Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-09-18

ing all the members of the cabinet, IA
number of ex-members and behind
them the diplomatic corps.
Solemnly the funeral party wound
down past the treasury building and into
the broad sweep of Pennsylvania avenue
and a profound silence that was full of
, awe TO those who only six months ago
had witnessed the enthusiastic plaudts
which greeted the man now dead as he
followed the same\ line of march on his
/ way to assume for a second time the
honors and burdens of the Presidential
office.
The artillery band played solemn
dirge as ii with slow steps led the sor-
rowful way down the avenue. All the
military organizations carried their arms
but with colors draped and furled. The
people stood with heads uncovered and
many bowed in apparently silent prayer
as the hearse passed along. slow.
drizzling rain was falling.
After the carriages of the diplomats
followed a long line of others containing
the justices of the supreme court. the
Senate and House committee appointed to
attend the funeral the local judiciary
the assistant VI tllt StN u IL
executive departments. members of the
various government commissions and Of
fetal representatives of the insular gov
ernments.
The remainder of the procession was
composed of n large representation of
local bodies of Knights Templar. over a
thousand members of the Grand Arm.
of the Republic. the United Confederate
veterans of the city of Washington and
of Alexandria. Va. various religious and
patriotic societies. including the Sons OF
the American Revolution, secret societies
and labor organizations of the city.
Scattered here and there at intervals
were representatives of ou:-of-town or
ganizations. including the Ohio Republi
can Club the Republican Club of New
York CITY the New York Italian Cham =
ber of Commerce and of the New York
Board of Trade and Transportation, the
New York Democratic Honest Money
League and the Southern Manufacturers
Club of Charlotte. y. c.
| The Military order of Loyal Legion. of
which President Mckinley was an hon
orcd member, with representation from
the New York ana Pennsylvania Com
| NlbnISTltS, lpIIllt'i Il tpiNi'iN h'hS f'tAt III
| this portion Of the procession as also did
the knights Templar of this city and of
| Alexandria, Va. and a battalion OF tho
| Uniformed Rank. Knights of Pythias.
The banners of all organizations were
! folded and draped with black, and all the
| marching civilians wore mourning
| badges and white gloves. Fife and drum
| corps and bands rendered at frequent in
! tcrvas along the roItc the Presidents S
favorite hymn. Nearer, Ny God, to
Thee
Tho procession occupied one hour and
| Il half in passing given point.
AT THE CAPITOL.
| The stairways and entrances to the
| Senate and House wings of the Capitol
were jamned with people. Rain was fall
! ing, but the vast crowds clunS to their
places. 1t was a silent throng. Scarcely
even was the murinur Of whispered con-
| vcrSation audible.
The superintendent Of police, jor
Richard Sylvester. had ordered the
plaza cleared and threw around it cor
don of officers The main entrance to the
rotunda of the Capitol was reserved for
| the use of distinguished guests and the
funeral party details from the 18th. 10Th
| and 18th Cos, Artillery Corps. were sta
toned on the north side of the main steps
ascending from the plaza to the rotunda.
A detachment of seamen from the Unite,.
States battleship Illinois. together with a
detachment of marines from Washington
barracks, was stationed on the south sid,
of the steps. Shortly afterward promi-
| nF nd in
dress uniform arrived in carriages and re-
mained on the portico to form part of the
guard of honor.
| At 1912 o'clock the head of the process
sion arrived at the north end of the Cap
itoI plaza. Instead of swinging directly
into the plaza and passing in front of the
Capitol, as is usually done of the occa-
sion of Presidential inaugurations, the
military contingent passed eastward on
street. thence south to First street
east Headed by Major General John r.
Brooke and staff and the 5th ARTILLERY
Corps Band, the troops swept around to
the south end of the plaza and then
marched to position fronting the main
entrance to the Capitol with the Artillery
Band on the left and the Marine Band
on the right of the entrance. AS they
came into position. the funeral cortego
with its guard of honor entered the plaza
from the north. AS the hearse halted in
front of the main staircase the troops
presented arms
The guard of honor ascended the steps
the naval officers on the right and the
army officers on the left, forming a cor
don on each side just within the ranks OF
the artillerymen and seamen and ma
rines.
! AS the eight sturdy body bearers ter
Gerry drew the flag draped casket fror,
the hearse, the bands sweetly played the
pleading notes of Nearer My God, To
Ihee' Every head in the vast thror !,
was barred. tear-bedimmed eyes wers
raised and a silent prayer went up Il
HeaVen from the thousands of hearts
"ith careful and solemn tread the bod
bearers began the ascent of the stairca,