The Washington times., 1901-09-18
LAST LOOK BY THOUSANDS
A Vast Multitude Views the | Ody
of the Late L. esi leEt.
Hurried by the Remains They
Lie in State in the Rotunda of the
CnpitoI-Siany Pathetic scenes
the Throng Files by the Cnsket.

Yesterday hurrying multitude, run
gazed for the last time on the still. white
face of the departed President as the
casket reposed on the sombTe catafalque
under the vaulted roof of the Rotunda.
Since early dawn the crowd had waited
1t had braved the polting rain while the
funeral services were being held. When
the hour of noon approached the throng
had packed the plaza on the east front
hundreds deep. and they impatiently
awaited the time when they would be
allowed to view the body.
At last the roll of mufiied drums was
heard beyond the great dome The
crowds stirred uneasily and from the
great sea of black which swept from the
Capitol steps to the Congressional Libra
ry appeared thousands Of white spots as
eager faces were raised in hope and ex-
pectation The drum beats slowly neared
the waiting thrcngs. A great hush came
over the reverent thousands and the
measured tramp of feet sounded like
had lined the streets in the vicinity of the
Capitol swept across and Joined the great
waiting mass
Slowly the van of the sorrowful pa
geant turned into the broad stretch lead
ing into the grounds. AS the crowd waited
unable 10 see the cortege, yet calm and
siient-there came from the foot OF the
hill the closing strains of Nearer, My
Aras INN lSi
passed over the massed thousands and
before the vavering echoes of the grand
old hymn had ceased throbbing against
the echoing dome every man and child
in all that gathering stood bareheaded-
1t was not from force or example that
the uncovering came, but with a strange
unity which proved that in sorrow all are
men in common. Nor we're the hats re-
placed though the driZZling tears shed by
nature pattered upon unprotected heads
Slowly the cortege passed to the south
and the saddened waiting multitude was
too full of emotion for expression until
the hearse came into view-the black,
dread, glittering hearse which contained
beneath the bright flag all that was NOR
tai of their President-and then the more
emotional gave vent to their feelings.
Handkerchiefs were freely used. Rough
men coughed back something which SEEM
ed to choke them. Few there were who
showed no signs of emotion.
AT last the casl1et had been carried into
the Capitol and the distinguished mourn
ers had followed. Then came the most
sorrowful period of all the day for the
waiting thousands. They knew that with
in the grey marble walls services were
being held The sight of the hearse had
49, a1nrGs sav1l-
ing. Why were they not permitted to also
pray beside the bier of their President?
Here and there little parties sang hymns
softly until Joined by others when Near
er. My God, to Thee rang OUT again.
The services had ended. The great
doors leading to the Rotunda slowly
swung cper. Within the space the rela-
tives. the f-;ends, the associates of the
dead President passed the bier and took
a last look at the remains in Washington.
When the gathering of statesmen, diplo-
mats, and prominent PERSONS had all
passed by the casket ,Lf Rotunda was
cleared and the people massed outside in
the drizzle were prepared to pass up the
steps in two lines.
As the first little group passed up those
on the outskirts of the mass pressed clos
er in eagnerness, realizing that it would
be hours before they could reach the Ro-
tunda- Slowly the first of the line PASSED
in. There was weary woman who had
stood upon the plaza since daylight. Fol-
lowing came two old men, one wearing a
Grand Army badge. Behind these pressed
q heterogeneous multitude. The weary
woman reached the bier. bent over the
white face, and passed on seemingly
stunned. The two aged men neared on
tiptoe, fearfully gazed the the silent face.
and passed by holding each the others
hand. 1t was too great sorrow for them
to realize, and they were hustled past be- |
fore they could know what this catafal- |
que with its trappings really portended
The crowds poured into the Rotunda |
and past the catafalque at the rate of 1S0
per minute by actual count. This rush
continued from 1890 until G:30 o'clock
sharp, when the doors were closed. The
average number passing per hour was
given al 1880, or s.. 500 for the six hours
The lines of police and sailors forced the
people along so fast that but few of them
got even a glimpse of the face of the
dead President.
There was no disorder after the line was
well started, and passed without cesSa-
tion all afternoon. The rush prevented
the occurrence Of any incident and as
the evening came on those who would |
fain have remained to gaze upon the dead
leader were hurriedly and sometimes |
even roughly forced past. When the doors |
were closed at $50 o'clock there were still
long lines Of people awaiting an oppor-
tunity to enter, but the time had al |
ready been extended half an hour. it was
found that no further delay could be
tolerated.
Those who had viewed the body and
had passed out Of the west door at once !
TO the east plaza, where they I
sought points of vantage from which TO 1
view the removal of the oasket from the |
Capitol. IT is estimated that fully 25 900 t
people were assembled at the east front |
md around the line Of march around the |
grounds when the casket was taken out \
and plsced in the hcarse
Th. steps on either side Of the dome |
were nassed with much the same crowd |
which had tfr0nged to the Capitol carly /
IN the morning. Many Of those who saw
the bosiy carried into the Rotunda re !
Inaincd on the scene until ii was re- /
moved end sent on the way to its last \
resting place.
When black night lad added her mantle |
Of mourning to the scene and when eyes |
had grown weary with the sorrows of |
the eventsul day. the faithful multitude |
tutii the hearse containing all |
that was mortal of the PR sioent had ce-
parted. IhcD and not until then as the
cannon booIaed mournfully the heartache |
OF the nation. did the crowd slowly met
into the night and seek home and nedi-
tatfon. SO came TO the Capitol for the
last time al that was moral of President /
ana 80 mOurued his passing the
people Of the city which he loved most
nnd in whicn he accomplished most