The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-09-17

The body lay in black casket on
black bear skin rug Over the lower
limbs was fung the starry banner he
nad loved SO well The flowers were
Few, as befitted the simple nature OF
the man A spray Of white crysanthe.
NUNS, a flaming bunch of blood red
American beauty roses and magniti-
cent bunch of violets were on the cas-
ket That was all. Behind the head,
against pier mirror, betweeD two
curtained windows, rested two sdperb
wreaths of white astors and roses
These wer the only flowers in the
room.
Naval and Army SentrieS.
Two sentries, one from the sea and
one from the land, guarded the rooms.
! They stood in the window embras-
ures behind the head OF the casket.
The one to the north was a sergea ut
Of Infantry. In the other window was
the sailor, Garbed in the loose blue
blouse OF the navy.
The family had taken leave of their
loved one before the others arrived.
Mrs. Mckinley, the poor grief-crushed
widow, had been led into the chamber
by her physician, DR.. Rixey. and had
sat awhile alone with him who had
supported and comforted her through
all their years of welded life. But
though her support was gone, she had
not broken down. Dry eyed, she
gaZed upon him and fopdled his face
She did not seem to realize that he
was dead. Then she was led away
Dy DR.. Rixey and took up her position
at the head of the stairs, where she
could hear the service Mr.. Hobart,
| he widow of the vice president dur
ing Mr.. McKinley's first term; Mr.
Lafayette McWilliams, of Chicago;
| Miss BarDer, Miss Mary Barber and
! Dr.. RiXey remained with her through
out. The other members OF the fam
| lily, Mr.. and Mrs. Abner Mckinley,
Miss Helen Mckinley, Mrs. Duncan
Miss Duncan, Mr.. and Mrs. Barber
and Dr. and Mrs. Baer, had withdrawn
/ into the library. to the north OF the
drawing room. in which the casket
lay, and here also gathered other
friends when the service was held.
The friends and public as this dead
president all had opportunity to view
the remains before the service began.
The members of the cabinent had
taken their leave before the others
/ ISHIdlutu seated De-
side their dead chief while the sad
procession viewed the body. They
wer on the north side of it. A place
/ directly at the head had been reserved
Tor President Roosevelt. Secretary
Root sat alongside. Then came At.
/ torney General Knox, Secretary Long
Secretary Hitchcock, Secretary vii
| son and Postmaster General Smith. iu
] The order nannad Ahn,,t h,,, L.,
! all saw the body. Some were over.
, come with grief at the sight. Their
( frames shook in convulsive sobs. Sew.
cral clung to the side of the bier and
| with difficulty could be persuaded to
leave. Almost every face was tear.
,tained. The great love for this man
choked all in the house.
Some Of Persons In Procession.
! Among those in the procession
were Senators Fairbanks and Bur.
rows, Governor Yates, Of Illinois:
Comptroller Dawes, General Mander
son and Mrs Manderson, Representa-.
tive Littauer, Of New York; ex-Post.
master General w. L. Bissel and the
consulting physicians, most of whom
lad met President Mckinley person.
ally, and had learned to adore him
while he suffered so gently and pa.
tiently On his bed OF pain. Senator
Hanna, who had fairly worshipped
his dead friend for years, entered the
room at this time, but did not ap.
proach the casket. His face was set
like an iron-wiled man who would
not let down the barriers Of his grief.
The senator spoke to no one. His
cyes were vacant He passed through
the throng and seated himself behind
Governor Odell. sinking far down into
his chair and resting his head upon
els hand. During all the service that
followed he did not stir.
Just before II o'clock Presiden,
Roosevelt entered, coming into the
room from the rear, through the II
brary. After passing into the hall he
had made his way around through the
citing room behind into the library
There was an instantaneous move
ment In the room as the president ap
peared. The procession was still
passing from the south side arount
the head of the casket and back be
tween 1t and the members of the cabi
ret seated at its side, and all eye
were turned toward the president HI
moved, following with the tide OF th'
procession, to his place. at the heat
Of the line OF cabinet officers. HI
held himself erect, his EFT hand car
rying his silk handkerchief. Thos,
who were coming toward him fel
back on each side to let him pass
He paused once or twice to shak
hands silently, but there was n
smile to accompany his greetings. II
seemed to be restraining a great griei
, When President Roosevelt reache
, the head Of the line Of cabinet Officer
, he kept his face away from the cal
bet The infantrymen guarding tn
dead stood behind Vim like st-tu'
, Although the comm underline al
! preached unheeded until he coul
have touched him. the soldier did nc
salute. The president spoke 70 Sc