Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1901-09-21
Snrcial TO the Lender.

Washington, d. c., Sept. 20.-A hush
has fallen over the city of Washington.
The two days of mourning for the dead
President, coming in mid-week. have
checked and quieted all business hurry.
On Monday night, as the casket was
borne up the avenue, a curious thing
happened. Had the crowd been cur
iosity seekers they might have watched
it pass and then turned away to go to
their homes. Instead, they fell quietly
into line behind the funeral and fol-
lowed it, mighty procession that filled
the broad avenue, until it reached the
doors of the White House.
There was nothing sensational about
the event; but it was essentially dra-
matte 1t was made the more impress
sive by the absence of all music. No
band accompanied the funeral cortege,
and the multitude kept silence except
when some one softly sang the Presi-
dents hymn, Nearer, My God. to
Thee" and those nearest joined in the
song All along the road from Buffalo
to the Capital, this happened at inter
walls. At Harrisburg, Mrs. Mckinley
caught the sound of the singing, al
though very faintEy, for the windows
of ner car were closed. She turned to
Dr.. RiXey and asked, What is that
music?" and the physician answered,
with tears in his own eyes, ut is the
people singing for love of your husband.
They cannot help it." Seldom has there
been more touching tribute to pub
lie leader; and there were many who
felt as a gruff old army officer did.
when he exclaimed listening to the
plaintiff melody, "If they don't, l shall
make fool of myself"
In some ways this informal ceremony
was more touching than the next days
funeral services. There were sensation
hunters among the crowds at the fun"
eral, and the photograph-fiend and the
fakir were slightly in evidence, though
the police suppressed the latter when
they were noisy in proclaiming their
wares. One photographer edged his
way into a position near the hearse,
and tried to get snapshot of Presiden
Roosevelt just as the casket was lifted
in The flash of the light startled the
heal'se- horses and made them rear, and
a slight disturbance was created.
An especially untoward incident was
the crush which occurred on the steps
of the Capitol, and for which the guard
and the police department were GER
tainly to blame. At one o'clock there
were thousands of people in front OF
the Capitol, waiting for a chance to en-
ter the rotunda. When the doors were
opened there was rush. Some say it
was caused by false announcement
that the way was clear. At any rate
there was a surging, struggling crowd
on Inc steps inside of minute, and
nearly a hundred persons were injured.
The room under the rotunda was turn
ed into a hospital A circumstance
which did not tend to relieve the situ-
alton was that when the panic began
several mounted policemen idiotically
spurred their horses into the crowd and
got caught in it.
The impressive element in the occa-
sion was that of personal affection and
| grief. OF the thousands who had an
| opportunity to see the face of the dead
| President, hundreds could recall some
| incident of his life here which showed
his lovable anu kindly qualities. Some
| the Metropolitan Methodist Church
where he attended, he had beckoned
some children who were without seats
to come to his pew He was lover OF
children, and one little fellow who was
held up in his fathers arms to look in.
to the casket sobbed out, Goodbye
dear President" The words expressed
the feeling of every child in Washing
ton who ever had anything to do with
President Mckinley.
There seems to be even more disposi
ton to express sympathy on the par
of foreign nations than there was a.
the time of Garfield's death, which, Dy
the way, was just twenty years age
September goth. The London Times
made the suggestion that the Duke O.
Cornwall and York should be asked t.
attend the funeral, and one of his aide'
went to Canton, as it is impossible
for the Duke to come in person.
President Roosevelt has done nothing
thus far but express, with his usual de
cision, his determination to carry ou
the policy of his predecessor, and retail
the members of MS Cabinet in thei
places. 1t is hardly likely that he ha
Coen thinking much about anything
else, for unless faces tell lies he ha
ljeen- greatly moved by the tragi
event of the past tew days. But ther
are always people who are ready t
disclose wnat they have'learned by oc