The Savannah morning news., 1901-09-17
IN THE EAST ROOM
THE BODY OF THE PRESIDENT
LIES IN STATE.
GLOOM sHR0UDS THE CAPITAL,
AND DEsOLATION SHADOWS THE
NATIONS MANSION.

As the Bearers Tenderly Convey the
Casket From the Train to the
Waiting Hearse the Silent Thou
sands stand and Gaze in Mute GRIEF
at That Which Hold All That Is
Mortal of Him They Knew and
Loved So Well.
Washington, Sept. 16.-The remains
of President Mckinley tonight lie in
the East Room of the White House,
where for more than four years he had
made his home as the chief magistrate
of the great American republic. Up
stairs his widow mourns for her dead
in the family apartments that now
bring back but the saddest of memo
ries. 1t was with simple ceremony and
a silence that filled perfectly the sad
ness of the occasion that the body of
the late President was borne up Penn
sylvania avenue to the White House.
1t was fitting that such ceremony as
in character, in recognition of the fact
that the President was the command
erin chief of the United States army
ard navy. The streets about the station
were filled with mounted troops and
the station itself was occupied by stall
wart soldiers and sailors in uniform.
1t was not so on the broad stretch
of avenue that led to the White House.
There the people strained and crowded
in a vast multitude against the stiff
wire ropes which restrained them from
the space marked out for the line of
the progress of the funeral party
through the national capital was pro-
found.
Weather of Fitting Gloom.
The afternoon was cloudy and with
the close of the day began the dull de-
walls of five minutes. 1t was the sig
nal which gave notice of the approach
of the funeral train. At the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad station men in bright
uniforms gathered, a mixture of SOL
diers and sailors. Presently in dead ST.
lence two troops of cavalry from Fort
Myer swung from Pennsylvania avenue
into Sixth street. Then came Secre-
taries Hay and Gage and Acting Sec
rotary Sanger and Commissioner Mac
Farland and a few subordinates priv.
ileged to enter the space within the
These and the army and naval officers
awaited inside the station the speed
ing train. The train was a little late.
1t was due at S:25, but the clock stood
at S:3S when the headlight of the big
locomotive flashed along the rails and
the cars swept quietly to a stop at the
gates.
The way was cleared and down the
pathway STROBE a body of sturdy SOL
diers and sailors chosen as the body
bearers and guard. They were met at
the entrance of the observation car
where the remains lay by an officer and
admitted at once. Through the clear
plate glass windows the casket showed
in it's wrappings of the national flag,
covered with rare garlands and set
pieces of flowers.
To the DesOIate White House.
Meanwhile farther down the station
the party on the funeral train were
alighting. Secretary Hay and Secre-
tary Gage had pressed forward and en-
tered the car where the mourners sat
and assisted them to descend. Mrs.
Mckinley was aided by Abner McKin-
ley and DR.. Rixey, and was speedily
placed in a carriage which drove at
once to the White House without
awaiting the procession. Close behind
came the members of the family of the
late President, who likewise were driv-
en- away Immediately to the executive
mansion. Mrs. Mckinley was deeply
yelled. She appeared to bear up with
fortitude, but leaned heavily on her
supporters.
President Roosevelt came next. The
President walked firmly erect, looking
to neither side, his face set sorrowful
and firm. Closely behind him pressed
the cabinet. Meanwhile the casket
was being removed from the observa-
ton car. One of the large windows
was lowered at the side and slowly
and carefully the casket was slipped
out through the opening and tenderly
received upon the bent shoulders of
the body bearers. The remains were
carried to Sixth street and placed in
the hearse. AS the casket emerged a
bugle note rose clearly and taps" rang
out. That was tie only sound that
broke the dead silence.
Just beyond the entrance to the sta
ton President Roosevelt, with the
and had taken station so as to leave
a broad space for the funeral cortege.
They ranged themselves on the side
walk in double rows opposite each
other, and stood with barred heads as
the corpse was carried to the hearse
drawn up at the side gate. The hearse
was drawn by six coal black horses,
each led by a colored groom In black
livery.
The Ubiquitous Camera Man.
Just as the body was being placed In
the hearse an incident occurred that
caused a murmur of disapprobation. A
photographer from a nearby window
suddenly flashed a light for the pur-
pose of obtaining a reproduction of the
scene. The hashlight and accompa-
nying noise made people shudder
The hearse bearing the body of the
third martyred President quickly NOV
ed away and was followed at once by
President Roosevelt and those accom-
panying him.
An Impressive Sight.
The military already were in line.
AS the procession swept from Sixth
street station into Pennsylvania ave
nue.. a deeply impressive sight was pre-
sented. The historic thoroughfare was
hung in black. Emblems of the nation s
mourning were displayed on every
building. The Stars and Stripes, furl-
ed and knotted with crepe, fioated from
hundreds of windows. over all cleaned
coldlv scores of electric lights, defin-
ing sharply each detail of the solemn
scene.