The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1901-09-21

everything in its power 10 procure
lood and shelter, MANY vi The onlclais
from Washington are Obliged 10 sleep
III The cars lney came in. and tonight
hundreds are walking the streets
seeking food ana places to sleep. The
population OF Canton is about 81 LOO,
but 1t is expected that over lUU,UUU
people will be here tomorrow. Presi-
dent Roosevelt, his naval aide, Capt.
Cowles, Secretary Root and Assistant
Secretary Hill are at the spacious
residence of Mrs. George d. Harter on
market street. During the afternoon
The president walked over 10 the Nc
kinley residence to inquire after Mrs.
Mckinley. He was informed that she
stood the trip from Washington
bravely, but in the opinion of her phy-
sician it would not be advisable for
her to attempt to attend the services
at the church tomorrow. She will.
therefore, remain quietly at her home
with Dr.. Rixey.
Other cabinet officers and generals
and admirals. composing the guard of
honor are also at private residences.
President Roosevelt and official party
will start back to Washington at Z
o'clock tomorrow night.
Throughout the afternoon the long
line of humanity pressed steadily for
ward to the bier, four abreast in dou-
BILE line without moments halt. The
people hurried by the casket then with
tear-stained faces passed out of
the darkened chamber into the bright
sunlight. In the line were represent
ed all stations in life, all ages and all
conditions. At one moment an old,
bent and withered man who hai
known Mother" Mckinley tottered up
to gaze upon the silent features. He
was followed by man of middle age
who had gone to school with Mckin-
ley. Over on one side was knight
Templar who had marched beside Nc
kinley in parade. All who came had
recollection of personal relations with
the man lying there cold in death. Fa-
theirs brought up their children and
held them over the bier for fleeting
glance at the upturnej face. A sleep
ing babe was pushed by it's mother for
sight it's little mind could not COM
prehend. TOilers came from factories,
dinner pals in hand. trooped by the
bier Of him whom they called their
benefactor and their friend. Now and
then lots of school children hurried
past. awe-struck at the gloom of this
chamber of death.
Often the guarding soldiers were
compelled to step forward and gently
iCstrain the haid chat sought Lnd
rom off the tloWt1 uecked casket. It
was plain tina. d sreat flood of er'o
tion was yelling up in the hearts of
these sorrowing people. Strong men
made no cOncealment of their grief.
Their faces and fearful eyes telling
the sense of personal bereavement
which had come upon them. Many
women wept and during the afternoon
one young girl gave way to her feel
ings by loud walls which re-echoed
through the darkened corridors. AS
the people hurried by they gave ex-
preston to suppressed exclamations
of anguish at the sight of the pinch
ed face lying there in the coffin. 1t
was not the face they had known so
well. and almost without exception the
people turned away regretful that
they had not retained in their minds
that picture of manly vigor which
they knew so we'll. Many of his near
est friends refrained from looking at
the face preferring to preserve the
memory of him as in life. 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 max
ing their exit. He asked the sentry to
allow him to enter and when the SEN
try refused. saying that he had re-
ceived orders to allow nobody through
that door, the old man stood back
picture of woe. In short time he
again asked the young sentry in plead
ing tones to allow his entrance
through the doorway. saying that in
his feeble condition he was not able
to stand in the line which at that
time was extending fully a mile from
the entrance. 81 fought in his regi-
ment during the war;" he said, land l
just want to lay this flag on his coffin
and keep it as reminder of the time
I 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 compelled to explain
his errand several times. Finally the
line passing the coffin was stopped
long enough to allow the old man to
step to its side for a glance into the
coffin and to lay his tiny flag on it's
glass front. Then he turned back
with the crowd. hugging the cancti-
fed flag tightly beneath his coat.
At one time a group Of school girls
approached the casket There were
six of them and they came three
abreast. One in the forward row lean
ed over for look and gently disengag-
ing from the bosom of her dress a lit
tie geranium. laid it gently on top of
the wreaths that were resting there.
Others followed her example and. al
though the sentries had orders to per-
NIT nobody to place anything upon the
coffin or to touch the floral offerings
that were already there. the little tri-
butes of the girls were allowed to re-
main. and they were still on the top of
lue coffin when it was carried through
the door on it's way to McKinley's
cottage on North Market street. All
through the afternoon people passed
the catalfaque at the rate approx
mately of 100 every minute, making
in the five hours in which the hOdv Law