The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-09-20
REMAINS VIEWED BY MANY
ESTIMATED THAT EIGHTY THOU
SAND PEOPLE TAKE A LAST
FAREWELL.
SIMPLE SERVICES ARE HELD
THE DEAD LEADERS FRIENDS
GATHER AT IT, MIL5URN
HOUSE.

Buffalo, Sept. 16.-Buffalo is a CIT
Of mourners. The gay and flamin
decorations of the Pan-American e1
position gave way to the symbol o
sorrow. The black drapery of tn
city's streets muffled the tolling bell
Of the churches. Bits of crepe ap
peared on every sleeve. The sorrow
was everywhere apparent. In thu
morning simple service took plac,
Ut the residence on Delaware avenu,
where the martyred president died.
A hymn was sung and prayer was of
fered over the dead body. That wa:
all. Only the immediate family ant
the friends and political associates o.
the late president were present. The
scene there was pathetic in the ex
treme. Then the body was borne out
to the waiting cortege on the brawny
shoulders of eight sailors and soldiers
Of the republic. The cortege passed
through solid walls of living humanity
bareheaded and grief-stricken, to the
city hall, where the body lay in state
during the afternoon. There a re-
markable demonstration occurred,
which proved how close the president
was to the hearts of the people. Ar
rangements had been made to allow
the public to view the body from the
time it arrived, at about 1870 o'clock,
until about 5 o'clock. But the people
were wedged into the streets for
blocks. Two lines were formed. They
Extended Literally for Miles.
When o'clock came 10000 people
had already passed and the crowds
waiting below in the streets seemed
undiminished. 1t was decided to ex-
tend the time until midnight. Then
for hours longer the streets were
dense with people and a constant
stream flowed up the steps of the
broad entrance into the city hall and
passed the bier. When the doors
were closed at midnight it was esti.
mated tht $4,000 people had viewed
the remains, but thousands of disap-
pointed ones were still In the streets.
The funeral train consisting Of
seven cars started for Washington
over the Pennsylvania railroad. Mrs.
Mckinley, the president, the cabinet
and relatives and friends Of the dead
president accompanied the remains.
Mrs. Mckinley bore up bravely dur
ing the service at the Milburn resi-
dence, and DR.. Rixey, her physician,
thinks she will be able to support her
trying part in the state funeral at
Washington.
The Services at the MIburn House.
1t was just eight minutes before the
opening of the service when a COW
cred barouche drove up to the Milburn
house bringing President Roosevelt
and Mr.. and Mrs. Wilcox, at whose
home he is guest. The president
looked very grave as he alighted and
turned 20 assist Mrs. Wilcox from the
carriage. His face did not relax into
q smile to the salutations of those
edged the greetings silently and with
an inclination of the head. Word
passed up the well filled walk that the
president had arrived, and those
waiting to gain entrance fell back,
making narrow line through which
Mr.. Roosevelt passed along to the
house.
In the drawing room to the right Of
hn11
tered, the dead chieftain was stretched
upon his bier. His head was to the
rising sun. On his face was written
the story of the Christian forbear-
ance with which he had met his mar.
tyrdom. Only the thinness of his face
bore mute testimony to the patient
suffering he had endured. He was
dressed as always in life. The black
frock coat was buttoned across the
breast, where the first bullet of the
assassin had struck. The black string
tie below the standing collar showed
the little triangle of white shirt front.
The right hand lay at his side. The
left was across his body. He looked
as millions of his countrymen have
seen him, save for one thing. The little
eaoge OF the Loyal Legion,
the only decoration he ever wore,
which was always in the left lapel of
his coat, was missing. And those that
remarked 1t spoke of it, and after the
body was taken to the city hall the
little badge which he priced through
life was placed again where 1t had al
ways been.
The body lay in black casket on a
black bearskin rug. Over the lower
limbs was flung the starry banner he
had loved so WELL The flowers were
few as behtted the simple nature OF
the man. The sentries, one from the
sea and one from the land, guarded
the remains. The family had taken
leave of their loved one before the
7thers arrived Mrs Mckinley the
Door, grief crushed widow, had beer
led into the chamber by her physician
DR.. Rixey, and had sat awhile alone
with him who had supported AM
ccmforted her through all the year
of welded life. But though her sup
port was gone she had not broker
down. Dry-eyed she gazed upon hin
and fondled his face. She did no
seem to realize that he was dead
Then she was led away and took Vi
her position at the head or the StdIrs
where she could hear the services
The friends and public associates o
The dead president all had opportu
nifty to view the remains before tn
service bgan. The members Of tn
cabinet had taken their leave hefor
the others arrived. They remained