Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1901-09-20

called out the entire police force and |
in addition asked Fourth brigade |
headquarters to be ready tc give aid.
Col. Welch answered by ordering two |
companies each from the Sixty-fifth |
and Seventy-fourth regiments to their
armories to await immediate call.
Around the station house at o'clock
at least 5000 people were gathered.
They were not particularly ugly and
when the police proceeded to drive
them back there was little resistance.
Buffalo, N. Y, Sept. 16.-Buffalo on
Sunday became a city of mourners.
The gay decorations of the Pan
American exposition gave way to the
symbol of sorrow. The black drapery
of the city's streets mutfled the toll
ing bells of the churches. Bits of
Grape appeared on every sleeve. The
sorrow was everywhere apparent.
The day was gray and cherries.
Heavy clouds hang over the city, at
times breaking to let through a rift
of sunshine and then threatening to
let loose a downpour upon the gath
ering multitude. The air was humid
and heavy, and a light wind from
the south stirred the dropping flags
and the emblems of mourning. The
compartment to the scene of sorrow
about to be enacted. Long before the
time set for the funeral services the
vicinity of the Milburn house was
astir with preparations. At 9 o'clock
platoons of police officers, mounted
and on foot, arrived al the grounds
and were posted along The streets ap-
preaching the house. For block in
no
off to keep back the gathering crowds.
Gen. John X. Brooke, department
commander of the east, who was in
command OF all the arrangements,
arrived at 10 o'clock. With him were
his aides aud half score of other of
fcers. The time was now approch-
ing for the service. The tramp of
the assembling military could be
heard, and the walks leading to the
Milburn house began to be lined with
those who were to be assembled
about the bier. Even amid the stir of
, assembling solemn silence prevail
ed, and the military and naval escorts
came to their posts with silent bands.
The entire military and naval force
formed in company front on West
Ferry street and there awaited the
|
time the members of the cabinet. of
ficials high in the government serv-
ice and near friends of the martyred
president began to fill the walks lead
ing up to the entrance of the Milburn
residence.
1t was just eight minutes before
the opening of the service when
barouche drove up to the house bring
ing President Roosevelt and Mr.. and
Mrs. Wilcox, at whose home he is a
guest.
AS the president passed within the
/ house and the services were about to
begin, the long line of soldiers and
! sailors swung in columns of fours
| into Delaware avenue and formed in
battalion front along the beautiful
thoroughfare, opposite the house and
| Immediately facing it. On the extreme
| left were the regiments, on the right
| the sailors and marines, in the center
the national guardsmen. They stood
at parade rest, with colors lowered,
! each flag wound about it's staff and
bound with crepe. The front of the
house and the lawns had been clear
ed by this time, and the avenue was
now deserted save for the rigid, mo-
tionless ranks across from the house.
Within the house of death was woe
unspeakable. In the drawing room
to the eight of the ball as President
Roosevelt entered 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 forbearance with which he
had met his martyrdom. Only the
| thinness of his face bore mute testi-
mony to the patient suffering he had
endured. He was dressed as he al
ways was in life. The black froclS
coat was buttoned across the breast
where the first bullet of the assassin
had struck. The black string tie be-
low 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 badge of the Loyal Legion, the
only decoration he ever wore, which
was always in the left lapel of his
coat. was missing. And those who
remarked it, 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 it had
always been.
The body lay in black caslket on
a black bearsl>in rug. Over the lower
limbs was flung the starry banner he
had loved so well. The flowers were
few, as befitted the simple nature oi
the man. A spray OF white crysan
themums, a flaming bunch of blood
red American Beauty roses and 6
magnificent bunch of violets were or
the casket. That was all. Behind the
head, against Il pier mirror between
two curtained windows, rested two
superb wreaths of white asters ant
! roses. These were the only flower:
in the room.
The family had taken leave of theil
loved one before the others arrived
Mrs. Mckinley, the grief-crusheS
widow, had been led into the chamber
by her physician, DR.. RiXey, and hat
, sat awhile alone with him who hat
/ comforted her through all their year,
, | -, 1n1 s. DIT hat. -