The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-09-30

w bore all the indications of
deep personal grief the people
of Honolulu gathered at Kawafahao
church Saturday morning to express
their sorrow over the death of Pres
ident Mckinley. Never before in the
history Of the city has there been such
a gathering in Honolulu Rich and
poor. high and low, American and for
eigner, had assembled here with but
the one purpose-to express their grief
at the passing of the President.
The dress and general air Of the two
thousand people who participated in the
services was in keeping with the spirit
of the occasion. Black was the decora-
ton used at the church. and the same
garb was reflected by nearly every
mourner. Many of the men wore
band crepe about their left arm or up
on their headgear, and the women were
gowned almost exclusively in black
The same feeling of sadness was ap-
parent, in the solemnity and silence
with which the tributes Of the speakers
were received. Tears there were none,
but it needed no such outward mani
festation to impress upon the casual
spectator the grief which these people
felt
The gathering at the church was one
which could be duplicated nowhere else
but what was represented either
in an official capacity. or by some of
her citizens. The cosmopolitan nature
of Honolulu's population was every
where evident.
At nine o'clock the church doors were
thrown open, and Immediately the fun
eral procession was begun. For it had
every characteristic of such an assem-
blage Carriage after carriage, in an
unbroken line emptied their loads of
mourners at the church doors, only to
give way to another endless line of
mOurners on foot. In. a steady stream
came the simple mourners; as individ
uals, yet more like an organized body
in marching order, with slow and
solemn step: a spontaneous outpOuring
of grief in which all participated 1t
was more like the gathering at the bier
of some beloved relative or friend than
a formal outburst IF sorrow. at the
death of a man, whom but few had
seen, and fewer still had met. But all
appeared by their demeanor to have
known him, and respected him. These
mourners entered the church in such
great numbers as to appear like one
r-ir, 10
thought-a duty to perform-to do
honor to the memory of the greatest
hero of the century-William Mckinley.
AS the crowds gathered the band
played mournful dirges, in keeping with
the slow and measured tread of the
people Just as the band struck up
Nearer My God to Thee" the CT. a. r.
Post arrived, the flag displayed at half
mast on a staff, carried by the color
bearer. Within a few. minutes they
were followed by the Governor and his
staff, the latter wearing the regula-
ton dress of the National Guard. A
delegation of National Guard officers in
undress uniform entered the church
| Immediately following Governor DOle's
official party.
| AS the band ceased playing, the
church bell tolled forth, until it also
| gave way to the softer tones of the
church organ. The same spirit of sad
ness seemed to pervade the interior of
the church, as was so plainly written
upon the countenances of the gathering
throngs Pillars and posts were draped
with sable garment while each window
! had its frame of black. 1t formed a
background on the pulpit for the mass
of floral decorations. Above were drap-
ed two large flags. the folds hung with
black.
On the platform, Governor Dole, w
G. Irwin and the ministerial speakers
were given seats, while to the rear in
the choir loft were the singers.
On the right Of the stage We're the
representatives of the foreign govern
ments. w r. Hoare, and F. NJ. Swan
zy, Great Britain; Yang Wei Pin and
Goo Kim, China; H. w. Schmidt Nor
way and Sweden; Mkt Saito, Japan;
w. A. Lantz. Italy; w. PfOtenhauer
| Germany; and A. ViZzavona, France
Behind the consular party were white
robed girls from KawaiahaO Seminary
In the front row were Judge Estee
Justice Perry. Judge Little and Judge
Gear with Marshal Hendry, Collector
Stackable, and other United States Of
ficials.