The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1901-09-19
BUFFALO TO WASHINGTON ROOSEVELT TAKES OATH
Mortal Remains of the Nations Dead
Chieftain are Transferred.
Auy Ruutetn Country Hamlet Village
and city-to F7agcovered casts and
Pay Their Last Tribute The Dead.

At 7:35 Mrs. Mckinley, robed IL
garbs of mourning and supported by
Abner Mckinney on ono side and DR..
Rixed on the other, was led out to
waiting carriage. To the surprise OF
all she walked brlslly, with her head
quite erect, her face hidden behind
her long black veil. She got into the
carriage with her favorite niece, Miss
Barber; Abner Mckinley and DR.. Rix-
ey, and they were driven at once to
the depot. AS far as could be seen she
sat erect and unsupported in the car
riage. The family Of Abner Mckinley,
other relatives of the dead president,
and Secretary Cortelyou followed in
other carriages.
Just after o'clock had struck, to-
gether with Mr.. Wilcox and his secre-
tary, William Loeb, Jr., President
Roosevelt got into carriage and
drove to the train. A few mounted po-
licement followed the carriage and
three or four detectives and secret
service men were near by.
The cortege Moves.
It was a few minutes after Z o'clock
when there came the signs Of life
from within the corridor at the city
hall where the body of the president
reposed. The doors were flung open;
the gates swung ajar. At 7:O7 forty
sailors from the United States steam
ship Michigan swung up Franklin
street, the first detachment. Of the
cortege's escort. The blue jackets
wheeled into line directly opposite the
entrance of the city hall. Four min
utes later the four-horse hearse drew
into position.
Exactly at the appointed hour, 7:45,
the escort was In perfect readiness
A minute of awe-inspiring silence and
emerging from the doors of the city
hall, there moved the eight body bear
ers, four soldiers and four sailors. On
their shoulders rested the casket in
closing the body of the countrys be-
loved one.
Away down the line Of soldiery from
the Sixty-ffth regiment band came
once again the strains of Nearer. My
God, to Thee" Behind the long ropes
the throng uncovered, and with bowed
heads, waited and watched in silence.
Tenderly the precious burden was
borne slowly down the stone steps.
The fag-draped casket was lifted
gently into the hearse anu the doors
closed. Through the windows of the
hearse naught but the American flag,
surmounte. Dy single sneaf of whea;
could be seen. To the front came the
troops wheeling into line, and the
start for the station was made. The
procession moved through the streets
between masses of people all uncov-
cred.
Above he buildings American flags
and black streamers hung at half
mast. The line had begun its march
at 1850. Half an hour later, with meas
ured step and to the strains of the con-
stantly playing band, the line at last
turned into Exchange street, where
the railroad station is located. Then
the Buffalo journey was at an end.
The hearse stopped in front OF the
baggage entrances to the depot. AS
the undertaken took hold of the door
of the hearse to open it and the soldier
bearers prepared to draw the coffin
out, hush fell on the multitude. Then
from the head of the column came
the mournful sound OF Long Roll" AS
it ceased there arose cleer and sweet
from the bugle notes Nearer, My God,
to Thee"
The soldiers bore the fag-covered
casket on their shoulders and moved
toward the train as the band took up
the air of the grand old hymn, "Oh,
God; Our Help in Ages Past"
The funeral train started on Its
journey to the national capital at S:34.
The two engines and observation car
were shrouded in black. The other
cars were unadorned. Behind the
drawn blinds were Mrs. Mckinley.
President Roosevelt, the cabinet and
other high dignitaries Of the govern
ment. The casket was covered with =
beautiful silk flag and lay on raised
bier in the observation car. Two
sheaves of wheat were crossed above
the breast. A white dove, with out
stretched wings seemed to be rising
from the casket. 1t was part of an
exquisite floral piece in which red and
white buds pictured the American
flags and the French colors, a tribute
from a Franco-American offering. At
the foot OF the casket was a soldier
of the United States army, uniformed
and accoutred with a gun at order
arms. At the head sailor of. the navy
stood at attention, cutlass at.shoulder.
The lid Of the casket was closed: "a