The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-09-20
Seated Beside Their Dead Chief

SGaSG0 6CStOC uSt SSo0 Sts~a
while the sad procession viewed the
hodv They were on the north side OF
II. place directly at the head had
been reserved for President Roose.
Welt. About 100 in all saw the body
| Some were so overcome with grief
at the sight of the thin, placid coun
| tepance that their frames shook In
| CONCLUSIVE sobs. Several chung to the
| side of the bier and with difficulty
| could be persuaded to leave. Almost
| every face was tear-stained. The
great love for this man choked all in
| the house. Senator Hanna, who had
fairly worshipped his dead friend for
years, did not approach the casket
| His face was set like an iron-willed
man who would not let down the bar.
riers of his grief. The senator spoke
to no one. His eyes were vacant. He
passed through the throng and seated
| himself, sinking far down into his
chair and resting his head upon his
| hand. During all the service that fol-
lowed he did not stir. Just before IL
| o'clock President Roosevelt entered.
There was an instantaneous move
ment in the room as the president ap-
| peared. Everyone rose and all eyes
were turned toward the president. He
moved forward with the tide of the
procession to his place at the head of
the line Of cabinet officers. He, too,
Vs. smed to be
Isl Restraining a Deep Grief.
~ hen President Roosevelt reached
the head of the line of cabinet officers
he kept his face away from me casket.
He appeared to be steeling himse4- for
look into the face of him whose death
had made him the first ruler of the
world. The tension in the room was
great. Everyone seemed to be wait
ing. The minister of the Gospel
stood with the Holy Book in his hand
ready to begin. Perhaps it might
have been 80 seconds. 1t seemed
longer. Then the president turned
and at the same time advanced one
step. He bowed his head and looked
down upon the man whose burden and
responsibility he had taken up. Long
he gazed standing immovable save
for tWitching of the muscles of the
chin as he labored with heavy breath
to repress his emotion. At last he
stepped back. Colonel Bingham, the
aide to the president, glanced in the
direction Of Rev. Charles Edward
Locke OF the Delaware Avenue Meth
odist Episcopal church, who was to
conduct the service. The signal was
given and there Welled out the beau
tiful words of Lead, Kindly Light"
sung by quartette 1t was President
McNlnIey's favorite Hymn.
Everyone within sound OF the music
knew it, and half of those in the room
put their faces in thier hands to hide
their tears. When the singing ended
the clergyman read the fifteenth chap
ter Of the First Corinthians. All had
risen as he be gan and remained stand
ing throughout the remainder of the
service. Again the voices rose with
the words of Nearer, My God, to
Thee" the very words President Nc
Kinley had repeated at intervals of
consciousness during the day of agony
before he died. AS the music died
away the pastors voice rose in prayer.
All present joined in the Lords
Prayer as the minister repeated it.
The service concluded with a simple
The funeral director was about to
step forward to place the cover on
the casket when suddenly there was a.
Senator Hanna, who had
risen, saw that the last opportunity to-
look upon the countenance of his dead
friend had come. Pressing forward
In an instant he was at the side of the.
casket and bending over and looking
down into it. Almost two minutes
passed and then he turned away and
the coffin was closed. Colonel Bing-
ham signalled the body bearers. Four
sailors, two infantry sergeants and
two artillery sergeants bore the casket
aloft and out of the house. The presi-
dent, cabinet members and others fol
lowed it. Mrs. Mckinley and the
members Of the family remained. The
widow had
Passed Through the Ordeal eraveIy
and without breaking down. The
trained nurses and the personal at
tenGants of the president gathered
on the side porch to see the body
taken away.
The casket was placed in the wait
ing hearse and escorted by soldiers
and sailors was taken to the city hall,
where thousands viewed the remains.
The scheme of the interior decora-
tions was unique and most artistically
carried out.
During the first hour the people
passed the catafalque at the rate Of
lis per minute. AS the afternoon
wore on they seemed 10 come faster.
persons took their
places in the line along with laborers
on the streets, all classes being repre-
sented in the throng that filed past.
Solemn visaged and in silence they
moved past the bier to view the face.
of the dead president.