The Washington times., 1901-09-18
LEAVING THE WHITE HOUSE
Last Hours Of the Vigil Over the
Late Presidents Body.

Assembling Of Distinguished Mourn
ers I'm the Green Roon-3:r:omats
In the Adjoining Blue P.rlor-rAe
Final March to the Front Portfco.
Slowly through the open portals of tbs
"hite House the casket containing tho
/ body OF William Mckinley, late President
Oh the United States. was yesterday
borne. while great hush fell upon tho
assembled gathering of distinguished citi-
zens of the Republic, present to pay the
fnal homage to all that was mortal OF
the great man who was then for the last
time quitting the home which he had
loved so well
In her room. empty and bare of the one
she loved and upon whom she had thrown
the burden of her cares through years Of
Illness and suffering. the devoted widow
of the beloved President mourned for him
Who has departed never to return. and re-
fused to be comforted by the words of
courage poured into her ears by loving
relatives and friends. She did not &c to
the Capitol. where the religious services
were held yesterday. Her grief was too
great to have permitted such a public ex-
hibition of her sorrow, even had her
strength been great enough to stand the
hardship. She remained at home, while
sympathizins friends and devoted fellow
citizens removed to the Capitol OF the
Nation the body of her distinguished hus-
band. and placed It in state beneath the
arching dome of the building which was
the scene Of his earlier triumphs.
The sad procession took up its march
to the Capitol at exactly 500 o'clock
Leaden skies. from which fell a drizzling
.ain. added to the gloom which seemed
cast over the Executive Mansion like a
funeral pail of nature
At this hour the doors of the East
Room. in which the guard of honor was
posted. were opened. Six stalwart men,
each two of whom represented respect
lively the Army, Navy and Marine Corps
of the United States. advanced from the
ranks of the guard of honor. and raised
the casket to their broad shoulders. The
men were hardy and strong. typical rep
resentatives of the men who have fought
the battles of their country on many
fields of war.
With measured tread the pallbearerz
passed slowly from the East Room, and
into the corridor, Immediately back of
the main hallway, made historical by the
paintings of former Presidents which
adorn and almost cover the walls. In
front of the Blue Room the bodybearers
halted for an iastant. while the members
of the Diplomatic Corps, gathered there.
stood in mute benediction.
Toward the Green Rooni the solemn
cortege then moved slowly forward the
casket resting firmly and securely upon
the brawny shoulders of the military
bearers. Here me President, ex-Preai-
dent Cleveland, members of the Cabinet.
and other disdlr ,,uished gentlemen were
assembled. IN FONT of the Green Room
door the little party. preceded by officers
of the army. and followed by the guard
of honor. wheeled toward the north en-
trance, and amid the most profound. 81
lence passed slowly through the massive
carved doors and across the white por-
tico.
The hearse, imposing and magnificent
In its simplicity, was drawn up before the
door through which the president had so
many times passed. Tenderly the casket
waT lowered from the shoulders of the
bes rers and placed within. 80 --
Tne silence in the little group on the
portico deepened until it seemed that not
so much as a breath of air stirred. The
coal black animals by which the hearse
was drawn, a wheel grated upon the curb
ing, breaking the stiffness, and to the hol-
low roll of drum of the Marine Band.
on it's wsY down the Avenue. Immediate
ly in front of the Executive Mansion. the
body of the beloved President started up
on it's way to the Capitol of the Nation.
The scene in the East Room was i'm
pressive in the extreme. Shortly before
3 o'clock in the morning the guard of honor
which had surrounded the bier of the
President during the night was changed
The guard was composed of a platoon of
marines and -jackies'' from the North
Atlantic Squadron, and representatives Of
the Grand Army of the Republic and the
Legion of Honor.
The body of the late President, in the
edsket, rested in the centre
of the huge and imposing room. Officers
of the army and navy in full dress uni
form added a touch of color to the other
wise dreary appearance. Their flashing
swords and sabres. the brilliant uniforms
of the soldiers and marines, and the dark
blue of the navy made complete in color
the emblem of the sorrowing nation, red,
white. and blue and the flashing stars of
the scintillating baycnets and side arms.
The sight was one never to be forgotten.
The hushed footballs of the troops taking
their places about the casket, and the
clank of accoutrements as the men filed
into the places with the precision OF
military training. and the subdued voices
Of command gave an atmosphere of i'm
perial grandeur to the republican SIM
plicity OF the moment. No burial scene
of monarch could have equaled in impress
siveness the dignity of the last hour of
the departed Executive at the home he
nad loved so well.
Among the first arrivals at the White
House yesterday morning was ex-Presi-
lent Grover Cleveland. accompanied by ex-
Secretary of War Daniel S. Lamont. and
his personal aide. Rear Admiral Robley
D. Evans. He went Immediately to the
Green Room. where several members of
the Cabinet had already assembled.
A few minutes before O'Clock President
Roosevelt, accompanied by Mrs. Roose-
selt, reached the White House. They
went Immediately to the Green Room. By
his time all of the Cabinet officers were
present. They stood in a line before the
nantel in the order of their precedence.
Secretary Hay at the head. then Secre-
AIRY Gage. Secretary Root. Attorney Gem
-Tdl hhoA. Eust1HdstSi NeAeId oHlitn,
Long, Secretary Hitchcock. and
Wilson.
Abner Mckinley. brother of the late
President, and Mrs. Mckinley arrived
arly. They were accompanied by Mr..
nd Mrs a. J. Duncan, Miss Helen Nc
liniey. Mrs. NJ. C. Barber. Miss Barber.
Ohm Barber Mr.. and Mrs. IL. L. Baer.
lieut.. James +. Mckinley, Miss Sarah
duncan. Jack Duncan, Frank Osborne.
FRS Seward Bowman, Mrs. Hobart and
on. Mrs. NJ. y. Stafford. DIR. p. VI. Rixey.
'harles G. Dawes. Col. c. +. Mock, Col