Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1901-09-19
$l.OO PER YEAR

were conducted in accordance with
the rites of the Methodist Episcopal
church, of which President Mckinley
was lifelong member. Consisting of
only two hymns, song, prayer, an
address and benediction, they were
beautiful and solemnly impressive.
Gathered around the bier were repre-
sentatives of every phase of American
national life, including the president
and the only surviving ex-president,
and the representatives at this capital
of almost every nation on earth.
Great Britain, France Germany, Italy
and Spain and all the republics to the
southwark of the United States min
gled their tears with those of the
American people.
In the Rotunda.
Despite the fact that no attempt
had been made to decorate the interior
of the rotunda, beyond the arrange
ments made about the catafalque, the
passage presented memorable
black. The somber black of the civil
ians was splashed with the blue and
gold of the army and the navy, and
the court costumes of the diplomatic
corps AS the sweet notes of Presi-
dent McKinley's favorite hymn. Lead,
Kindly Light" 1oated through the
great rotunda the assemblage rose to
its feet. Barred heads were bowed and
eyes streamed with tears. At the
conclusion of the hymn, as Rev. DR..
Naylor, presiding elder of the Wash
ington district, rose to offer prayer,
the hush that fell upon the people was
profound. When in conclusion, he
repeated the Lords prayer, the great
audience joined with him. The MUIR
muir of their voices resembled nothing
less than the roll of far distant surf.
Scarcely had the word Amen been
breathed when the liquid tone of that
sweetly pleading song, Some Time
Well Understand" went straight
to the heart of every aud
itor, The solo was sung by
Mrs. Thomas Noyes of this city, and
the beautiful refrain was echoed and
re.echoed by the double quartet choir.
The venerable bishop, Edwin G. An
the Methodist Episcopal church. then
took his position at the head of the
bier. A gentle breeze stirred the
delicate blooms which lay on the coffin
and the peace that passeth all under
standing" seemed to rest on the ven
cradle mans countenance as he be-
gan his eulogy of the life and works
of William Mckinley. His words
were simple, but his whole heart was
in every one of them. His tribute to
the Christian fortitude of the dead
president was impressive Upon the
conclusion of the sermon, the audi
ence. as if by prearrangement, Joined
the choir in singing Nearer, MY God,
to Thee" All present seemed imbued
with sentiment of hallowed resigna-
tion as the divine blessing was asked
by the Rev. w. H. Chapman, acting
pastor of the Metropolitan Methodist
Episcopal church, upon the living and
the dead Mrs. Mckinley, bereft of
husband and prostrated by her over
whelming sorrow, did not attend the
services at the capitol. 1t was deemed
wise by those now nearest and dearest
to her that she should not undergo
the ordeal her attendance would entail
on her. She remained at the white
house. comforted by every attention
that loving thoughtfulness could sug-
gest.
At the conclusion of the funeral
services in the rotunda, the casket lid
was removed in order that the imme-
diate friends Of the dead president
might be afforded the comfort of
last glance at his features, and the
people whom he loved and who loved
him might pass the bier. At 1890
the procession began to pass through
the rotunda, and during the six hours
the body was lying in state it is esti-
mated $4,000 persons viewed the re-
mains.
Many Injured In Crush.
Just at IL o'clock frightful calam-
1ty was narrowly averted at the east
front of the capitol. For hours the
Sast throng of people had been massed
in front of the capitol. awaiting an op-
portunity to enter the rotunda. When
the doors were opened tens of thou.
sands OF people rushed frantically to
the staircase. Police and military
guards were swept aside and in al.
most twinkling there was a crush
at the foot of the great staircase. The
immense throng swept backward and
forward like the surging of mighty
sea. Women and children, a few of
the latter babes in arms, were caught
in the crowd and many were badly
hurt. Strong men held children and
even women high above the heads Of
the surging crowd to protect them
from bodily injury. Despite the ef-
forts of the police and military and
cooler heads in the throng, probably
100 persons were injured Some of
the more seriously hurt were carried
into the rotunda, where first aid treat
ment was given them. A number were
hurried to hospitals. but the majority
were either taken to or subsequently,
sent unassisted to their homes. After
the crush had been abated upon the