Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1901-09-19
Body Of Late President Lies
in State at Former Home
THE SAODEST HOMECOMING
Old Soldier SanciiliieS His FLAG by
Placing II Upon Bier Touching
Tribute OF School Girls

his martyred body into their arms.
They had forgotten the illustrious ca
reer OF the statesman in the loss OF a
great personal friend who had grown
dearer to them with the passing of the
years. They hardly noticed the Presi.
dent OF the United States or his cab
met OF the generals and admirals in
their respondent uniforms. The beau
tiful fag-draped casket which con
tanned the body Of their friend and
fellow townsman held all their
thoughts. He had left them two weeks
ago tho very day, in the full tide OF
the strength OF a glorious manhood,
and they had brought him back dead.
Anguish was in the heart of every
man. woman and child.
The entire population of the little
city, and thousands from all over Ohio,
the full strength of the national guard
Of the state, eight regiments. three
batteries Of artillery, one battalion of
engineers, 5000 men in all, the gov
ernor. lieutenant governor and JUS
tice of the supreme court representing
the three branches Of the state gov
eminent, were at the station to receive
the remains.
The Town In Deepest Black.
The whole town was in deep black.
The only house in all this sorrow
stricken city, strange as 1t may seem,
without a touch of mourning drapery,
was the old familiar Mckinley cottage
on North Market street, to which so
many distinguished men in the coun-
try have made pilgrimages in the days
that are gone. The blinds were drawn,
but there was no outward token OF the
blow that had robbed 1t of its most
precious possession. The flowers
bloomed on the lawn as they did two
weeks ago. There was not even bow
of crepe upon the door when the
stricken widow was carried by Abner
Mckinley and DR.. Rixey through it
into the darkened home, from which
light, for her, had flown forever. Only
the hitching post at the curb in front
of the residence had been swatched
in black by the citizens, in order that
II might conform to the general
scheme OF decoration that had been
adopted.
Sad as was the procession which
bore the body to the court house,
where Il lay in state in the afternoon,
It could not compare with the infinite
sadness of that endless double line of
broken-hearted people who streamed
steadily through the dimly-lighted cor
ridors of the building from the time
the coffin was opened until it was
taken home to the sorrowing widow at
nightfall. They stepped softly, lest
their footballs wake their friend from
his last long sleep. Tears came un-
hidden to wet the bier.
Perhaps it was the great change
that had come upon the countenance
which moved them more than the sight
OF the familiar features
The signs of discoloration which APP
peared upon the brow and cheeks on
Tuesday at the state ceremonial In
the rotunda Of the capitol at Wash
ington had deepened. The lips had be-
come livid. All but two OF the lights
OF the chandelier above the head were
extinguished, in order that the change
might appear less noticeable. but
every one who viewed the remains re-
marked the darkened features and the
CHASTITY lips. When the body was
taken away thousands were still in
line.
The Services Today.
The funeral services will take Mace
today at 100 p. m, at the First NJ. Il.
Church, of which the martyred Presi-
dent was a communicate and trustee.
They viii be brief, by the expressed
wish of the family. Rev o. y. Mill.
gan, pastor of the First Pr c5yterian
Church, In which President I'D Mrs
Mckinley We're married 50 years ago
will make the opening prayer Dr.
John Hall, of the Trinity Lutheran
Church, will make the first scriptural
reading, and DR.. E.P. Herbruck, of the
= Trinity Reformed Church, the second
DIR. c. +. Manchester. pastor Of the
late Presidents church, will deliver
the only address. A quartette vii
sing beautiful Isle OF Somewhere,
and another quartette will render Car
dinal Newman's hymn, Lead, Kindl.
Light"
An imposing procession, consisting
of many G. A. R. posts in the state
the National Guard of Ohio. details @
regulars from all branches OF the serN
ice, fraternal, social and civic organ
cations, and representatives OF con
mercial bodies from all over the coui
try, the governors of several state
with their STATS. the house and senat
Of the United States, and the cabin'
and President of the United State
viii follow the remains to Westlaw
Cemetery. where they win be place
In a receiving vault awaiting the tim
when they viii be laid IN the grave b
side .Ac two dead children who wei
buried years ago
Beautiful Floral Tributes A-Pienty.
The number and beauty OF the for
tributes which are arriving surpass b
lief. Flowers arc literally coming 1
the ton. The hot houses CT tho cou
try seem to have been emptied to SUI
ply them The facilities Of the lit