The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-09-19
LAST NIGHT IT WAS TAKEN TO HIS HOME
Mrs. Mckinley is Breaking Down
Under the Strain.
SHE WILL NOT ATTEND THE FUNERAL
The Presidents Body Will be Followed TO The
Grave by an Immense Procession
Of PeopIe.From All Walks
of Life,
(By he Associated Press.)

Canton, Ohio. September 1S.-Ten-
derly and reverently those who had
known William Mckinley best today
received his mar tyred body into their
arms. They had forgotten the illus
trious career of the statesman in the
loss of a great personal friend. They
hardly noticed the President of the Unit
cd States or the generals and admirals
in their resplendent uniforms. The
beautiful flag -draped casket which con-
tanned the body of their friend and fell
low toWnsman held all their thoughts.
Anguish was in the heart of every man,
woman and child.
The entire population of the little city
and thousands from all over Ohio, the
full strength of the National Guard of
the State, eight regiments, three batter
les of artillery, one battalion of engi-
neers, five thousand men in all, the Gov
ernOr, Lieutenant Governor and JUS
tice of the Supreme Court, representing
the three branches Of the State govern
ment were at the station to receive the
remains. The whole town was in deep
black
NO GRAPE AT HIS HOME.
The only house in all this sorrow
stricken city, strange as it may seem
without touch of mourning drapery,
was the old familiar Mckinley cottage
on North Market Street, to which so
many distinguished men in the coun-
try have made pilgrimages in the days
that are gone.
The blinds were drawn but there was
no outward token of the blow that had
robbed it of it's most precious postes-
sion. The flowers bloomed on the lawn
as they did two weeks ago. There was
not even bow of crepe upon the door
when the stricken widow was carried
by Abner Mckinley and DIR. Rixey
through it into the darkened home from
which the light, for her, had flown for
ever. Only the hitching post at the curb
in front of the residence had been
swathed in bl.ck by the citizens in order
that it might conform to the general
scheme of mourning decoration that had
been adopted.
TEARS WET THE BIER.
Sad as was the procession which bore
the body to the court house, where it
lay in state this afternoon, it could not
compare with the infinite sadness of
that endless double line of broken heart
ed people who streamed steadily
through the dimly lighted corridors of
the building from the time the coffin
was opened until it was taken home to
the sorrowing widow at nightfall They
stepped softly, lest their footballs wake
tnelr friend from his last long sleep,
Tears came unbidden to wet the bier.
Perhaps 1T was the great change that
had come upon the countenance which
moved them more than the sight of the
familiar features. The signs of discolor-
alton which appeared upon the brow
and cheeks yesterday at the state cere-
monial in the rotunda of the capitol at
Washington had deepened. The lips had
become livid All but two of the lights
of the chandelier above the head were
extinguished in order that the change
might appear less noticeable, but every
one who viewed the remains today
marked the darkened features and the
CHASTITY lips.
When the body was taken away thous-
ands were still in line and the commit
tee in charge of the arrangements was
appealed to, to allow a further oppor-
tunity to view the remains tomorrow be-
fore they were taken to the church But
this had to be reluctantly denied to them
and the casket may never be opened
again.
THE FUNERAL TODAY
The funeral services will take place to-
morrow at 1870 p. m, at the First Meth
odist Episcopal church, of which the mar
tyred President was communicate, and |
trustee They will be brief by the ex- |
pressed wish of the family Rev. O. B. |
Milligan pastor of the First Presbyterian |
church. in which President and Mrs. Nc
Kinley were married thirty years ago.
will make the opening prayer DR.. John
Hall, of the Trinity Lutheran church, will I