The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-09-20

f, Ians present was splashed brilliantly
with the blue and gold OF the repre-
Sentatives of the army and the navy
and the court costumes OF the diplo-
matte corps. AS the sweet notes OF
Mr.. McKinley's favorite hymn, Lead,
| Kindly Light" fioated through the
| great rotunda, the assemblage rose tc
| it's feet. Barred heads were bowed and
eyes streamed with tears. At the con
| clusion of the hymn, as Rev. DR.. Nay.
lor, presiding elder of the Washington
| district, rose to offer prayer, the hush
that fell upon the people was pro,
| found. When, in conclusion, he re.
peated the Lords prayer, the great
| audience joined solemnly with him
| The murmur of their voices resembled
the roll of far distant surf. Scarcely
had the word Amen been breathed
when the words of the song Some
Time Well Understand" went
straight to the heart of every auditor.
Euogy by Bishop Andrews.
! The venerable bishop, Edwin G..
Andrews of Ohio, the oldest bishop
of the Methodist Episcopal church,
i then took his position at the head of
| the bier. The peace that passeth
| I'll understanding" seemed to rest
upon the venerable mans countenance
as he began his eulogy of the life and
works of William Mckinley. His
words were simple, but his whole
heart was in every one Of them. His
tribute to the Christian fortitude OF
| the dead president was impressive
| Upon the conclusion of the sermon the
audience, as if by Encouragement
| Joined the choir in singing Nearer
My God to Thee" All present seemed
to be imbued with a sentiment Of
hallowed resignation as the divine
blessing was asked by the Rev. w. H.
Chapman, acting pastor of the Met
ropolitan Methodist Episcopal church
upon both the living and the dead.
Mrs. Mckinley did not attend the
services at the Capitol. 1t was
deemed wise that she should not un.
dergo the ordeal She remained at
the White House, comfoTted by every
attention that loving thOughtfulness
could suggest.
A Last Glance at His Face.
At the conclusion Of the funeral
services in the rotunda the casket lid
was removed in order that the imme
date friends of the dead president
might be afforded the comfort of
last glance at his features, and that
the people whom he loved and who
loved him might pass the bier for the
same purpose. At 1890 the crowds
began to pass through the rotunda,
and during the six hours in which the
body was lying in state it is estimated
that $4,000 people viewed the remains.
Just at 1 o'clock a frightful calam-
lty was narrowly averted at the east
front of the Capitol. For hours the
vast throng of people had been massed
In front of the Capitol awaiting an OPP
portunity to enter the rotunda. When
the doors were opened tens of thou
sands Of people rushed almost fran
tically to the main stair case. The
police and military guards were swept
aside and almost in a twinkling there
was tremendous crush at the foot
Of the great staircase. The immense
throng swept backward and forward
like the surging of mighty sea.
Women and children, few Of the lat
ter babes in arms, were caught in the
crowd and many were badly hurt.
Strong men held children and even
women high above the heads of the
surging crowd to protect them from
bodily injury.
A Hundred Are Injured.
Despite the efforts of the police and
military and the cooler heads in the
throng, approximately 100 people were
injured. Some of the more seriously
hurt were carried into the rotunda
and into various adjoining apartments
of the Capitol, where first aid treat
ment was given them. A number
were hurried to hospitals in ambu-
lances, but the majority either were
taken to or subsequently went unas-
sisted to their homes. After the crush
had been abated upon the staircase
and plaza Immediately in front of it
were found tattered pieces of mems
and women's wearing apparel of all
kinds, crushed hats, gloves and even
shoes. Watches, pocketbooks, keys
and knives were picked up.
When the remains of the dead pres
ident were finally closed forever to
the view of Washington people the
cavalry escort again was formed and
conveyed them to the special train,
which is now carrying the body to
Canton. Three sections, comprising
in all 20 passenger coaches, were
necessary to accommodate all those
who accepted invitations to make the
Journey to Canton.
You can buy your winter underwear