The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1901-09-20
1--WE MOURN OUR NATIONS DEAD"


ously. Then came the last half hour s
run into Canton, where the body was to
be received into the arms of its own
people. Mile by mile the approach was
marked by growing evidences of deep
personal aftliction. Flags that had often
waved Mckinley welcome were now low
folk generally seemed to have suspended
work altogether; the schools were dis
missed and the. entire population were
ranged along the track in sorrowful
silence. The straining faces showed that
the people took this mournful home
coming as a personal bereavement which
had entered into each home and it was
as though fathers and mothers and Sis
tiers were watching for a glimpse of the
casket that held their own loved one.
At Maxine the country stores were
ed the little station Now the train was
at LeWiSville, only six miles from Can
ton and soon the shops of the dead pres
ident's much-loVed city were dotted along.
the way For the first time the sun
which had been behind heavy black
clouds, threw its rays on the gathered
thrnngs ami lighted up the somber en-
blems of grief. and the entry into Can
ton was made in the bright sunshine.
The funeral train proper bearing the
remains Of President Mckinley arrived
at II O'Clock Wednesday. It was met by
Judge Day at the head of the local re-
ceptiOn committee, while assembled about
the station was the entire militia Of the
state.
Mrs. Mckinley, weeping piteously, was
helped from the train by DR.. RixeY and
Abner Mckinley and conducted to a car
riage which was in waiting, and was then
driven rapidly to her home The near
relatives followed her.
The remains were then lifted from the
catafalque car and carried on the
shoulders of the body bearers through
gangway formed by President Roose-
welt and his cabinet to the waiting hearse.
The surrounding soldiers were at present
arms and bugles sounded taps. The pres
ident and cabinet then entered carriages.
They were followed by the guard of hon
or: headed by Adm. Dewey and Gen.
Miles in full uniform, and the sad pro-
cessiOn then moved up Tenth street in
the direction Of the court house, where
the body was to lie in state. Soldiers
at intervals all the way kept back the
immense crowds which thronged the
streets. The procession passed all the
way beneath big arches draped with
black.
Tenderly and reverently those who had
known William Mckinley best received
his martyred body Wednesday. They
had forgotten the illustrious career of
the statesman in the loss of great per-
sonal friend who had grown dearer to
them with the passing of the years. They
| hardly noticed the president Of the United
| States or his cabinet or the generals and
admirals in their Respondent uniforms.
! The beautiful hag-draped casket which
contained the body of their friend and
| fellow townSman had all their thoughts.
| He had left them two weeks ago this
| very day in the full strength Of his man
| hood and they had brought him back
dead. Anguish was in the heart of every
man, woman and child. The entire pop
| ulatfon of the little city, thousands from
! all over Ohio, the full strength of the
national guard of the state-eight reg
| iments, three batteries of artillery, one
| battalion of engineers, 5000 men in all
! the governor, lieutenant governor and a
| justice of the supreme court, represent
| ing the three branches of the state gov
! eminent, were at the station to receive
| the remains.
The, whole town was in deep black The
| only house in all this sorroW-stricken city
| without touch of mourning drapery,
| strange as II may seem, was the old
| familiar Mckinley cottage on North
Market street. to which so many distin-
| guished men in the country have made
1 pilgrimaees. The blinds were drawn, but
there was no Outword 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 car
| ried by Abner Mckinley and DR.. Rixey
/ through it into the darkened home. Only
! the hitching post at the curb in front of
| the residence had been Swathed in black
| by the citizens in order that it might
! conform to the general scheme of mourn
! ing decoration that had been adopted
| Sad as was the procession which bore
| the body to the court house, where it laid
in state Wednesday afternoon, it could
| not compare with the sadness of that end
! less double line of broken hearted neOnle
| ly-lighted corridors of the building from
! the time the coffin was opened until it was
/ taken to the home of the sorrowing wild
ow at nightfall.
Perhaps the great change that had come
! upon the cOuntenance moved the people
more than the sight of the familiar fea-
lures. The signs of discoloration which
! appeared upon the brow and cheeks Tues
day at the state ceremonial in the rO-
! tunda of the capitol at Washington had
deepened. The lips had become Iivid
All but two from the lights from the
| chandelier above the head We're extin-
/ 6uished in order that the change might
| appear not noticeable, but everyone whl
viewed the remains Wednesday remarked
| the darkened features and the CHASTITY
lips When the body was taken away
| thousands were still in line and the com
| mittee in charge of the arrangements was
appealed to to allow a further oppOr-
| tunity to view the remains Thursday
! morning before they are taken to the
! church. This had to be reluctantly de-
MED to them and the casket may never
be opened again
The funeral services took place Thurs.
day at 1:3O D. m. at the First Methodist
Episcopal church, of which the martyreC
president was a communicate and trus-
tee. They were brief by the EXPRESSED
wish OF the family Rev. .. b. Milligan
pastor of the First Presbyterian church
III which President and Mrs Mckinley
were married 30 years ago, made the
opening prayer. DR.. John Hall, of the
| Trinity Lutheran church, made the frs
Scriptural reading. and DR.. z. P. Her
bruck, of the Trinity Reform church
the second DR.. G. E Manchester pastor
of he, 1nf