Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-09-20
BORNE TO THE CAPITAL.
Remains of the President Taken From Buffalo
Entire Route Lined With People.

Remains of the President Taken From Buffalo
Entire Route Lined With People.
Washington, Sept. 17.-Through a
living lane of bareheaded people
stretching from Buffalo up over the
Alleghanies down into the broad val
leys of the Susquehanna and the city
on the banks of the shining Potomac,
the Nations martyred President made
his last journey to the seat OF the
Government over which he presided
for four years and half. The whole
country seemed to have drained its
population at the side Of the track
over which the funeral train passed.
The thin lines through the mountains
and the sparsely-settled districts thick
ened as the little hamlets suddenly
grew to the proportions of respectable
cities, and were congregated into vast
multitudes in the larger cities. Work
was suspended in field and mine and
city. The schools were dismissed. Ev-
erywhere appeared the trappings and
tokens of woe. Millions of flags at
half-mast dotted hillsides and valley,
and formed thicket of color over
the cities. And from almost every
banner streamed bit of Grape. The
stations were heavy with the black
smybol of mourning. At all the larger
towns and cities, after the train got
into Pennsylvania, militiamen 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 train
wheels, the sobs of men and women,
with tear-stained faces, and the dole
full tolling of the church bells, broke
upon the ear. At several places, Will
Transport, Harrisburg and Baltimore,
the chimes played Cardinal Newman's
grand hymn. Taken altogether, the
Journey home was the most remark
able demonstration of universal per-
sonal sorrow since Lincoln was borne
OF his grave. Every one of those who
came to pay their last tribute to the
dead had an opportunity to catch a
glimpse of the fag-covered bier ele-
| vated in view in the observation car
at the rear of the train.
There was no spot of color to catch
| the eye of this train of DEATH. The
locomotive was shrouded in black, the
curtains of the cars in which sat the
lone, stricken widow, the relatives of
the President, Cabinet and others were
drawn. The whole black train was
| like shuttered house, save only for
the hindmost car where the body lay
guarded by a soldier of the Army and
sailor of the Navy.
/ Mrs. Mckinley stood the trip brave
| ly. In the morning, soon after leay-
ing Buffalo, she pleaded SO earnestly
to be allowed to go into the car where
her dead one lay that reluctant consent
was given, and she spent half hour
beside the coffin. All the way the
train was perceded about Is minutes
by pilot engine, sent ahead to test
| the bridges and switches, and prevent
| the possibility of an accident to the
/ precious burden it carried. The train
had the right of way over everything
Not a wheel moved on the Pennsyl
/ vania Railroad system 80 minutes be
! fore the pilot engine was due.
| General Superintendent J. B. Hutch
inson had sent out explicit instruc
tions covering every detail. The or
der included: Every precaution mus
be taken by all employees to make this
move absolutely certain"
General Boyd, assistant passenger
agent, had personal charge Of thu
train. The train left Buffalo at s:3'
o'clock a. m. and arrived at Washing
\ ton at 1888 o'clock p. m. In IL hours
it Is estimated that over half a mil
lion people saw the coffin which hell
all that was mortal of President Nc
Kinley.
While the casket was being removed
from the observation car one of tn
large windows was lowered at the side
slowly and carefully the casket wa
slipped through the opening and ter
derly received upon the bent shoulder
of the ody-bearer-four artiHeryme
and four sailors. Strengthening then
selves unde rtheir burden, they wake
slowly toward the hearse. At tn
, casket emerged bulgle note ros
clearly, and 'taps" rang out. Tha
was the only sound that broke the dea
l silence.