Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1901-09-20
Last Words Were "God's viii, Not Ours Be Done.
The Nation Is Bowed in Grief
EVIDENCES OF RESPECT ARE UNIVERSAL
Final Ceremonies Occurred at His Old Home in Canton
Ohio, Yesterday-The World Paid fearful
Homage to One Of the Best Rulers
This Country Ever Had

n Following a week of suspense inI
which hopes ran high that the bull
let fred into the body of President
Mckinley Friday, Sept. 6, would notI
be fatal, the news of his critical
slcondition and subsequent passing
away on Saturday morning, Sept.
Fla, at 2.15 caused perhaps greaterI
,shock and more poignant grief than
lf the wound had Immediately prov
led fatal. The minds of people had
become buoyant with the prospects,
Of his recovery, his many excellent
traits had been impressed upon the
great heart of the nation; his
craftsmanship, his noble character
his wise administration his charm
ling personality, all had been re-
counted and dwelt upon until heI
seemed to be closer to his people
land they saw him more distinctly
as he lowered up one of the wisestI
land best presidents this country has
Sever had. All this intensified the
feeling when the change, so suddenI
land unexpected, came. The wounds
of sorrow, partly healed, were torn
open afrosh and hearts which had
nearly ceased to bleed because of
assurances of his safety again pour
ed out their volumes of woe. The
Surgeons in attendance had given
assurances that the danger was
practically over, that the president
was on the high road to recovery
salready plans we're being made for
sihis return TO duty and the time
when he might safely do so was be-
fling discussed. Some members of
.his cabinet, all of whom had been
present, had returned to their sta
tions. Vice President Roosevelt,
who on wings of steam had flown
to the scene, was so confident that
all was we'll that he had departed,
when on Thursday a great change
lin the presidents condition became
manifest. He rapidly grew worse,
and despite the skill of his attend
ANTS and every art known TO their
science the dread angel of death
tore him from the loving clasp of
friends and country and bore him
I Sswiftiy and surely away, and the
world with bowed head and suffused
eyes now places tributes of loving
remembrance on the grave of the
third president Of this nation struck
\ dow n by an assassin's hand.
Il would require columns TO de-
.scribe the scenes and events of the
week in which the president lay
suffering at the home of friend in
buffalo, how intense and eager were
the people for news of his condi-
tion, how day by day the bulletins
became more assuring in tone, how
gradually the tense strain relaxed
iand confidence and almost cheerful
ness was restored. All this and the
events Immediately surrounding his
death, the expressions Of respect, es-
teem and grief which came from
every side and welled up from the
hearts of all peoples, the solemn
procession which bore his remains
to their last resting place, the fitting
words spoken. have now passed into
history, and are craven on the
t'natlon's g records.
Friday night when it was known
that the end was near his devoted
wife went to his bedside and his
last period Of consciousness was
passed in bidding her an affection
ate farewell. His last words were
addressed to her and were, "God'l
8wiI, not ours, be done" He wa,
also heard to murmur the words oI
the familiar hymn, Nearer My
God to Thee, which was a favor
ite. After this he fingered for sew
eral hours, the pulse growing faint
er, his extremities becoming ools
until at 2.15 Saturday morning thl
vital spark went out. Vice Presi
dent Roosevelt had been summoned
from tho Adirondacks on the ap
proach Of the serious symptoms an'
J hurried TO the scene but he did nof
! arrive until hours aftor the hna
event, and took the oath of ofio
+. rs president Saturday afternoon
bust previous to being requested b.