Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-09-26
HOME IN
CANTON
President McKinley's Re-
mains Received by
His Townsmen
Tremendous Gathering
for Last Imposing
Obsequies
Sorrow of Old Neighbors
and Friends Most
Pathetic
The Funeral.

vices over the late President Nc
kinley began at 1870 p. m. yesterday
at the First Methodist Episcopal
church, of which the martyred presi-
dent was a communicate and trustee.
They were brief, by the expressed
wish of the family.
Rev. o. B. Milligan, pastor Of the
First Presbyterian church, in which
President and Mrs. Mckinley were
married 80 years ago, made the open
ing prayer. DR.. John Hall of the
Trinity Lutheran church made the
first scriptural reading and DR.. E. P.
Herbruck of the Trinity Reform
Church the second. DR.. G. E. Man
chester, pastor of the late presidents
church, delivered the only address.
A quartet sang Beautiful Isle Of Some
where and another quartet sang Cardi-
nal Newman's hymn, Lead, kindly
Light. There was colossal process
sion to the cemetery, where great
monument is to be erected.
Arrival Home.
Canton, Sept. 19.-Tenderly, revcr-
| emily those who had known William
Mckinley best yesterday received his
| martyred body into their arms. They
had forgotten the illustrious career
| of the statesman in the loss of a great
| personal friend who had grown dearer
| to them with the passing years. They
hardly noticed the president of the
| United States or the cabinet or gem
! erals and admirals in respondent uni
forms. The beautiful fag-uraped
casket which contained the body of
their friend and fellow townsmen held
all their thoughts. He had left them
two weeks ago this very day in the full
strength of glorious manhood and
they had brought him back dead. An
guish was in the heart of every man.
woman and child. The entire popula-
ton of the little city anu thousands
from all over Ohio, the full strength Of
the national guard of the state, 5000
! men in all, governor, lieutenant gov
| ernor and justices Of the supreme
court, representing three branches of
| the state government, were all at the
station to receive the remains. The
whole town was in deep black The
only house in all the sorrow-stricken
city, strange as it may seem, that was
without touch of mourning drapery
was the old familiar Mckinley cottage
on North Market street. The blinds
were drawn but there was no outward
token of the blow that had robbed it of
its most precious possession.
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 dark
ened home from which the light for
her had flown forever. 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 mourning decoration that had been
adopted. Sad as was the procession
which bore the body to the court
house, where it lay in state in the af-
ternOon, it could not compare with the
Infinite sadness of the endless double
line Of broken-hearted people who
streamed steadily through the dimly
lighted corridors of the building from
the time the coffin was opened until it
was taken home to the sorrowing
widow at nightfall. Tears came unbid-
den 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 appeared upon the brow aud
cheeks Tuesday at the state ceremon-
ial in the rotunda of the capitol at
Washington had deepened. When the
body was taken away thousands were
still in line and the committee n
charge Of the arrangements was ap-
pealed to to allow further opportun-
ity to view the remains this morni ~
before they are taken to the church.
But this had to be reluctantly denied
them and the casket may never be
opened again.
All through the afternoon the
crowd passed the catafaluue
approximately at the rate OF al
hours in which the body lay in state a
total Of 10000 people. When the
doors closed at the line of four
abreast stretched fully mile from
the court house and people were still
coming from the side streets to take
places in the line.
At O'Clock the doors were closed /
and preparations made for removing |
the body to the Mckinley residence on !
North Market street. seven squares
from the court house. The Canton |
cGmmanGery Of the G. A. R. acted As |
escort and there was no following. |
Arrived at the house. the escort |
formed in line in the street, presenting
arms while the coffin was borne by the
body bearers and taken into the house.
1t was placed in the front parlor where
it will remain until it is removed to
the church today. The guards are
posted around the house and num-
Der Of sentries placed in the front
yard.