Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1901-09-25

Suhton. Wnere the BODY was to be re-
ceived into the arms of its own peo-
PIE. mile by mile the evidences of deep
personal affliction seemed IL possible
to fincrease. Flags that had often
waved welcome TO Mr. Mckinley were
now lowered in sorrow. Farmers and
country folk generally seemed to have
suspended work, schools had been dis
missed and the entire population was
ranged along the track In sorrowful
silence. The straining faces showed
mat each member of the crowd took
this mournful homecoming as n per-
sonal bereavement. 1t was as though
Fathers and mothers and sisters We're
watching for glimpss: of the coffin
that held their own louSd relative.
Tenderly and reverchtly. those who
had known William Mckinley best r.
ceived his body. Thef hardly noticed
the President of the United States and
his Cabinet or the generals and admir-
ais In their rcSpleMdent uniforms. The
coffin which contained the body OF
their friend and fellow townsman had
all their thoughts.
The entire population OF the city
and thousands from all over Ohio. the
full strength of the National Guard
OF the State, eight regiments. three
batteries OF artillery, one battalion of
engineers. 5000 men in all; the Gov
ernor. the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES and n
Justice of the Supreme Court. repre-
senting the three branches of the State
Government. were at the station to re-
celVc the body when the train arrived
at noon. The whole town, with the
exception OF the Mckinley cottage.
was draped In black. Only the hitch
ING post at the curb In front of the
house had been swathed in black bv
tie citizens, In order that 1t might CON
form to the general scheme OF mourn
ing decoration.
Ihe funeral train was met by Judge
Day Mt the head OF the local reception
committee. Mrs. Mckinley. weeping
pitcously. was helped from the train
by Dr. Rixey and Abncr Mckinley
ana conducted to carriage which
was In waiting. and was then driven
rapidly to her home. The other rcla-
tlves followed her
The coffin was then lifted from the
catafalque car and carried on the
shoulders of the body hearers to the
waiting hearse. r'hc soldiers presented
arms and bugles sounded taps. Prcsi-
dent Roosevelt md the Cabinet mem.
Ders then cnIered carriages. They
were followedYby the guard of honor.
in full uniform. and the procession
then marched to the Court House.
The procession passed all the way be-
tween big arches draped in black.
--Snd as was the procession which cs-
corted the fs6dy to the Court House it
could not compare with the infinite
sadness of the double line of sorrowing
people who streamed steadily through
the dimly lighted corridors of the
building from the time the coffin was
opened until 1t was taken home to the
widow at nightfall. They stepped
softly. and tears came unbidden.
All through the afternoon the crowd
passed the catafalque approximately
Mt the rate OF 100 every minute. mnli
ing In the five hours in which the body
lay in state total OF 10000 people.
practically equal to the population of
Canton. When the doors were closed
at o'clock the line four abreast
stretched fully mile from the Court
House, and people were still coming
from the side streets to take their
places in line.
AT O'Clock the doors We're closed
to the public and preparations were
made for removing the body to the
Mckinley house. Canton Post. Grand
Army of the Republic, acted rs es
cort. and there was no following. At
the house the escort formed in line
In the street. presenting arms, while
the coffin. borne by the body bearers.
was taken into the house. 1t WAS
placed In the front parlor for the
night. Guards were posted around
the house. and n number of sentries
were placed in the front yard.
During the afternoon President
Roosevelt walked over to the NicKin-
ley residence TO inquire after Mrs.
Mckinley. He was Informed that she
had stood the trip rom Washington
bravely. but in the opinion of the
physician 1t was not advisable for her
to attempt to attend the service at
the church. She therefore remained
quietly ut her home with DR.. Rixey.