The Washington times., 1901-09-18


The officers stepped to one side. The
double doors of the hearse swung wide
and the casket was slid into its place
in the hearse just as another OF the min
ute guns doomed forth. The body bear
ers stepped to their places beside the
wheels end the command to move was
given. Almost all sounds were lost in
the clatter of the squadron of cavalry
as it trotted, with the rattle of accoutre-
ments, to the position ahead of the hearse-
At intervals of sixty seconds the guns
flashed and the sulIen boom echoed in
the air.
The little group of officers entered car
riaEes and were driven into positions fol-
lowing the hearse There were few nota-
bles at the Capitol. Only the officers en-
gagged in the ceremony of the removal
entered carriages. save for a number of
attendants. Col d. n. Ransdell, Ser
geant-at-Arms of the Senate with num-
Der of his office force and a few friends
stood on one of the lower steps and rev
erently watched the hearse depart.
The line of march was the shortest be-
tween the two points. Across the plaza
to the north the column headed to Il
Street, where it descended the long hill
westward to First Street, and then
around the corner to the Peace MoEu-
ment, which seemed to look down on the
body of the man during whose Admins
tration peace had been the crown of Il
glorious war A detail Of mounted police
headed the column, while at the sides
marched cordons of police in single file.
One of the most appropriate features of
the procession to the railroad station was
the presence of the brigade of the District
National Guard, which formed in double
files, one on each side of the Avenue, ex-
tending from the Peace Monument to
Sixth Street. The crowds were effectuaily
restrained from encroaching upon the
street AS the hearse passed each man
brought his piece to present.
Down at the depot the officials and army
and navy officers began to arrive about
O'Clock The officers composing the spe-
cial guard OF honor were among the first
to arrive. They were soon followed by
other officers who came in response 10
the general order issued by the Secretary
OF War and Secretary of the Navy for all
officers on duty in Washington TO report
at the station to act as guard from the
entrance of the depot to the train. The
officers stood about in groups anxiously
awaiting the arrival of the funeral party.
MT Cortelyou was the first of the Of
ficiaIs 10 reach the depot and he hurried
through the gates accompanied by Mrs.
Corte.you.
At about $50 p. m. bugle call was
heard few squares distant and orders
were inme diately given for the officers
to form in line. In complying they made
no special attempt at formation.
Slowly the funeral cortege was wend-
ing its way along Pennsylvania Avenue
TO Sixth Street At the entrance TO the
n tod
States Cavalry under command of Iajor
Finley, Captains Elliot and Brooks,
Lieutenants Scales. Ruger and Grunert,
formed in open order and the hearse drew
up at the curb
By this time thousands of persons had
gathered about the station to catch a last
glimpse of the flag-draped casket which
contained the body of the nations late
chieftain. They had seen it borne up the
historic Avenue in the sombre funeral
car the night before to repose in the ia
nous East Room of the Executive Man
sion, where for four and one-half years
William Mckinley had his official home;
they had Witnessed it as it was carried in
state yesterday morning along the same
thoroughfare to the Capitol, where ma
tion paid its tribute of homage to the
distinguished dead, and again they had
assembled along the broad Avenue and at
the railroad depot eager to obtain a last
look al the coffin in which he had been
forever laid. These who saw it conveyed
on the shoulders OF eight stalwart men
through the wide archway leading to the
station sheds. and watched them as they
deposited it in the midst of bed of fiow-
ors upon the funeral train. will long re-
member the scene. 1t was a farewell
view which they saw of all that pertains
to the mortal being of William Mckinley.
No wonder, then. that men and women
pressed and jolted against each other
eager TO gain point of vantage and
strained their weeping eyes to catch a
glimpse Of that casktt with its more than
common clay.
The soldiers and sailors tenderly drew
the casket from within, and lifting it upon
their shoulders, walked toward the gate
The railing over the gates is very low and
II was necessary for the members of the
escort TO bend down considerably in order
to pass through without the railing brush
ing from the casket the flowers upon it.
The special guard of honor of the army
and navy which had been in waiting to
receive the body followed. All heads were
uncovered and revsrently bowed as the
precious burden was being carried to the
train.
Slowly the party marched down the
platform almost to the extreme southern
end of the depot yard, where the palace
car Pacific was attached to the train.
There the casket was deposited in the
same position from which it had been
taken the night before. A guard Of SOL
diers was stationed beside the bier. and
friends who were TO make the sad journey
In Cartasa gathered ahoirt the "a he
car was banked with profusion of flow
ers on every side, so that the body re-
posed in bower OF orchids, roses. carna-
tions, asters. immortelles and palms fash
toned into designs of varied form. The
escort of ciicers filed through and took
a parting look. Then they withdrew and
the car was closed preparatory to starting
with fits silent passenger upon the journey
TO its final resting place in Ohio.
For another half an hour the officials
who were going to Canton TO attend the
funeral ceremonies pushed their way
through the crowds IN the depot and were
passed through the gates to the three
trains assigned to them. The funeral |
train was made up in three sections, the |
first of which left on schedule tirae. car
rying the representatives, Of the press and !
the following persons:
Hon. Samuel j. Roberts, Mr.. Doran. Mr |
schunk.
Cuban Ccmmittee-Senors Tamayo, La
coste, and Quesada.
John W. Yerkes. Henry II. Dawes. NJ |
i. Allies, Beman G. Dawes. W W MHls, /
w. G. Edens. FraHi. l.. Campbell, \. War |
field Monroe. Charles A. Hanna, W. c. |
Beer. Francis c. Kilkenny. Col john J. |
McCook, Perry S. Heath and Mrs Heath, |
gla1-