Evening star., 1901-09-19
THE END OF ALL
Last Rites Over William
Mckinley.
AT CHURCH IN CANTON
Old Friends Pronounce High
Eulogies Over Remains.
STRICKEN WIDOW QUITE ILL
Her Grief is Something Terrible
and Pathetic.
STRICKEN WIDOW QUITE ILL
SCENES IN THE OLD HOME

CANTON Ohio. September 19.-The
streets of the little city of Canton this
morning were filed with waving plumes,
prancing horses and densely packed bodies
of moving men assembling here for the
procession which is to escort the remains
of the late President from the church to
Westlawn cemetery this afternoon. All
night long civic, military, fraternal, social
and commercial organizations from the four
quarters of the compass had been pouring
In, and into the seethins mass of humanity
already here the early morning trains de-
posted other thousands. So fast the trains
arrived, following on each others heels,
that there appeared to be one continuous
string of cars unloading their human
freight through the station into the con-
gested streets beyond Thirty special
trains, in addition to the regular trains. had.
arrived before noon. The biggest crowd in
the history of Canton, which was here dur
ing the campaign of 1896, estimated at over
6o000 was exceeded today.
People in the Streets
The people overfiowed the sidewalks and
literally packed the streets from side to
side. The greatest crush of course, was in
East Tuscarawas. the principal thorough
fare, and North Market street, on which
the Mckinley cottage and the Harter resi-
dence, at which President Roosevelt was
stopping. are located. The awe-stricken
crowds upon their arrival all moved as by
common Impulse toward the old familiar
Mckinley cottage, where the remains were
lying. Military guards stationed at the
-FOUR corners of the lawn paced their beats,
but there was no other sign of life about
the house of death. The window shades
were down.
No badge of conventional mourning was
on the door. Instead there was sjmDIe
wreath OF palms bisected by a beaut iful
band of wide purple satin ribbon.
AT the side of the door was a heavy BOW
OF crepe relieved by bunch of fresh white
bride roses. Sorrowfully the throngs turn
cd away, the people to take up their posi-
tions at tn echurch, the representatives 10
seek their places in the imposing process
sion which was to follow the remains to
the cemetery.
Decorations in the Church.
The decorations of the First NJ f.
Church, where the funeral services were
held. were elaborate and impressive. Over
1890 yards of drapery were used Over
the front interior the funeral party en-
tered, covering the organ loft, there was
stretched from wall to wall paneled drapery
black as midnight 1t was of nuns yelling
81 feet long and 10 feet high. The panels
were formed of white satin ribbons two
inches wide The cnoir loft railing was
richly hung with nuns yelling arranged in
festooEs, with silk drapery tassels between
the festoons The pulpit rostrum was heav-
lily covered with black cloth. and the pulpit
itself was draped with rich silk crepe. An
excellent portrait of the late President was
fastened to the front of the pulpit and was
gracefully draped.
The chancel rail and all of the woodwork
about the front of the church were a mass
OF black Five seats from the front of the
pulpit in the left middle aisle WAS the peW
which was occupied by President Mckinley
cor -Ien To-.
with heavy black crepe. The side walls of
the church were hung with streamers and
the overhangins arches with black stream
ers and festoons. The pillars between the
church auditorium proper and the Sunday
school room were in stately black garb,
relieved every five feet with narrow bands
of white silk about them. The balcony
front was heavily draped and hung with
festoons tied with white silk drapcry tas-
sels. The points of vantage on the exterior
and the tower were also draped In black
and white. For three days and three
nights large force of men had been at
work In the interior of the church arrang-
Ing the decorations for the funeral services
The last touches were added 20 the work
late last night, and then the doors were
closed to the public and a guard stationed
to prevent any of the eager visitors from
entering the edifice until the hour set for
the funeral ceremonies.
Anxiety About Mrs. Mckinley.
Mrs. Mckinley's condition is exciting
grave apprehension among those caring fer
her, and ii is feared that the dreaded COL
lapse may come at any moment. Since she
has returned to the old home the full real
ization of the awful calamity has come
upon her. Last evening after the body had
been brought from the court house and
deposited in the little front room formerly
used the Presidents library she plead
ed TO be allowed to enter the room and sit
beside the casket Consent was reluctant
ly granted, and for half n hour the stricken
widow sat In the dim light beside the
howerdraped bier Then she was led aWay
TO her room and has not left 1t since.
Through this morning she went piteouslv
hour after hour. Owing to her condition
she able 10 take part in any of the
ceremonies today. neither the church nor
coming into the chamber of death when the
body borne away for the last time
with the most solicitous care and quiet
for 1t is only in this way that collapse
can be averted
President Roosevelt at Harter Resi-
Gence.
President Roosevelt spent a quiet morn
ing at the Harter residence He did not go
out to the crowded street. where thousands
were gathered hoping to catch glimpse
of mis- face. but took a walk in the spa
cious grounds of the residence. While at
breakfast Judge Day Joined him for half
an hour and later Secretary Root and
Secretary Hitchcock came in to see him.
Many unofficial visitors left cards of re-
spect, but the President very few
people, preferring TO remain in retirement.
Among those who called were a half score
of his old command of the Rough Riders,
several of them in their broad-brimmed
sombreros. The President saw them only
for moment.
The face of the dead President was seen
for the last time when 1t lay in state yes