Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-09-26
THE BODY AT CANTON
Corpse Of the Martyred President
Arrives at His Home Town.
The BODY VIEWED At COURTHOUSE.
Was Then Taken Home to the Sorrowing
Widow at Nightfall-AS Imposing Pro-
cssslonIWill Follow the Remains ~
the Cemetery To- Day.

Canton, O., Sept. 19.-Tenderly and
reverently those who had known Viii
liam Mckinley best yesterday re-
ceived his martyred body in their
arms. They had forgotten the illus
trious career Of the statesman in the
loss of a great personal friend who
had grown dearer to them with the
passing Of the years. They hardly
noticed the president of the United
States or his cabinet or the generals
and admirals in their Respondent
uniforms. The fag-draped casket
which contained the body of their
friend and fellow-townsman held all
their thoughts. He had left them
two weeks ago this very day in the
full tide of the strength Of a glorious
manhood and they had brought him
back dead. Anguish was in the heart
of every man, woman and child. The
entire population of the little city
and thousands from all over Ohio,
the full strength Of the national
guard of the state-eight regiments,
three batteries, one battalion of en-
gineers, 5000 men in all-the gov
ernor, lieutenant governor and JUS
tice of the supreme court, represent
ing the three branches of the state
government. were at the station to
receive the remains. The whole town
was in deep black. The only house
in all this sorrow-stricken city with
out touch of mourning drapery
was the old familiar Mckinley cot
tage on North Market street, to
which so many distinguished men in
the country have made pilgrimages
in the days that are gone. The
blinds were drawn, but there was no
outward token of the blow that had
robbed It of its most precious pos
session. The flowers bloomed on the
lawn as they did two weeks ago.
There was not even bow Of crepe
on the door when the stricken widow
was carried BY Abner Mckinley and
DR.. Rixey through it into the dark
ened home from which the light, for
her, had flown forever. Only the
post at the curb in front OF
the residence had been swathed in
black by the citizens, in order that
1t might conform to the general
scheme Of mourning decorations that
had been adopted. Sad as was the
procession which bore the body to the
courthouse, where 1t lay in state yes
terday afternoon, it could not COM
pare with the infinite sadness of that
endless double line of broken-hearted
people who streamed steadily
through the dimly lighted corridors
of the building from the time the
coffin was opened until it was taken
home to the sorrowing widow at
nightfall. They stepped softly lest
their footballs wake their friend
from his last long sleep. Tears came
unbidden to wet the bier. Perhaps
1t was the great change that had
come upon the countenance which
moved them more than the sight of
the familiar features. The signs OF
discoloration which appeared upon
the brow and cheeks Tuesday at the
state ceremonial in the rotunda OF
the capitol at Washington had deep
ened. The lips had become livid.
All but two Of the lights of the chan
deter above the head were extin-
ru shed in order that the change
might appear less noticeable, but
every one who viewed the remains
Yesterday remarked the darkened fea-
lures and the CHASTITY lips. When the
body was taken away thousands were
still in line, and the committee in
charge OF arrangements was appealed
to to allow further opportunity to
view the remains this morning be-
fore they are taken to the church.
But this had to be reluctantly denied
to them and the casket may never be
opened again. The funeral services
will take place to-day at 1880 p. m.
at the First M. f. church, Of which
the martyred president was a COM
municant and trustee. They will be
brief, by the expressed wish of the
family. Rev. 0. B. Milligan, pastor
Of the First Presbyterian church, in
which President and Mrs. Mckinley
were married 80 years ago, will make
the opening prayer. DR.. John Hall,
Of the Trinity Lutheran church, will
make the first Scriptural reading and
DR.. +. P. Herbruck, of the Trinity
Reform church, the second. DR.. c. +.
Manchester, pastor Of the late presi-
dents church, will deliver the only
address. A quartette will sing "Bcau-
tiful Isle Of Somewhere" and an
other quartette will render Cardinal
Newman's hymn, LEAD, Kindly
Light" An imposing procession con-
sisting of many Of the G. A. X. posts
in the state, the national guard of
Ohio. details of regulars from all
branches of the service, fraternal, So
cial and civic organizations and rep
resentatives of commercial bodies
from all over the country, the gov
errors Of several states, with their
stats; the house and senate of the
United States and the cabinet and
president Of the United States will
follow the remains TO Westlawn GEN.
eterv. where they will be placed in a