The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1901-09-20

company On west FtffN street. ana there
awaited the time for the services to be-
| gin.
Meantime the members of the cabinet.
officials high in the government service,
aad near friends Of the martyred presi-
dent. began To MI the walks leading up
10 the entrance OF the Milburn residence
They came separately and in groups.
some walking. while those IN carriages
were admitted within the roped enclos-
urc up 70 The curb.
TWO and two. a long line Of men of dig
nined bearing marched up TO see the
house the foreign commissioners sent 10
/ the exposition. and after them the state
commissioners. With the foreigners was
| colonel OF the Mexican army IN his fun
uniform OF black with scarlet stripes and
| peaked gold braided cap.
1t was Just eight minutes before the
| opening OF the service when covered
! barOuche drove up 10 the house bringing
/ President Roosevelt and Mr.. and Mrs.
| Wilcox. at whose home he is guest
Within the house Of death was woe
unSpeakable. In the drawing room to
| the right of the hall. as President
I Roosevelt entered. the dead chieftain was
| the rising sun on his face was written
| the story OF the Christian forbearance
with which he had met his martyrdom.
Only the thinncss Of his face bore mute
testimony 10 the patient suffering he had
endured He was dressed as he always
was In life. The black frOck coat was
buttoncd across the breast where the
first bullet OF the assassin had struck
The black string tie below the standing
GOtlstF showed the ilitlt triangle OF Nnlkt
shirt front lie looked as millions of his
countrymen have seen him. save for one
thing. The little badge of the Loyal
Legion, the only decoration he ever wore.
which was always in the left lapel of his
coas. was missing And those who re-
marked Il. spoke Of it, and after the
body WAS taken 10 the city hail. the little
badge which he priced through liye was
placed again where IL had always been.
The body lay IN black casket on a
/ black bcarskin rug. over the lower limbs
was flung he starry banner ne had loved
SO well. The flowers We're few befit-
/ ted the simple nature OF the man. 4
spray Of white Chryslnthcmuns, liam
ing bunch OF blood red American beauty
roses. and magnificent bunch Of ViOlets
We're on the caskct. That was all Be
hind the head against a pier mirror be-
tween the two curtaincd windows rested
Two superb wrcaIhs of white asters and
roses. These were the only flowers in the
The family had taken leave OF their
loved one before the others arrived. Mrs.
Mckinley. the poor. grief crushed widow,
had been led into the chamber by her ply
siCian. Or. kiNcy. and had sat awhile
alone with him who had supported and
comforted her through all their years OF
welded life. But though her support was
gone, she had not broken down Dry
eyed. she gazed upon him and fondled his
face. She did not seem TO realize that
he was dead. Then she was led away by
Dr. RiNey ard took 10 her position al
the head OF the stairs where she could
Just before II O'Clock President Roose-
Welt entered coming into the room from
the rear through the library. After pass
ing into the hall he had made his way
around through the sitting room behind
into the library. There was an instanta-
Eevus movement in the room as the pres
idcnt appeared. The procession was stiil
passing from the south side around the
mead Of the caske; and back between IL
ana the members of the cabinet seated
at It's side. Every one rose and all eyes
were turned toward the president. He
moved forward again with the tide of the
procession 10 his place at the head OF
the line Of cabinet officers. He held him
self erect. his left hand carrying his silk
hat. Those who were coming toward him
fell back on either side To let him pass.
He. TOO. seemed TO De restraining a
great grief. When President Roosevelt
reached the head of the line OF cabinet
! officers he kept his face away from the
asket. The infantrymen guarding the
dead stood before him rigid as a statue
Although the commandments APP
preached until he could have touched
( him. the soldier did not salute. The
president appeared TO be steelinS him
self for look into the face OF him
whose death had made him the first ruler
OF the world The tension in the room
WAS great. Every one seemed to be wait
/ ing. The minister OF the Gospel stood
4 with the Holy Book in his hand ready to
! begin. Perhaps IL might have been %
seconds Ii seemed longer. Then the
president turned and at the same time
I advanced one step. He bowed his head
and looked down upon the man whose
/ burden and responsibility he had taken
/ up. Long he gazed. standing immovable
save for a twitching of the muscles of
the chin as he labored with heavy breath
! To rcprcss his emotion. At last he step
/ ped back.
The pastor was at the door leading into
/ the hail. "A station whence his words
/ could he heard at the head of the stairs
I The signal WAS given and there welled
! out from the hall the beautiful words of
/ Lead. Kindly Light" sung by a quar-
tctie. II was President McKinley's IA
\ rori,e hymn
When the singing ended the clergyman
read from the word OF the Fifteenth
( chapter OF the First Corinthians. Again
! the voice rose with the words of Near
or. MY God. 10 Thee. As the music died
| away the pastor spoke again.
Let us pray" he said. His prayer was
| az follows:
God. our help in ages past.
Our shelter from the stormy blast
And our eternal home"
1--WE. Thy servants. humbly beseech
Thee Tor manifestations Of Thy favor as
We conc into Thy presence We laud
aud magnify Thy holy name and praise
Thee Tor All Thy goodness. BE mcrciful
unto and bless us. stricken with
Overwhelming sorrow. we come TO Thee.
Forgive ~ for our doubts and fears and
fal;eriag faith pardon all our sins and
shortcomings. and help US 70 say Thy
VIII he done In this dark night of grief
abide with rs till the dawning Speak to
our troubled souls. O. God. and give 10
us IN this hour OF unutterable grief the
peace and quiet which Thy presence only
can afford. We fhanl, Thee that Thou
.;f,Swercst the sobDing sigh Of the heart.
and dnst assure Us that If man die he
shall i've again. We praise Thee Tor
Jesus Christ. Thy Son. our Saviour and
cider brother; that He came TO bring
lie ard Immortality 10 light, and be-
cause lie likes we shall live also. We
ihenk Thee that death is victory. that
10 dic IS gain. Have mercy upon rs in
this iispcnSatiou Of Thy Providence; we
believe IN Thee-wc trust Thee-0ur God
Of i.ove. the same yesterday. to-day and
forever. Nc thank Thee Cor the unSul-
lied nfc OF Thy servant. our rlarlyred
president whom Thou hast taken &c his
coronation. and We pray for the final
triumph az all the divine principles OF
pure character and free government for
which he stood while he lived and which
were baptized by his blood in his death.
Hear our prayer for blessings of con-
ISOLATION upon all those who were asso-
ciated with him in the administration OF
the affairs OF the government; especially
, youchsafe Thy presence TO Thy servant