The Savannah morning news., 1901-09-19
MOURNING HER SON.
lContinued from First Page.l

10 the hearSe, three mounted trum- |
peters gave signal for the melancholy
accession to move. A moment later
the sound of Nearer, My God, to
Tbee." fioated through the air as the
Grand Army veterans with their band
swung into line and took up the
march toward the court house.
MajesticalIy Solemn.
majestically solemn spectacle was
presented as the procession neared the
nublic square in the center of the city.
After the Grand Army men came the
cleveland troop in their brilliant uni
forms of Austrian Hussars, with tall
bearskin shakos topped by pompons of
white. At the hilt of every sword
streamed a long band of crepe, and the
tiny silk guidon flag was topped with
long black streamer.
Immediately following the mounted
troops came the hearse bearing the flag
covered burden. The sight sent a hush
along the dense long lines of humanity
stretching for a mile away to the
court house. AS the casket passed
every head was bowed and every face
evidenced the great personal grief
which had come upon the community.
Immediately following the hearse
came the carriage of President Roose-
Welt, who rode with his brother in-law,
Capt. Cowles of the navy, and Secre-
tary Gage. The carriages of the other
members of the cabinet and those who
had been near to the late President In
public life were lined out for half a
Iaile. Back of them marched the Nat
ional Guard of Ohio, regiment after
regiment, in platoon front formation
and filling the broad thoroughfare from
side to side. AS the head of the pro-
cession reached the great square of the
city, the military ranks swung about,
forming solid fronts facing the APP
preaching hearse. AS 1t was driven to
the curb the bearers stepped from their
places alongside and again took up
their burden. Before the eyes of the
vast concourse filling. the square. the
casket was tenderly raised and borne
up the wide stone steps leading to the
entrance of the court house. The
strains of Nearer, My God. to Thee
were still sounding as the fiag-draped
coffin disappeared within the building.
These Loved Him For Himself.
Moving slowly with short steps the
coffin was borne to it's support. The
bearers swung slowly around SO that
the head lay to the east. The silk BAN
ner that was flung over the casket was
drawn back, the wreaths which rested
upon its head were removed and the
coffin lid was taken off. Word was
quickly passed to President Roosevelt,
and followed by the members of the
cabinet, he stepped briskly into the
hall. He glanced down as he reached
the casket, halted for the space of
breath and went on. The members of
the cabinet followed him one by one.
The members of President McKin-
ley's old commandery of Knights Tenn
plar. Canton Commandery No. 3S, had
asked the privilege of posting a sem
try over the casket while it lay in
state and throughout the afternoon
the guard was relieved every thirty
minutes
Four detachments of militia were
marched into the hall and drawn up
into a line reaching from the entrance
on the south to the bier. Another line
stretched from the bier to the place
where the hall diverged and down each
side hall were other lines. Strict or
ders were given to see that there was
no delay in the crowd as it passed out
of the building.
Resting Amid His People.
When everything was ready for the
public to enter, Joseph Saxton, uncle
of Mrs. Mckinley, an aged man bowed
deeply with the weight of years, en-
tered from the east hall and passed
up to the casket. He stood for fully
five minutes gazing into the face of
his distinguished kinsman. He then
passed slowly down the hall, his head
bowed low, his lips twitching convul-
sively. A few final details were ar
ranged and then the door was opened
to the public. Two little girls were
the first to approach the casket. Di-
rectly behind them was a tall, pow
erfuI man with a red moustache. AS
he gazed into the casket he caught
his breath in quick sharp sob that
was audible in every part of the hall
way. He then gave way entirely, and
weeping bitterly, passed out. Many
of the people as they looked upon the
face of their dead friend. whom they
had seen but two weeks ago in full
health, caught their breath at the
change that was there. The Presi-
dents face was much thinner than
they had expected it would be. and the
sight that met their eyes shocked them
greatly. The crowd was admitted four
abreast, passing to the right and left
of the casket by twos. No delay was
permitted and fully $50 a minutes pass
ed the bier.
The Friends who Loved Him.
Ali through the afternoon the crowd
passed the catalfalque, approximately
at the rate of 100 every minute, max
ing in the five hours in which the body
lay in state total of 10000 people,
practically a number equal to the pop
ulation of Canton. When the doors
were closed at o'clock the line, four
abreast, stretched fully one mile from
the court house and people still were
coming from side streets to take their
places in line.
At o'clock the doors were closed to
the public and preparations made Tor
removuing the body to the Mckinley
residence on North Market street, sew
eral squares from the court house.
Canton Commandery of the G. A. r.
acted as escort, and there was no fol-
lowing. Arriving at the house the es-
cort formed in line in the street, pre-
senting arms while the coffin, borne by
the body bearers, was taken into the
house. 1t was placed in. the front
parlor where it will remain until it is
removed to the church tomorrow aft
ernoon Guards were posted around the