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

retary Root, Or perhaps, II would be
more precise to say that the latter
spoke to him. The president appeared
TO be steeling himself tor look into
the face of him whose death had made
MIN the first ruler OF the world. The
tension In the room was great. Every.
one seemed to be waiting. The min.
ister OF the gospel stood with the
Holy Bible in his hand ready to begin.
Perhaps 1t might have been 60 sec.
ends. 1t seemed longer. Then the
president turned and at the same time
advanced a step. He bowed his head
and looked down upon the man whose
burden and responsibility he had
taken up. Long he gazed. standing
! immoyabio save for twitching OF the
muscles of the chin as he labored
! with heavy breath to repress his emo
tion. At last he stepped back. Col.
onel Bingham, the aide to the presi.
dent, standing 10 feet below the foot
! ri the casket, at the side of Secretary
| Cortelyou, glanced in the direction OF
! Few. Charles Edward Locke, of the
| Delaware Avenue NJ. Z. church, who
| was to conduct the service.
LEAD, Kindly Light" Sung.
The pastor was at the door leading
| into the hall, station whence his
words could be heard at the head Of
the stairs. The signal was given and
| there came from the. hall the beauti.
full words, Lead, Kindly Light" sung
| by quartette. 1t was President Nc
Kinley's favorite hymn. Everyone
within sound of the music knew it,
| and half of those in the room put
! their faces in their hands to hide their
tears. Comptroller Dawes leaned
| against a book case, and, with Presi.
| dent Roosevelt, seemed to be sway
| ing to and fro as II his footing was in
secure.
When the singing ended the clergy.
man read from the words OF the hf'
| teenth chapter of the first Corinthi'
ans. All had risen as he began and
remained standing throughout the re.
| mainder OF the service. Again the
voices rose with the words of Nearer
My God to Thee" Ae very words
! President Mckinley had repeated at
intervals Of consciousness dWing the
! day of agony before he died. AS the
music died away the pastor spoke
again. Let us pray" he said, and
every head fell upon its breast. He
began his invocation with stanza
from a hymn sung in the Methodist
church. His prayer was as follows:
All then Joined in the Lords
Prayer as the minister repeated It,,
| President Roosevelt's voice being
audible at the farther end of the
room. The services concluded with
a simple benediction. The funeral di'
rector was about to step forward 70
vzla NhA
| when suddenly there was a movement
! behind Governor Odell. Senator
! Hanna, who had risen, saw that the
last opportunity to look into tho
countenance OF his dead friend had
come. Pressing forward, In an IN
slant he was at the side of the cas-.
ket, and bending over and looking
down into It. Almost two minutes
passed and then he turned away and
| the coffin was closed
Colonel Bingham signalled the body
bearers. Four sailors. two infantry
sergeants and two artillery sergeants
bore the casket aloft and out of the
nouse. The president, cabinet and
others followed 1t. Mrs Mckinley
and the members of the family re
mained. The widow had passed
through the ordeal bravely and with.
aut breaking down. Tho trained
nurses and the personal attendants ol
the president gathered on the side
porch to see the body taken away.
II was about 1880 o'clock when
three long rolls Of q mufied drum
told those outside the house that the
funeral cortege was about to appear
From the darkened rooms the assem-
blage began to file out to the stree
Soon the walks ana lawns were again
covered with the silent throng, With
barred heads. At the moment tbs
casket appeared, Nearer My God tc
Thee" ascended in subdued strains
from one Of the military bands. The
bearers lowered the casket from theil
shoulders and placed II In the hearse
The notes Of Choppin's funera
dirge succeeded the strains OF ths
hymn. The soldiers and sailors
swung into long columns and took vi
the march southwark toward the cit,
hall.
President Roosevelt came from thu
house almost Immediately following
the casket, and arm In arm with Sec
retary Root moved through the aisl'
, of people. He entered the first car
, riage with Mr.. Root and with Attor
| ney General Knox and Postmaste
, General Smith. who had followed
The presidential carriage fell In imme
} dlately back OF the military escort
i Following in the second carriage wer'
Secretary Long, Secretary Hitchcock
} Secretary Wilson and Secretary Cor
) telyou. Major General Brooke was II
, che third carriage and Rev. DR.. Lock-
!, and his wife In the fourth. In thi
4 order four carriages preceded tn
! hearse. After these four carriage
!. there was q clear space OF 100 fee
e and then came the hearse bearing tn
!. dead president. At the head Of eacl
; of the leading horses . police once
4 walked with q hand at the Bride.
4 Soldiers and sailors BY Hssrss.
y On each side Of the hearse wake