The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-09-20

the three branches of the
state government were at the station
% receive the remains. The whole
.pwn was in deep black. The only
house in all this sorrow stricken city,
strange as it may seem, without a
touch of mourning drapery, was the
old familiar Mckinley cottage on
North Market street to which so many
distinguished men in the country have
made pilgrimages in the days that
are gone. The blinds we're drawn
but there was no outward token OF
the blow that had robbed it Of it's
precious person.
Flowers bloomed on the lawn as
they did two weeks ago. There was
not even a bow of crepe upon the
door when the stricken widow was
carried by Abner Mckinley and DR..
Rixey through it into the darkened
home from which the light, for her,
has fled forever. Only the hitching
post at the curb in front of the resi-
dence had been swathed lin black by
the citizens in order that it might con-
form to the general scheme of mourn
ing decoration that had been adopted.
Sad as was the procession which
bore the body. to the court house,
where it laid in state this afternoon,
is could not compare with the infinite
sadness of that endless double line
of bro~ken-hearted people who stream
ed steadily through the dimly lighted
corridors CT the building from the
time the coffin was opened until it
was taken home to the sorrowing
widow at night fall. They stepped
softly lest their footballs wake their
friend from his last long sleep. Tears
came unbidden to wet the bier. Per-
haps it was the change that had
come upon the countenance which
moved them, more than the sight OF
the familiar face. The signs Of dis
c%o]oration, which appeared upon the
brow and cheeks yesterday at he
state ceremonial in the rotunda OF
the capitol at Washington, had deep
ened. The lips had become livid. All
but two of the lights Of the chandelier
above the head were extinguished in
order that the change might appear
less noticeable, but everyone who
viewed the remains today remarked
the darkened features and the ghast'
ly lips. When the body was taken
away thousands were still in line and
the committee in charge of arrange
ments was appealed to to allow a fur
Their opportunity to view the remain
tomorrow morning before they are
taken to the church, but this had to be
reluctantly denied to them and the
casket may never be opened again.
The funeral services will take place
tomorrow at 1870 p. m. at the First
Methodist church, of which the mar
tyred president was a communican1
and trustee. They will be brief BY
the expressed wish Of the family.
Rev. O. B. Milligan, pastor of the
First Presbyterian church, in which
President and Mrs. Mckinley were
married 80 years ago, will make the
opening prayer. DR.. John Hall Of thu
Trinity Lutheran church will make
the first scriptural reading. and DR.
E. P. Herbruck, of the Trinity Re
Toned church, the second. DR.. G. i
Manchester, pastor of the late pres1
dents church, will deliver the onl.
address. A quartette will sing Beau
tiful Isle of Somewhere" and anothe
quartette will render Cardinal New
mans hymn, Lead Kindly Light
An imposing procession conSistin
of many OF the G. A. R. posts in tn
STATE, the National Guard of Ohio. de
tails of regulars from all branches G
the service %fraternal, social and civi
OF ganizations and representatives c
the commercial bodies from all owe
the country, the governors Of selele
states with their stats, the house an
4, senate of the United States VII fc
; low the remains to WestlaN1 '"'l'
| terry, where they will be placed in
receiving vault awaiting the Tim
. whom they will be laid in the .,rav
} beslue the two dead children VIII
were buried years ago.
l Railroad facilities inadequat
to bring the people who are comm
tomorrow.
The number and beauty of the loo;
tributes which are arriving surpas
belief. Flowers are literally comm
by the ton. The hot houses of tt
country seem to have been emptie
to supply them.