The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-09-17
CHILDREN PRESENT FLOWERS.
Women Plead for Mementoes and workmsn
Swarm from Factories

women Plead for Mementoes and Workmen
Swarm from Factories.
Williamsport, Pa, Sept. 16.-(On
board train.)-At Remove ropes had
been stretched 20 keep lack the crowds
which surged through the neighboring
streets. A big flag with President Nc
Kinley's picture framed in crepe was
strung from corner to corner of the
station and in front of it were hundreds
of school children, their hats in their
hands, and their little faces grave. Af-
ter leaving Remove the train passed
through more thickly populated coun-
try and the crowds grew denser, half
master flags were on every school house
and the bells of the churches tolled dole
fully as the funeral train sped by.
AT Williamsport, which was reached
at 2:30, there was a remarkable dem
onstration the features of which was
the presentation of an immense floral
offering by five thousand school children
of the city. 1t was received by Colonel
Bingham, the Presidents aide. He stood
on the platform of the observation car
in which the catafalQue lay exposed to
view and the scene was profoundly inn
pressive.
At Lock Haven the young ladies of
the city lines up along the track and
strewed the path of the dead President
with flowers. Crowds had baskets brm-
ming full of color and others held the
fragrant blossoms in their arms. They
poured the wealth of their floral Offering
beneath the cruel wheels. Each small
town had conceived some distinct way
of it's own to show its respect for the
dead Others sought to obtain souve-
Mrs of the sad occasion in unique ways.
At one point beyond Lock Haven hun
dreds of boys placed coins on the track
and when the train rushed by hurried
to secure the flattened bits of silver for
preservation as momentoes.
A CHOIR SINGS AT THE STATION.
On Board Funeral Train, Baltimore,
Nd, Sept. 16.-After leaving Williams
port the train ran through stretches of
farming country, dotted here and there
with small manufacturing towns. AT
Milton all work was suspended and the
town turned out en- nnasse at the sta
tion and lined the railroad track. At
the busy little town of Sunbury the
shows closed down for time and the
brawny workmen lined up in their
overalls with serious faces and hats in
hand In the fifty miles from Sunbury
to Harrisburg the route skirted the
placid Susquehanna, and the vistas of
green clad slope and peak gave way to
broad sweeps of rich farming country.
The rivermen were aware of the coming
of the train. A ponderous dredge halt
ed in it's operations, and the men link
ed the deck of the unweildy craft At
little town across the river the popu-
lace had emptied upon the wharves and
could be seen strainng for a view of
the speeding train. Further on home
ly farm house had it's little porch loop
ed with black, and underneath were
gathered the old and young of the house
hold with sorrowing" faces.
At one cross road hundreds of vehicles
We're drawn up, with country people
standing in them, and evidently some
nearby town had thus sought point of
vantage near the track Approaching
Harrisburg, factory hands again lined
the track. The roof tops of buildings
were alive with people. Flags were
half masted and emblems of mourning
were everywhere at hand. Hundreds of
men and women crowded the tops of
freight cars Within the station the
people were banked in thousands surg
ing through all the approaching streets
as far as the eye could reach
From huge viaduct spanding the
track countless faces peered down into
the car windows The tolling of the
church bells could be heard, and as the
train entered the station the shrill notes
of a bugle sounded taps. Despite the
vigilance of the guards, women pushed
through to the train and pleaded at the
windows for any trifle the cars might
yield as momento of this eventful trip.
Just as the train stopped a great choir
ranged tier on tier on the station steps,
began Nearer, My God to Thee" and
then as the train pulled out, the strains
turned to MY Country, 'Tis of Thee"
A remarkable spectacle was presented
as the train moved across the long
bridge spanning the Susquehanna from
Harrisburg. On either side of the
stream, up and down for miles, the
banks teemed with legions of people.
From the brink of the streams them
were in solid masses to the trees far in
the background. On the bridge itself
urchins had clambered into the tangle
of steel at the sides and roof On the
surface of the river, in a flotilla OF row
boats and yachts. hundreds more looked
up at the train of death.