Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-09-19
NOW SAD
HOUSE
Sorrowing Scenes En-
acted About ExeCu=
tive Mansion
Body of President Placed
in Great East
Room
Procession of Cortege Wit
messed With Profound
Sympathy

east room of the white house where
for more than four years he made mis-
home as chief magistrate. Upstairs
his widow mourns for her dead in the
family apartments that now bring
back the saddest of memories. 1t was
with simple ceremony and silence
that fitted perfectly with the sadness
of the occasion that the body of the
late president was borne up Pennsyl-
vania avenue to the white house and
laid upon the bier in the great east
room where he had stood So often in
the pride of manhood to receive the
greetings Of the common people he
loved better than himself.
1t was fitting that such ceremony rs
there was be severely military N
character, in recognition of the fact
that the president was commander-il-
chief of the army and navy. Nowhere
was there a show Of civilian participa-
tion. The streets about the station
were filled with mounted troops and
the station itself occupied by soldiers
and sailors. The silence that marked
the progress of the funeral party
through the national capital was pro
found.
Meanwhile the casket was removed
from the observation car. One of the
large windows was lowered and the
casket was slipped through the open
ing and tenderly received from the
bent shoulders of the bearers. AS the
casket emerged a bugle note rose
clearly and taps" rang out. Tha,
was the only sound that broke the
dead silence. Just beyond the en-
trance to the station President RoOse
welt with the members of the cabine
paused and stood with barred heals
as the corpse was carried to the
hearse The hearse bearing the thirt
martyred president quickly moved
away and was followed at once BY
President Roosevelt and those accom-
panying him. The citizens committe,
from Buffalo and officers of the army
and navy and friends followed.
The carriage containing Mrs. Nc
Kinley, DR.. Rixey and Abner McKin
ley had preceded the funeral cortegt
to the white house some time. DR.
Rixey was the first to alight, then Alb
ner Mckinley. They tenderly assist
ed Mrs. Mckinley to the stairs. Will
her right arm resting heavily anC
YEARLY upon the shoulder of her deaC
husbands brother and supported OF
the other side by DR.. RiXey, she
walked slowly into the house. Sh,
was closely yelled but her feeble step,
told the story of her great suffering
She was assisted at once to her DIX
room and soon retired. When th>
cortege arrived at the white house
the body bearers took the coffin upol
their shoulders and passing up three
or four steps waited for Presiden
Roosevelt and the members of the
cabinet and followed them into tbs
east room. In the center of the room
they deposited their precious burden
upon black-draped base and stood -
salute while the new chief executive
and cabinet with bowed heads passed.
President Roosevelt and cabinet lef
the house almost Immediately an
were driven to their homes.
The casket had been placed length
wise of the east room, the head to the
north Piled about it were half a hun
dred floral emblems. Two marines, {
soldier and sailor, stood guard, Will
seated on either side were two mem
bers of the Grand Army and two of the
at intervals of two hours during tbs
night.
Before midnight the household re
tired and the only lights seen were
those in the room where his comrades
kept watch over their dead chief
Roosevelt Meets Wife.
Washington, Sept. 17.-Presidenl
Roosevelt last night was at the resi-
dence of Captain Cowles, his brother,
in-law. He reached there at $40 and
went Immediately to the parlor and
greeted Mrs. Roosevelt, who for the
first time saw her husband as presi-
dent He declined to receive callers
last night and will make no plans for
the future administration Of the gov
eminent until after the remains of the
late president have been laid to rest.
PROGRAM at Canton.
Canton, Sept. 1.-THE official train
will reach here at IL o'clock tomor-
row morning. The local committee
will take the body from the train di-
rect to the court house to lie in state
until 9 tomorrow night, and then re-
move them to the Mckinley house for
the night and return to the court
house Thursday morning to remain
until church services at 2 Thursday
afternoon. After the church service
Rev. c. e. Manchester will deliver a
short address. The services will be
brief Afterwards a military and i
civic parade will escort the remains to
the West Lawn cemetery where they !