Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1901-09-20


bearers took the coffin upon their
shoulders and, passing up the three
or four steps, waited until Presidents
Roosevelt and the members of the
cabinet had alighted from their car
riages and then followed them
through the open doors into the
east room. just in the center of the
room, under the great crystal chan
delier, they deposited their precious
burden upon black draped base and
stood at salute while the new chief
executive and the cabinet members
with bowed heads passed by.
Following them came the chief Of
ficers of the army and navy now in
the city. the guard OF honor, consist
ing of officers of the Loyal Legion,
members of the Union Veterans
Union and the Grand Army of the
Republic.
President Roosevelt, accompanied
by the members of the cabinet, left
| the house almost mediately and
were driven to their homes.
The casket was placed lengthwise
of the east room, the head to the
north. Piled about it were a half
hundred floral emblems and as many
more were placed in the inside cor
ridor. Two marines, a soldier and a
sailor, stood guard, one at each cor
ner of the casket, while seated on
either side were two members of the
Grand Army and two members of the
! Loyal Legion. These were relieved
! at intervals of two hours during the
night.
Washington. Sept. 1s.-Last night
all that is mortal of William McKin-
ley was speeding towards its last
earthly resting place at his home in
Canton after the nation had officially
and with state ceremony paid its
tribute of respect to the memory OF
it's stricken chief magistrate. Be-
meath the dome of the Capitol funeral
services of state were held yesterday
over the remains of the dead presi-
dent. 1t was eminently fitting that
the services should be conducted in
that beautiful rotunda hallowed by
the last sad rites of two other mar
tyrs to the cause of the republic.
The services were conducted in ac-
cordance with the rites of the Meth
odist Episcopal church. of which
president Mckinley was lifelong
member. Consisting only of two
hymns, a song, a prayer, an address
and benediction, they were solemnly
impressive. Gathered around the
bier were representatives of every
phase of American national life, in
cluding the president and the only
surviving ey-president of the United
States, together with representatives
of almost every nation of the earth.
Despite the fact that no attempt
had been made to decorate the
rotunda, beyond the arrangements
made about the catafalque, the as
semblage presented memorable
sight. The sombre black of the attire
OF the hundreds of civilians present
was splashed brilliantly with the
blue and gold of the representatives
of the army and navy and the court
costumes of the diplomatic corps. AS
the notes of Mr.. McKinley's favorite
hymn, Lead, Kindly Light" fioated
through the rotunda, the assemblage
rose to its feet. Barred heads were
bowed and eyes streamed with tears.
At the conclusion of the hymn as Rev.
DR.. Naylor, presiding elder of the
Washington district, rose to offer
prayer the hush that fell upon the
! people was profound. When in con-
clusion he repeated the immortal
words of the Lords Prayer, the great
audience joined solemnly with him.
Scarcely had the word amen been
breathed when the liquid tones of that
: sweetly pleading song, Some Time
Well Understand, went straight to
! the heart of every auditor. The solo
was sung by Mrs. Thomas c. Noyes,
of this city.
Bishop Edward G. Andrews, of Ohio,
the oldest bishop of the Methodist
| N Il. IL, %I,n,N u e.,
ton at the head of the bier. A gen.
tie breeze through the rotunda
stirred the delicate blooms which lay
upon the coffin and the peace that
passeth all understanding" seemed to
rest upon the venerable mans coun-
tenance as he began his eulogy of the
life and works of William Mckinley.
!, His words were simple, but his
whole heart was in every one of them.
, His tribute to the Christian fortitude
of the dead president was impressive.
. Upon the conclusion of the
sermon the entire audience, as
, if by pre-arrangement, joined the
choir in singing Nearer, My God, to-
. Thee" All present seemed to be
imb.ed with sentiment of hallowed
resignation as the divine blessing was
, asked by Rev. Chapman, acting pastor
of the Metropolitan NJ. E. church,
, upon both the living and the dead.
!, At the conclusion of the funeral
services in the rotunda the casket lid
! was removed in order that the imme-
: diate friends of the dead president
might be afforded the comfort of a
a last glance at hls features, and that
! the people whom he loved and who
loved him might pass the bier for the
same purpose. AT 1890 the crowds
began to file through the rotunda and
. during the six hours in which the
y body was lying in state 1T is estimated
: that $4,000 people viewed the remains.
Just at l o'clock frightful calam-
ity was narrowly averted at the east
front of the Capitol. For hours the
;. vast throng of people had been
: massed in front of the Capitol await
a ing an opportunity to enter the ro-