Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-09-19
Funeral Party Reaches Canton
at Noon Wednesday.
Remains Lie in State in Court House,
Where They Are Viewed
BY Thousands. Who Are Unable 10 Restrain
Their Sitter Grief

Canton, at exactly noon today. All
about the station and banked deep in
the surrounding streets We're the
friends and neighbors Of The martyred
President, while drawn up back of the
station were long lines of militiamen
at present arms. Immediately in the
rear of the station at the mouth OF 10th
street was Troop a of Cleveland.
mounted on their black chargers,
keeping the entrance of the line Of
march clear
Up this street soldiers at intervals of
10 feet with difficulty restrained the
solid wall of people. Canton had sud
denly become city of 100000 and the
entire population was in the streets.
The station itself was cleared, a COM
pany of soldiers of the Sth Ohio from
wooster keeping the platform clear.
opposite, over the heads of acres OF
people on the wall Of big manufact-
uring establishment was an enormous
shield 80 feet high with McKinley's
black -borGered picture in the center.
The local committee headed by ex-Sec.
OF State Day and Judge Grant were on
the platform. All about were the sym
bols of mourning.
The approach of the train was un-
heralded. No whistle was blown, no
bell was rung. In absolute silence il
rolled into the station. Al the mere
sight OF the train, the peopIe who had
been waiting for hours We're greatly
affected. Women sobbed and men
Wept.
For a full minute after it had
stopped no one appeared. Judge Day
and his committee moved slowly down
the platform in front of the line of sol
diers TO the catafaIque car and waited
Suddenly Abner Mckinley. in deep
black. his face tense and drawn, ap-
peared in the vestibule of the car next
to the one conveying the remains and
a moment later Dr. RiXey appeared,
half carving a frail and broken form.
Ii was Mrs. Mckinley, arrayed in the
deepest mourning. Beneath the heavy
black Veil she held her handkerchief
to her eyes and her sight figure shook
convulsivcly
Gently she was lifted from xhe cars.
supported by DR.. Rixey and Abner
No kinley. ana was practically carried
10 a carriage in waiting 1T the cast
carriage was closed and Mrs Mckinley
was driven hurriedly To hcr foriorn
home on North Market street which
she had left only two weeks ago with
her distinguished husband in the fun
vigOr Of manhood.
Col. Bingham. tie Presidents aide.
then gave directions for the removal
of the casket from the car. The .of-
lin was too large To be taken through
the door and the broad window at
the side was unscrewed and removed
While this was going on the Iloral
pieces inside We're carefully lifted out
and placed upon the ground at the side
of the track.
When all was ready the soldiers and
sailors who had accompanied the re-
mains all the way from Buffalo
emerged from the car and took up
their places. The soldiers trailed their
arms and the sailors held their drawn
cutlasseS at their sides.
Meantime President Roosevelt. with
his brotherin-law, Capt. Cowles Of
the navy. at his side had descended
from the car ahead of that occupied
by Mrs. Mckinley. The members of the
cabinet. Secretary Cortelyou. Governor
Nash. Lieut.. Gov. Caldwell and Judge
Iarshal J. Williams of the supreme
court. representing the branches of the
state government of Ohio. followed.
The President was met by Judge Grant
of the reception committee. ard the
C1hcial party then moved to the ives.
OF the station. where they formed in
line with the President at the head.
All Were uncovered.
The casket was then lifted through
the window and taken upon the
hrawny shoulders of the body bearers
only the flag was on it now. At sight
of it tears came unbidden and flowed
Freely. The sad procession was then
formed. 1t was headed by Col. Bing
ham in full uniform. Following and
preceding the casket was
the local committee headed by Judge
Day. Then came the soldiers and sail
ors. Slowly they moved down the plat
form to the turn of the Western end
of the station. where the President and
ca binet stood. AS they reached the
head of this line a clear drawn 0ug.c
call sounded a requiem.
When the coffin had been placed in
the hearse the President and the Off
cial party entered carriages. Mean
time Admiral Dewey. Lieut.. Gen. Miles
and other high officials of the army
and navy,zWho compose the guard of
honor. also entered carriages and took
their place in the procession that was
now forming. The shrill notes Of the
bugles had given the first sign to the
waiting multitude outside the station
that the casket was approaching. In
stantly the long lines of soldiers came
to the present arms. Slowly through
the entrance came the stalwart sol
diers and sailors with solemn tread
bearing aloft the flag covered coffin of
the man this city loved so well. AS it
came into view a great sigh went up
from the dense throng and many of
the men and women turned away to
hide emotions they could not restrain.
When the casket had been consign-
ed to the hearse three mounted trum-
peters gave the signal for the melan-
choIy procession to move. A moment
later the sound Of Nearer. My God. to
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