
woman. The aged sister, Mrs. Abigail
| osborne, was there, the only one of the
1
man Of Lorraine, Misses Grace and Mabel
Mckinley, James Mckinley, Miss Dun
can and Jack Duncan, grand children,
were in the sad party that witnessed the
last scene in the gentle life. The Presi-
dent and bis wife remained at the bedside
for an hour after the end, but by 4
O'Clock every member of the family mad
re tired
| Funeral services over the body of Mrs.
/ FTP l&o1I 81
the First Methodist Episcopal church of
this city at l p. m. Tuesday. Interment
will follow in West Lawn cemetery and
Tuesday evening President Mckinley
and wife and officials from Washington
who attend, the funeral will leave for the
capital reaching there about noon We'd
nesday. These are the arrangements so
far as completed since the death of
Mother Mckinley shortly after 2 this
morning.
1t was at first thought by the family
that the services should be of more
private nature and held in the old home
stead.
/ 1t was soon learned, however, through
the pastor of Mrs. McKinley's church
and members of the congregation,as well
as from other friends that the number of
friends who desired to attend the obse-
/
such arrangements and the church SER
/ vices were decided upon. The services
will be simple, consisting of words of
comfort and eulogy by the officiating
clergymen and the singing of several ia
vorite hymns by the choir. Rev. DIR.
Manchester the pastor of the church, has
announced that he will extend an invita-
ton to have the ministers of all the
churches of the city of which there
are about 80, to occupy the pulpit and
participate in the service.
Fall bearers have been selected from
among the older members of the church
and those who for years have been close
neighbors of the deceased. They are
Judge VIM. R. Day, Hon, Wm.A Lynch,
! former Mayor r. A. Cassidy, L. l.. Miller,
W. W. Clark, Judge L. j. MCCARTHY,
David collars, former Mayor John f.
Blake.
The First M. Il. church. in which the
services are to be held, is the one in
which Mother Mckinley worshipped dur
ing her residence In Canton. Three
weeks ago today she was in her pew as
usual and though she was nearly SO
| years Of age, her attendance had been
regular all the while. This is also the
congregation with which the President has
always been associated. 1t was in this
church that he was superintendent of the
y
he always attended services when in Can
ton, usually going with his mother. They
last attended together in September
when the President was here during his
summer vacation, The President is a
member of the board of trustees of the
church.
AT daylight this morning, at the sug-
gestion OF some of the older members OF
the congregation, that an old-time Gus
tom, now almost obsolete. be observed,
to publicly announce the death, the bell
in the tower of the church slowly tol led
off The years Of her age. 1t is coin
eidence that Mrs. Mckinley died at al
most the same hour of the day rs did hel
husband, on Thanksgiving, i've years
ago.
President Mckinley remained I'D unit
$50 oclock,.a little more than an houl
after the death and he then retired for
few hours rest. During the Afternoon
he and his brother spent the greater par
of an hour walking about the NOR
secluded streets near home, securin.
much needed exercise and air. ph
President was greatly refreshed by til
exercise from the trying ordeal of TIL
past during which he has kept almos
constant vigil at the bedside of hi
mother.
In the afternoon the President and hi
brother drove to West Lawn cemetery
) about mile west of the home to attent
personally to arrangements for the inter
ment which would be made in the fam
E; lily lot, where lies the body of the husEan
and father and which adjoins the lot tha
: for more than 20 years has contained tn
bodies of the two children of the Pnesi
{ dent.
Today the President laid clusters o
flowers on the grave of his father whil
the site of the mothers resting place wa
being selected.
q Messages of coincidence are pouring int
I the telegraph Office from all quarters an
n many friends have already called at th
house to offer SYMPATHY.
Mr. S. u. Bowman of Lorraine, the hus
band of one of Mrs. McKinley's grand
children, Joined the family circle thi
morning The children and grandchil
dran, except Mrs. George B. Morris c
v San francisco, a daughter of the lat
+ David Mckinley and all of the immediat
family were here for tho closing scene
, of life. Other relative will come for thu
+, funeral.
; Assistant Secretary of State Day, ha
/, remained, as an old friend of the Presi
4 dent, and is assisting in making th
, funeral arrangements.
From raDoTfC 1tepaiypd here this eyROiD