The Washington times., 1901-09-17
HOMAGE or THOUSANDS.
Vast ThrOngs See the Body Borne
From the Station.
Heads RevercntIy Barcd ms the
Hearse Passes Slowly to the white
House-Sflence In the Dense Multi
tude Along Pennsylvania Avenue.

/ e.
| All Washington seemed to be gathered
| on Pennsylvania Avenue yesterday from
afternoon until night, from hours before
the sad event that called them together
until the passage of the last black car
rfage in the slow moving procession to-
ward the White House. From the Penn
syivania station, where thousands on
thousands waited for the arrival of the
sombre cortege until many minutes after
schedule time. to the vicinity of the
White House, packed almost to suffoca-
ton, even in the open air, the crowds
ranged ten and twenty deep on both sides
of the Avenue. and at every plaza on the
way still vaster throngs congregated.
1t was one OF the memorable sights In
the great panorama that Pennsylvania
Avenue has been in its wonderful history,
this crowd, vast but quiet, and subdued,
packed to the danger point in many places
but orderly and respectful. even many
minutes before the coming of the funeral
procession And in the short, tense period
Of the passage OF the procession. the cli-
max Of the scene, there was a hush over
the whole wide stage that no crowd ever
realizes except in a supreme moment.
With barred heads, reverent and still, 1t
watched the funeral carriage pass. feel
ing the keen sorrow of a personal be-
reayement with hearts swelling at the pa
thos of the national tragedy. The hushed
throngs that wait at an eclipse of the
sun while darkness comes and the air
grows chill are silent at the climax Of
Natures greatest drama something as
this crowd was silent
When new President is made and his
predecessor is retiring in the great Or
derIy quadrennial change of Government
Of the Republic there is vast throng,
too, on the Avenue. The incoming and
outgoing Presidents ride together, and all
Washington watches them happily. bois-
terously. and all the country watches
them from afar, elated at the birth of a
new Administration, and the new demon
stration of the mighty smoothness of the
machinery of the government. Last night
the incoming and the outgoing Presidents
rode together too, but the procession was
a strange and cruel travesty of that other
procession. The thought came to many
and was commented on in awed whispers.
1t panied their hearts and filled them with
a great silent, sullen anger at the man
that had made the travesty, and the
devils faith that he represents.
The Avenue was decorated fittingly for
the solemn event that 1t was to witness.
Everywhere was the garb of mourning.
Streamers of black hung from top to bot
tom of buildings, and the national colors |
were at half-mast and in many cases bor- |
dered or draped with Grape. Hardly a |
building in the entire line of march but |
had some emblem of sorrow, and many |
were nearly covered. The-erowds. too. |
many marks of mourning |
20 lA.r
on their arms, or rosettes of black In |
only a few places was there jarring |
note, as where the play houses and busi-
ness buildings Haunted their most glaring |
electric signs even during the passing of |
the funeral train itself.
The city has many visitors, on the
errand to pay their homage to
The dead President and witness the last
sad rites all day yesterday thousands of |
people were arriving and the trains were
crowded as they have not been before
'ince President McKinley's last inaugu-
-ation. The $40 train from the North
IN the Pennsylvania line yesterday after
loon was run in two sections, each having |
| large number OF coaches. The 6:10 |
rain had several extra coaches and the
':15 train with five extra cars was SO
rowded that 1t arrived long time be-
lind the schedule The Pennsylvania sta
ion was crowded with people all the lat
er part of the afternoon and during the
ntire evening. The Baltimore and Ohio
rains also brought great number of
xtr: Seople. though not so many as the
The statement was made
" officials Of both companies last night
hat to-days trains will also bring many
isitors to the city. The crowds at the
Iotels are much greater than usual and
hey include many of the most prominent
eople in the country