The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-20


the band passed out and on to Kentucky
avenue at the south side OF the inclosure
Behind the band came the Grand Army
posts, fully five hundred Of the veterans
marching by. AS they passed along the
fiower-strewn path many of them were
weeping bitterly. and they stopped by
dozens to gather the blossoms which lay
among their feet and carry them away as
mementoeS
The sweet pea blossoms that were scat
the school children of Nashville, Tenn, ard
no tribute of love that was seen during the
funeral exercises more amply fulfilled it's
mission or more completely carried its mes
sage of affection. Tonight hundreds of the
blossoms are in the possession Of the
marchers in the parade and are held by
spectators who came into the cemetery
after the close of the parade to carry them
away
After the veterans came in well-set ranks,
with rifles at arms port the men of the
the engineer corps of the National Guard
from Cleveland and the comrades of the
late President in the ranks of the Twenty
third Ohio Volunteers during the civil war.
Then came a long line of carriages bear
ing the members of thesfamily and the dis
tinguished visitors. From the first car
riage that stopped at the foot of the walk
leading up to the vault President Roose-
Welt and Commander COwles, of the navy
alighted. Without waiting for those in the
second carriage, which contained Secre-
tares Root and Gage and Attorney General
Knox, the President walked slowly toward
vault
side of the walk close to the door, AS
Secretary Root came up the walk he as
sumed a similar position on the north side
of the walk and the other members of the
Cabinet ranged themselves by the side of
the President and secretary of war. With
barred heads the President and members of
the Cabinet, who were followed by the Off
GERS of the army and navy, stood on each
side Of the walk, the lines reaching lust TO
the edge of the roadway.
LIFTED FROM THE HEARSE.
Within a minute after the formation of
the lines the funeral car came up to the
walk The casket was gently lifted
from the hearse and borne to the
door of the vault, where it was
rested upon the catafalque. 1t was
carried by the same men Of the army and
navy who have carried it ever since it left
Buffalo. Before them as it came up the
walk walked Colonel Bingham. who had
been aid to President Mckinley. At its
head on the right walked Lieutenant Ham
lin of the army, and in a corresponding
position on the left Lieutenant Eberlee, OF
the navy Just as the bearers lowered 1t
to the catafalque Abner Mckinley and Mrs.
Barber alighted from their carriage and
stood at the foot of the line of officers:
They remained here for few seconds, and
then passed up to the foot Of the casket,
ices.
There was moments pause as Colonel
readiness. He then looked toward Bishop
Joyce, of Minneapolis, who read the burial
service of the Methodist Church, slowly,
but In voice that could be beard distinct
~ by all who were grouped about the vault.
AS his words ended there was brief pause,
for it had been understood that "a quartet
of the Knights Templars was to be pres
ent TO render hymn. Through mlsun-
outstanding, however, it had not arrived,
and after satisfying himself OF this fact,
Colonel Bingham waved his hand TO eight
buglers of the Canton Band, who had taken
station on the side of the mound above,
and to the south of the vault. instantly
from the eight bugles rang out the notes
OF the soldiers last call, taps. 1t was
beautifully done, and the last notes of the
heard it remained listening for a few sec
onds to hear II it was really ended.
Secretary Wilson was in tears, Secretary
Hitchcock was also weeping and the
President was gazing grimly at the
for the men who had been so
closely associated with the President for so
long and the thought seemed sadder than
at last, and Capt. Biddle. of Company G,
of the Fourteenth Infantry, who will COM
mand the guard which is to be placed
around the vault, stepped up to a line of
five soldiers, which he had posted just
north of the doorway and who throughout
the ceremony had stood at present arms.
into the vault, taking station at the head
of the casket. another placed himself al
the foot, and three men stood in the door
way, two on the lower step and the third
on the floor of the vault directly behind
them. There they remained until after the
passage of the funeral procession.
KNIGHTS TEMPLARS SANG.
The President the members of the Cabi-
net and the officers of the army and navy
then entered their carriages and, followed
by the members of the family, passed out
of the cemetery and returned to the city.
The delay caused by the services at the
vault being over the procession resumed
it's march. Every man in the line save those
in uniform, who rendered appropriate honor
in other was. went past the casket with
uncovered head As the head of the divis
ion containing the knights Templars
wheeled into the cemetery the quartet that
had been delayed in reaching the place for
the previous ceremonies, took up position
well, My Brother" This hymn was fol-
lowed by Others including Rock OF Ages
THE Christians Good Night" and The
Nayside Cross The selections were beau
tifully rendered and no part of the funeral
ceremonies in Canton We're more impress
SiYe. The darkness was gathering fast as
the Knights sang on and many in the null
itude around the casket were moved TO
tears, and the sound of sobs was distinctly
audible TO the crowd that lined the fence
beyond the line of National Guardsmen-
The last Of the procession passed the bier
at 5:45, and then orders were given by Capt.
The order was quickly carried out, and the
President was left in care of his guard OF
honor. The first sentry to be posted in a
tour of guard duty before the doorway was
Private Otto White, of Company c, Four
tenth Infantry, whose home is in Genoa.
o. The guard that Will have the honor Of
guarding the bier Of the late President is
Company c, of the Fourteenth Regiment
Infantry. 1t is commanded by Capt w. S.
Biddle, jr. First Lieutenant II. S. Avery
and Second Lieutenant William Ashbridge.
The company includes Seventy-siX nOncom-
missioned men, and was ordered 10 Canton
from Fort Wayne, Detroit
Nature has been kind in selecting the last
resting place for President Mckinley
Westlawn Cemetery is on a high knoll over
looking the peaceful valley. with the busy
little city OF Canton laid out below. IL II
were not for an intervening church spire
one might get from this elevation a glimpse
OF the Mckinley home. Here, looking out
on his native city and HIS native State. the
body OF William Mckinley is laid 10 rest
The beauty of the grounds here attracted
the attention Of the countrys best land