Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1901-09-19
Pressed Forward to the Bier. :


Throughout the afternoon this hui
man tide pressed steadily forward to
the bier. Four abreast in double line,
without moments halt, the people
hurried by the casket and then. with
tear-stained faces, passed out of the
darkened chamber into the beautiful
sunlight. In the line were represent
ed all stations in life. all ages, all con-
dltions. At one moment ii cd laaa
bent and withered who had known
Mother" Mckinley, tottered I'D to
gaze on the silent features. He was
followed by man of middle age, who
had gone to school with Mckinley
Over on one side was the knight
Templar who had marched beside Nc
Kinley in parades. All who came had
some recollection Of personal relation
with the man lying there cold in
death. Fathers brought up their chill
dren and held them over the bier for
a fleeting glance at the upturned face.
A sleeping babe was reused by it's
mothersfor a sight its little mind could
not comprehend. Toilers coming from
factories with dinner pals in hand,
tr0oped by him whom they called
their .benefactor. Now and then
school children hurried past, awe
struck by the gloom of the chamber Of
death. Often the guarding soldiers
we've compelled to step forward and
gently restrain a hand that sought a.
bud from of the flower decked cas-.
! ket. 1t was plain that a great flood
of emotion was yelling UP, in the
breasts Of these sorrowing people.
Strong men made no concealment Of
their grief, their tense faces and tear
ful eyes telling the sense of personal
bereavement which had come upon
them. Many women wept, and dur
ing the afternoon one young girl gave
way to her feelings by loud walls
which echoed through the darkened
corridors. AS the people hurried by
they gave expression to suppressed
EXPLANATIONS Of anguish at the sight
of the pinched face they had known
so well, and almost without exception
the people turned away regretful that
they had not retained in their minds
that picture of manly vigor which
they knew so well. Many of his near
est friends refrained from looking
upon the face, preferring to preserve
the memory of him as in life.
Latein the afternoon an aged man.
leaning upon two crutches, which he
managed with dlfnculty, appeared at
the door, through which the people
We're making their exit He asked the
sentry to allow him to enter and when
the soldier refused, saying that he had
received orders to allow nobody
through that door, the old man stood
back, the picture of Woe In short
Tine he again asked the young SEN
try in pleading tones to allow him en-
trance through the doorway, saving
that in his feeble condition he was
not able to stand in the line. which
at that time was extending about
mile from the entrance.
Fought In mckinley's Regiment.
i fought in his regiment during
the war, he said, and just want to
lay this flag on his coffin and then
keep it as a reminder Of the time +
saw him last
"Take it in" said the sentry, and
the veteran hobbled into the hall.
When he got inside he had more trou-
bic, and was compelled to explain his
errand several times Finally the line
passing the coffin was stopped LONG
enc ugh TO allow the old man TO step