Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1901-09-21
SORROW AT CANTON.
Features of William Mckinley Are
Gazed Upon for the Last Time.
AS the Body Lay In State Old Neighbors
and Friends March Past the Casket
Containing the Body of the
Dead Statesman.


Canton, o., Sept. 19.-Tenderly and
reverently those who had known Will
liam Mckinley best yesterday re-
ceived his martyred body in their
arms. They had forgotten the illus
trious career of the statesman in the
loss of great personal friend who
had grown dearer to them with the
passing of the years. They hardly
noticed the president of the United
States or his cabinet or the generals
and admirals in their Respondent
uniforms. The f1ag-draped casket
which contained the body of their
friend and fellow-townsman held all
their thoughts. He had left them
two weeks ago this very day in the
full tide of the strength of a glorious
manhood and they had brought him
back dead. 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 batteries, one battalion of en-
gineers, 5000 men in aII-the gov
ernor, lieutenant governor and JUS
tice of the supreme court, represent.
government. were at the station to
receive the remains. The whole town
was in deep black The only house
in all this sorrow-stricken city with
out touch of mourning drapery
was the old familiar Mckinley cot
tage on North Market street, to
which SO many distinguished men in
the country 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 its most precious pos
session. The flowers bloomed on the
lawn as they did two weeks ago.
7here was not even bow of crepe
on the door when the stricken widow
was carried by Abner Mckinley and
DIR. Rixey through it into the dark
ened home from which the light, for
| her, had flown forever. Only the
hitching post at the curb in front of
the residence had been swathed in
black by the citizens, in order that
| it might conform to the general
scheme of mourning decorations that
had been adopted. Sad as was the
procession which bore the body to the
courthouse, where it lay in state yes
terday afternoon, it could not COM
| pare with the infinite sadness of that
endless double line of broken-hearted
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 their friend
from his last long sleep. Tears came
unbidden to wet the bier. Perhaps
it was the great change that had
come upon the countenance which
moved them more than the sight of
the familiar features. The signs of
discoloration which appeared upon
the brow and cheeks Tuesday at the
state ceremonial in the rotunda of
the capitol at Washington had deep
ened. The lips had become livid.
All but two of the lights of the chan
delier above the head were extin-
guished in order that the change
might appear less noticeable, but
| every one who viewed the remains
yesterday remarked the darkened fea-
lures and the CHASTITY lips. When the
body was taken away thousands were
still in line, and the committee in
to to allow a further opportunity to
view the remains this morning be-
fore they are taken to the church.
The funeral train proper arrived at
IL o'clock. It was met by Judge Day
at the head of the local reception CONF
mittee, while assembled about the
station was the entire militia of tho
state. Mrs. Mckinley, weeping pit
he
DIR. Rixey and Abner Mckinley and
conducted to a carriage which was
in waiting and was then driven rapid
" to her home. The near relatives
followed her. The remains were then
lifted from the catafalque carand car
| ried on the shoulders of the body
bearers through a gangway formed
| by President Roosevelt aud his cabi'
net to the waiting hearse.
The president and cabinet then
entered carriages. They were fol-
lowed by the guard of honor, head
ed by Admiral Dewey and Gen. Miles
| in full uniform and the sad process
sion then moved up Tenth street in
| the direction of the courthouse, where
| the body was to lie in state.
The casket was borne to the court
house amid vast throngs of people
/ lining the street and packed within
| the courthouse square. There it was
deposited within the central cham
| Der. President Roosevelt and the
members were the first to pass the
bier, followed by the highest officers
| of the army and navy, Senator Hanna
and many others high in public life.
| Later the public was admitted to the
i ~
mains.