Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-09-19

fair and was drawn by six coal black
horses, each OF which was led by q
colored groom in black livery. just
as the body Mas being placed in the
hearse an incident occurred that
caused a murmur Of disapprobation.
A photographer from nearby win
dow suddenly flashed light for the
purpose Of obtaining reproduction
OF the scene.
As the procession swept from the
Sixth street station into Pennsyl-
vania avenue a deeply impressive
sight was presented. The historic
thoroughfare was hung in black.
Emblems of the nations mourning
were displayed on every building.
The stars and stripes, furled and
knotted with crepe, foated from hun
dreds of windows. Over all CLEANED
coldly scores of electric lights de-
fning sharply each detail OF the sol
emn scene.
When the cortege arrived at the
white house the hearse stopped I'M
der the porte cochere The BODY
bearers took the coffin upon their
broad shoulders and, passing up the
three or four steps, waited till Presl-
dent Roosevelt and the members OF
the cabinet had alighted from their
carriages and then followed them
through the wide doors into the east
room. Just in the center OF the
room, under the great chandelier,
they deposited their precious burden
upon a black draped base and stood
at salute while the new chief execu-
tive, the cabinet members and 9th
ers with bowed heads passed by. The
casket had been placed lengthwise OF
the east room, the head to the north.
Piled about it were many floral en-
blems. Two marines, soldier and
sailor stood guard, one at each cor
ner Of the casket, while seated on
either side were two members OF the
Grand Army and two members OF the
Loyal Legion. They were relieved at
intervals of two hours during the
night. Before midnight the house,
hold had retired to rest and the only
lights to be seen were those in the
room where his comrades kept watch
over their dead chief.
The Journey from Buffaio.
Washington, Sept. III Through a
living lane Of bareheaded people
stretching from Buffalo up over the
Alleghenies down into the broad val
ley Of the Susquehanna and on to
the marble city on the banks of the
shining Potomac the nations mar
tyred president yesterday made his
last journey to the seat OF govern
ment over which he presided for M
years. The whole country seemed to
have drained its population ut the
sides Of the track over which the
funcral train passed. Work was sus-
pended in field and mine and city
The schools were dismissed and every
where appeared the trappings and
tokens Of woe. A million flags at
half-mast dotted hillside and valley
and formed thicket of color over the
cities, And from almost every ban
ner streamed bit of crepe. The
stations were heavy with the black
symbol of mourning. At all the
larger towns and cities after the
train got into Pennsylvania n militia
men drawn up at "present arms"
kept back the enormous crowds. The
silence with which the countless
thousands viewed the remains Of their
hero and martyr was oppressive and
profound.
Only the rumbling of the trains
wheels, the sobs from men and wom-
en- with tear-staned faces and the
doIeful tolling of the church bells
broke on the ear. AT several places,
Williamsport, Harrisburg and Balti-
more, the chimes played Cardinal
Newman's grand hymn. Taken alto
gether, the journey home was the
most remarkable demonstration OF
universal personal sorrow since Lin
coin was borne to his grave. Every
one Of those who came to pay their
last tribute to the dead had an OPP
portunity to catch glimpse Of the
Aag-covered bier elevated to view in
the observation car at the rear of the
train.
There was no other bit Of color to
catch the eye on this train Of death.
The locomotive was shrouded in
black, the curtains of the cars in
which sat the lonely, stricken widow,
the relatives of the president, cab
met and others were drawn. The
whole black train was like a shat
tered house, save only for that hind
most car, where the body lay guarded
by a soldier Of the army and a sailor
Of the navy.
Mrs. Mckinley stood the trip brave
ly. In the morning, soon after leav-
ing Buffalo, she pleaded so earnestly
to be allowed to 60 into the car where
her dear one lay that reluctant as.
sent was given and she spent half an
hour beside the coffin. All the way
the train was preceded about Is min.
utes by pilot engine sent ahead to
test the bridges and switches and
prevent tine possiDility ofan accident
to the precious burden IT carried. The
train had the right-of-way over every.
thing. Not a wheel moved on the
Pennsylvania railroad system 80 min.