The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-09-20
At the Bier.

afternoon the human tide pressed
steadily forward to the bier. Four
abreast in double line, without a mo-
ment's halt, the people hurried by the
casket and then with tear-stained
faces passed out Of the darkened
chamber into the bright sunlight. In
the line were represented all stations
in life, all ages, all conditions. At
one moment an old bent and withered
man who had known Mother Nc
Kinley, tottered up to gaze upon the
silent features. He was followed by
a mar Of middel age who had gone to
school with Mckinley. Over on one
side was the Knight Templar who had
marched beside Mckinley in parade.
All who came had some recollection
of personal relation with the man ly-
ing cold in death. Fathers brought
up their children and held them owe
the bier fer a fleeing glance at the
upturned face. A sleeping babe was
reused by it's mother for a sight its
little mind could not comprehend.
Toilers came from the factories and,
dinner pals in hand, trooped by the
bier of him whom they called their
benefactor and their friend. Now ard
then knots of school children hurried
past, awe struck at the gloom Of this
| chamber of death. Often guarding
| soldiers were compelled to step for
ward and gently restrain a hand that
sought a bud from off the flower deck
ed casket.
AS the people hurried by they gave
| expression to suppressed exclama-
tons of anguish at the sight of the
pinched face lying there in the cot
fin. 1t was not the face they had
known so we'll and almost without ex-
ception people turned away regretful
that they had not retained in their
minds that picture of manly vigor
which they knew so well. Many of
his nearest friends .%refrained from
looking upon the face, preferring to
/ preserve d llClllOly VI I'LL az Ill 1lIC.
Late in the afternoon an aged man
leaning upon two crutches which he
managed with difficulty, appeared at
the door through which the people
were making their exit. He asked a
sentry to allow him to enter and when
the soldier refused answering that he
ho1 roooiuo1 nr10rc RI o11nuy M ono
through that door the old mar looked
the picture of woe. In a short time
he again asked the young sentry in
pleading tones to allow him entrance
through the doorway, saying that in
his feeble condition he was not able
to stand in the line which at that
time was extended fully a mile from
the entrance. "I fought in his regi.
ment during the war;" he said, ''and |
just want to lay this flag on his cot.
fin and then keep it as a memory OF
the time l saw him last" "Take it
!, in said the sentry, and the veteran
: hobbled into the hall. When he got
inside he had more trouble and was
/: sompelled to explain his errand sew
f eral times. Finally the line passing
r the coffin was stopped long enough
| to allow the old man to step to its
| side for a glance into the coffin anc
: to lay his tiny flag On the glass. Their
: he turned back with the crowd, hug
! cling the now sanctiied f1rg closely
beneath his coat.
At one time a group of school girl:
approached the casket. There were
six of them AMI they came three
e abreast. One in the forward row lean
2 ed over for a look and gentlely Olsen
gaging from the bosom Of her dresi
/ a scarlet geranium laid it gently OF
S the top of the wreaths that were rest
g ing there. Others followed her es
e ample and although the sentries ha'
orders to permit nobody to place any
thing upon the coffin or touch tn
# flowers that were already there, tn
O little tributes of the girls were allow
ed to remain and they were still O
O the top of the coffin when it was cal
u ried through the door OF it's way t
IS the Mckinley cottage on North Ma
ket street. All through the afternoo
e the crowd passed the c%atafalque al
e proximately at the rate of 100 ever
g minute, making in the five hours i
IS which the body lay in state a tot;
of 10000 people, practically a numbe
d equal to the actual population of Cal
e ton. When the doors were closed {
Of 6 o'clock the line, four abreas
7e stretched fully two miles from tn
court house and people were still cor
d, ing from the side streets to take the
Id places in line.
le At 6 o'clock the doors were close