The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-17
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Sept 1S-Never before
did a living President come with a dead
President to the capital of the American
Republic. To the traveller the railway pas
senger station is the gate of the city. There
President Roosevelt stood with barred head
while the soldiers and sailors of the army
and navy slowly filed past him. bearing on
their shoulders the corpse OF a dead Pres
ident-william Mckinley.
1t was not a scene OF grand pomp or
power. There were only enough soldiers
and men IN uniform to fittingly represent
the protection which the Nation gives it's
fllustrious dead. In a military sense it
was not so solemnly ceremonious as the
reception in the same place to General
Lawton's body when it was brought from
the Philippines to it's final resting place on
Arlington Heights AS the heavy train slid
slowly into the station trumpeter of the
Eleventh Cavalry gave the sharp command
OF attention. There was an instant of
eeathIike silence in the ranks, and groups
OF men and women and the Gathering of
horses hoofs as the knowing animals
moved in perfect alignment.
There was long delay. Then came a
few soldiers, followed by a group of citi-
gems, az the head of which President Roose-
velt walked with Secretary Hay. The men,
bers of the Cabinet, the United States SEN
ators and other distinguished personages
moved slowly from the train shed by twos
and threes and in small groups. They
formed into ragged lines across the side
walk. with 'the President and Secretary
Hay standing near the doors Of the hearse.
There was another wait for few moments.
when the fiag-covered coffin. borne on the
shoulders OF soldiers and sailors emerged
from the train shed. They proceeded be-
tween the line of citizens. and the body
was placed in the hearse.
STARTLING INCIDENT.
Just as the coffin was being placed in the
hearse there was a loud booming sound
and a puff of white smoke from the window
of one of the buildings across the street.
Every uniformed and citizen started
violently. There was one exception. Presi-
dent Roosevelt stood stock still, never
fiinched. and did not take his eyes from
the coffin In second or so every one
knew that the booming sound was that of
fiashlight for large camera. There was
a breath of relief. The police hurried to
the building TO take charge of the daring
photographer and the somewhat startling
incident was ended. 1t served to draw at
tention to the calm composure of the
President and brought vividly to the mind
the small business affairs of the moment
Forty or fifty newspaper correspondents
hurried from the funeral train and had
taken carriages al side entrance and hur-
ried away. POrters and trainmen were
stirring about the station with packages
and messages and altogether it was busy
moment despite the soIemnity of the oc-
casion. IL was just a scene as the Presi-
dent had seen hundreds of times in his life.
On the most mOmentous occasions of his
busy career he had been within hearing OF
clicking telegraph instruments. busy re-
porters. earnest citizens. vast crowds and
the practical life Of pressing affairs. His
reception at the national capitol in death
was nearly the same as it had been many
times in life.
There was an absence OF cheers. but there
were the same busy men OF government
and private life to do their parts in the
closing events OF his career as they had
done many times when he was alive.
The most impressive scene of the evening
was when the l0OO0 people gathered in
Lafayette Park opposite the White House
raised their voices and sang Nearer. my
Cod a. Thee" This was the only funeral
ceremony in which the whole people of
Washington were engaged. Tomorrow it
j. 10 b. a funeral Of state. The guns and
~Bi- Nation and ntb-r civilized ns-