Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-09-19
FROM BUFFALO TO WASHINGTON.

A Memorable journey Thousands o
People All Along the Line Give Expres
Sion to Their Sorrow.
Washington, Sept. I7.-Throueh al.
most living lane of bareheaded people
stretching from Buffalo down to the
broad valley of the Susquehanna and
on TO the Marble Oity'on the banks OF
the Potomac, the nations murdered
President yesterday made his last Jour
neey TO the seat of the government over
which he had presided
The thin lines through the mountains
| and the sparsely settled distrIcrs
thickened at the little hamlets, covered
acres in towns suddenly grown to the
proportions of respectable cities and
were congested into vast multitudes
in the large cities. Work was sus
pended in field, mine and olty. Schools
were dismissed. Aud everywhere az.
peared the trapEings of wee. a million
flags at half-mast dotted hillside and
valley and formed a thicket of color
over the cities. From almost every
banner streamed bit OF crepe.
The stations were heavy with black
symbolic of mourning. At all the larger
towns and cities after the tram got into
Pennsylvania militiamen drawn up at
present-arms kept back the enormous
crowds. The silence with which tho
countless thousands viewed the body of
the dead President was oppressive and
profound. Only the rumbling of the
train wheels, aobs from men and women
and the doleful tolling of bells broke
on the ear. at several places chimes
played the late Presidents loved hymn
" Lead, Kindly Light.
All the way the train was preceded
about 10 minutes by pilot engine sent
ahead to test the bridges and switches
and prevent the possibility of accident
10 the precious burden it carried. The
train had the right of way over every
thing. Not wheel moved on the Penn
sylvania Railroad system 30 minutes be-
fore the pilot engine was due or for the
same length of time after the train had
passed. General Superintendent j. b.
Hutchinson had sent out explicit in
structions covering every detail.
At East A urora. N. T., the first town
through which the train passed after
leaving Buffalo, the residents had been
augmented by thousands from the sur
rounding country. The country schools |
along the way took a recess and the /
children, whom Mr.. Mckinley loved
so we'll in life. were there to see his
dead body pass. The train slowed down
at every station to allow the Ieople
lined up on each side to got better
view of the coffin.
The population of little towns along
the way like Holland, Arcade, Machiau
Junction, Franklinville and Hinsdale
had tripled and quadrupled. The towns
seemed auddenly grown into cities. As
jhe train slowed up the mourners be-
hind the curtained windows of the train
.ould hear tolling hells.
Olean was reached at 1923 n. m.
Three Thousand persons had assembled
here.
Two engines were used to pull the
leavy train up the mountains. After
eaying Olsan the train descended into
he valley of the Susquehanna, At
Emporium Junction one of tbs engines
ras taken off. The route continued
Iown the beautiful valley OF the Sus-
johanna as far as Harrisburg.
A Inc little town of Driftwood, which
'as reached az II. 30 .. M, the entire
opu'ation was massed behind little ,
aud Of Grand Army veterans, who had |
lantad a furled crepe trimmed flag in
rOnt OF them.
Remove was reached at Los n. m. !
mere the train crews and engines were
hanged. Ropes had been stretched TO
eep back the crowds which surged 7
1rough the neighbcring streets A !
ig flag with President McKlnley's
ioiure framed in crepe was strung |
ON corner to corner of the station. ln
ont OF 1T were hundreds OF schoolphil-