Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1901-09-21
MEMORIAL SERVICES.
WatertoWn Honors Itself By Honor
ing the Memory of Our Murdered
President Tokens of Grief
and Respect Services at
Turner Hall.

As the news Of the death of President
Mckinney on Saturday last spread
throughout our city, and it was felt that
the certainty OF death had sm0thered the
cherished hope for his recovery. a gloom
like pail fell upon the cOuntenances of
our people, and feeling Of silent an
guish seemed to preyade the very air.
As by a common impulse outward tokens
OF mourning for the dead and sympathy
for the living, were visible all over the
city. BY order Of our Mayor flags were
swung at haif-mast from all the city
buildings and soon from every available
flag staff and many imprOvisnd ones the
| national c0lOrs proclaimed The nations
loss. During the entire week our
citizens in every station of life have
wed IN paying affecting tributes of
respect. The fronts Of business blocks.
banks, stores, shops and even many resi-
dences all over the city have been
draped and the portrait Of the dead
President displayed, in show windows,
suitably decorated or swung outside
amid clouds Of white and black. The
taste and skill displayed in many show
windows could scarcely be surpassed but
to partlculariZe would be to detract from
the general effect considered as a whole.
Agreeably to a proclamation of Ma yOr
Brusenbach, mass meeting Of citizens
was held Monday evening to arrange for
holding Memorial services Thursday. Pro
per committees were selected or appointed
and the gentlemen composing these
bodies entered at once upon their duties
and much credit is due them and the
mayor for the perfection that pre-
vailed throughout. The memorial SER
vices on Thursday are worthy of a per-
manent record. The day Itself, as if In
harmony with the general gloom, was at
times dark and threatening, but this did
not permit general attendance. A
feature was the large c0nc0urSe Of school
children. The services proper were held
in Turner Hall and began little after
two o'clock. The orator, Honorable
Joseph B. Doe, OF Milwaukee, was
received at the depot by the mem
bers Of the arrangement committee and
other prominent citizens. He was the
guest Of General SOlliday, from whose
residence the carriage bearing the speak
er, Mayor Brusenbach, General S0lliday
and Mr.. j. I. lI0ak, was escorted to the
hall by the Sinnissippi band, Members
of o. ID. Pease Post, No. 81, G. A. r. and
the Northwestern University cadets.
! Turner hail had been elaborateIy and
tastefully draped for the occasion. The
large stage was fully occupied by the
mayor, city officials, present and ex-
members Of the common council, local
| clergy, board Of education. Iroouois
club, members Of the local G. A. r. Post.
the local press and invited guests.
Never was Turner hall more densely
crowded, the gallery and the large audi
t0rium was filled 60 OyerfloWing and the
crowd outside the building was also
numerous. The audience was called To
order by Mayor Brusenbach. who took
occasion to make a few appropriate
remarks relative to the significance of
! silence and good order, an admODitiOn
that tended to preserve quiet and solemn
! 1ty throughout the subsequent exercises
that could scarcely have been improved
upon. Not only was the silence absolute
! but there seemed to be scarcely move
ment so closely was the attention fixed
| upon the speaker and upon those who
! took part in the ceremonies.
! According to the program the first
number, Hymn, Lead Kindly Light
by s9Xtette, consisting Of Mes3rs A. j.
| Whiting, Edward L. SchemIf, William
! Spr0esser, o. f. Meyer, Max Rohr anG
Julius Wiggenhorn was beautifully rem
dered and found ready resp nse in the
appreciation Of the audience. Opening
prayer, by Rev. William ritzemei9r
Hymn, abide With Me-" by sextette.
Address, by General Joseph B. Doe, in
which the speaker reviewed briefly some
Of the causes that might contribute to
laWiessneSs, the fruitful source Of crime.
But the address dealt mainly with the
life and services Of the dead President
and was beautiful tribute well worthy
the subject and the occasion At the
close of the address, the Hymn, Nearer
Ny God to Thee" by the male choir was
followed by closing prayer, Rev. T. C.
Egiln, America by the audience, stand
ing, and the Benediction, Rev. James
Rogers, closed the public services that
will be remembered by all participants
as long as life shall last. The
occasion, the manner Of its observ-
ancr, and all connected there with was
most expressive Of the sincerity of the
general grief evidenced en- every hand.