The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-09-18
Funeral Train From Buffalo 10 the
Natiena! Capital.
Hundreds of Thousands of People
Gathered at the Stations.

Buffalo, Sept. li.-1ne SLOW anu
stately progress of the presidents
body from the city hall to the railroad
station afforded the people of Buffalo
last opportunity to do honor to the
memory of the lamented executive.
It was few minutes after O'Clock
when the doors Of the city hall were
flung open, the gates swung ajar. At
7.O7 forty sailors from the United
States steamship Michigan swung up
Franklin street, the first detachment
of the cortege's escort. The blue jack
cts wheeled into line directly opposite
the entrance of city hall. Four min
utes later the four horse hearse drew
up, and a company of marines fled
into position. Five of the cabinet off
GERS arrived in two carriages. The
first carried Secretary Long and Post
master General Smith.
Exactly at the appointed hour, 7.45,
the escort was in perfect readiness. In
clarion tones Major Mann, command
ing the escort, delivered the order,
"present arms Noiselessly and with
the precision of the well-drilled sold
ier, the arms leaped to position; the
commanding officer turned about, and,
facing the house of the dead brought
his sword to present" It was an
impressive moment. The rigid sold
iers and sailors were awaiting the
body of their commander in chief. A
minute of awe!inspiring silence, and
then, emerging from the doors of the
city hall there moved the eight body
bearers, four soldiers and four sailors.
On their shoulders rested the casket
enclosing the body of the country's
beloved one. Away down the line
of the soldierv from the Sixty-ffth reg
mental band came once again the
strains of Nearer. Ny God, to Thee. -
Behind the long ropes the throng un
covered and with bowed .heads waited
and watched in silence Tenderly the
precious burden was borne slowly down
the stone steps, along the curved ap-
proach to the hearse. The hag-draped
casket was lifted gently into the
hearse, and the doors closed. Through
the windows of the hearse naught but
Americas flag, surmounted by a single
sheaf of wheat could be seen. To the
front came the troops, wheeling into
line and moving down Franklin street.
Once more the strains of music.
This time it was the mournful dirge
of Chopin's funeral march. accompan
led by the tolling of the church bells.
Behind the troops came the carriages
of the members of the cabinet, then
came the hearse and following we're
comrades of the grand army with a
company of local militia bringing up
the rear. Down Main street the pro-
cession moved between masses of peo-
pie, all uncovered. The line had be-
gun its march at $50. Half an hour
later with measured steps and to the
strains of the constantly playing
band. the line at last turned into Ex-
change street, where the railroad sta
tion is located. Then the Buffalo
journey was at an end. AS the cortege
passed Ellicott street it was met by
the carriage bearing the president of
the United States, Theodore Roosevelt.
By the presidents orders his carriage
was stopped. and with barred head the
nations new executive awaited the
passing Of his predecessors funeral
cortege.
Once more the troops were drawn up
in line and came to present. The
hearse stopped in front of the baggage
entrance to the depot. AS the under
taker took hold of the door Of the
hearse to open it and the soldiers pre-
pared to draw the coffin out hush fell
on the multitude Then from the head
of the column came the mournful
sound Of Long Roll. AS it ceased
there arose clear and sweet the notes
OF the beautiful hymn Nearer, My
God. to Thee The soldiers raised
the flag covered casket on their should
ers and moved toward the train as the
band took up the air of the grand old
hymn, 80 God, our help in ages past. :"
On the curb stood President Roose-
velt with Senator Hawley. The former
had refused the advice of the police
to move into the depot yard, and with
his hat in his hand he stood silently
watching the body being removed.
General Brooke and his staff fell in
directly behind the casket; then came
the president. Secretary Cortelyou
and Senator Hawley, and then, walk
ing with his cane for: assistance, fol-
lowed Senator Hanna, accompanied by
his son.
Mrs. Mckinley and the other mem
bers of the family had entered their
car half an hour before the body ar
rived.
At every station along the route
there were great, silentcrowds of peo-
pie assembled to do honor to the muir
dered president. Flags hoated at half
mast over thousands of buildings and
bells tolled as the train passed through
the towns and cities.
Washington, Sept. 16.-The remains
of President Mckinley tonight lie in
the east room of the White House,
where for more than four years he
made his home as chief magistrate of
the great American republic. Upstairs
his widow 1nourns for her dead in the
family apartments that now bring
back but the saddest of memories.
1t was with simple ceremony and a
silence that fitted perfectly the sadness
of the occasion that the body of the
late president was borne up Pennsyl-
vania avenue to the White House 1t