The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-09-20
TO HIS OLD HOME
REMAINS OF PRESIDENT MklN.
LEY ON THE WAY TO
+ CANTON.
FUNERAL PARTY is LARGE
NO LESS THAN TWENTY CARS
ARE USED TO CARRY 1T
TO OHIO.
FUNERAL PARTY is LARGE
DBsEQUIEs AT THE CAPITOL
sIMPLE YET IMPRESSIVE SERV-
ICES AT THE SEAT OF
GOVERNMENT.

Washington, Sept. 1S.-The last
shapter of the sad ceremonial, the re-
moval of the remains of the late pres
ident to the grave at his old home at
Canton, O., began at 500 o'clock,
when the funeral train left here over
The Pennsylvania railroad.
The great bronze doors of the Cap
Itol, in which the body had lain in
state, had closed while there were
still thousands Of people waiting to
get last glance at the casket. The
guards at the Capitol, who had pa
tiently throughout the long day held
The crowd in leash, were permitted a
hurried look at the face of the de-
ceased; the cover of the casket was
screwed down by the undertakers; it
was lifted once more upon the Shout
aers Of the body bearers and by them
borne to the hearse at the foot of the
EAST steps Of the Capitol
Thirty minutes time was required
for the removal of the body form the
Capitol to the train. The escort on
this journey consisted of committees
from the army and navy and two
SQuadrons of the Eleventh cavalry.
The route was down Pennsylvania
avenue, which was lined on either
side by troops of the District of Co.
lumbia. 1t was quiet, noiseless
Journey, without music. Nor was
there a sound from the crowd that
lined the broad street. Notwithstand-
Ing the hour was late, the air chill
and a light mist was falling, hats
were uniformly removed as the cor
tege passed.
At the Pennsylvania railroad sta
hon there was dense throng and the
remains were received by large dele
cations of army and naval officers.
There the soldiers and seamen car
ried the casket from the hearse to the
observation car, placed in the second
section of the funeral train. The
basket was placed on standards
Draped With the National coIors.
Il was covered with floral emblems.
No less than 20 cars were required
for the transportation of the funeral
party to Canton.
It was just before o'clock when
Mrs. Mckinley was driven to the sta
Hon. Fearing the firing effect of the
hong walk from the carriage entrance
10 the car set apart for her. She de-
the head of the train, a rolling chair
had been provided for her. She de-
elined this, however, and walked with
surprising firmness to her place, as
sisted by Abner Mckinley and DR.,
Rixey. It was $40 o'clock when this
section steamed away in the darkness,
the first section having preceded 1t
10 minutes. The observation car,
bearing the remains, was flooded with
Hight. Through it's crystal sides could
be seen the beautifully draped casket
with its mass of rare blossoms, so ar
ranged that even as the train swept
through the night the people in the
country 1t passed through might gaze
on the sight of the casket with
soldier standing grimly at the head,
and a sailor, carrying his cutlass upon
his shoulder, at the foot. A guard Of
soldiers and sailors occupied the plat
forms and between them at the rear
was a mammoth wreath six feet In
diameter Of rare orchids and laurels.
Ten minutes later the third section
Of the train bearing the army and
navy officers sped away and the ma
uonal capital had performed its part
IN the funeral ceremonies.