Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-09-19


Of the casket was screwed down by
the undertakers; it was lifted once
more upon the shoulders Of the body
bearers and by them borne to the
hearse at the foot of the east steps
Of the capitol.
STEADY, men," said Gen. Randolph,
as they walked slowly out between
the bronze doors with their precious
burden. They scarcely needed the in
junction, for every step was guarded
ly taken and they consumed four
minutes in descending the broad stair
way. The time was marked by the
doleful discharge Of minute gun
stationed at convenient point in
the capitol grounds. Thirty minutes
was required for the removal Of the
body from the capitol to the train.
The escort on this journey consisted
Of committees from the army and
navy and two squadrons of the Elev-
enth cavalry. The route was down
Pennsylvania avenue, which was lined
on either side by troops of the Dis
trict of Columbia. 1t was quiet,
noiseless journey, without music.
Not n drum was heard nor a funeral
note. Nor was there sound from
the crowd which lined the broad
street. Notwithstanding the, hour
was late, the air. chill and that
light mist was falling, hats were uni
formly removed as the cortege passed.
At the Pennsylvania railroad station
there was dense throng and the
remains were received by large dele
cations of army and navy officers.
There the soldiers and seamen car
red the casket from the hearse to
the observation car, placed in the sec
ond section of the funeral train. The
casket was placed on standards
lraped with the national colors. 1t
was covered with floral emblems. No
less than 20 cars were required for
The transportation Of the funeral
party to Canton. To-day still an
other train will carry to Canton a
large party of senators and repre-
sentatives and Others prominent in
national life. The three sections
into which the train was divided left
at ten-minute intervals. The second
section was the presidential train
proper, made up Of practically the
same seven cars which made the trip
from Buffalo, The car Olympia was
assigned to Mrs. Mckinley, while the
car Edgemere, which came next was
occupied by the president and his
cabinet. Behind in order came the
sleepers Naples and Belgravia, the
dining car Waldorf and combination
car. The third section Of the train
was devoted entirely to the accommo-
dation Of the army and navy OFF,
GERS.
President Roosevelt's arrival at the
train occurred at 1850 and was I'M
marked by incident. His brother-in-
law, Capt. Cowles, Of the navy, ac-
companied him.
II was just before eight o'clock
when Mrs. Mckinley was driven to
the station. Fearing the firing effect
Of the long walk from the carriage
entrance to the car set apart for her
next to the head of the train a roll
ing chair had been provided for her.
She declined this, however, and
walked with surprising firmness TO
her place, assisted by Abner McKin.
ley and DIR. Rixey. 1t was $40 o'clock
when this section steamed away in
the darkness, the first secton having
preceded it ten minutes. The OBJ
servation car bearing the remains
was flooded with light. Through its
crystal sides could be seen the beau
tifully draped casket, with its mass
Of rare blossoms, so arranged that
even as the train swept through the
night the people in the country 1t
passed through might gaze on the
sight Of the casket with a soldier
standing grimly at the head and a
sailor, carrying his cutlass upon his
shoulder, at the foot. A guard OF
soldiers and sailors occupied the
platforms and between them at the
rear was q mammoth wreath six feet
in diameter Of rare orchids and