New-York tribune., 1901-09-20
NETWORKS OBSERVANCE.
SERVICES IN CHURCHES TRAFFIC. SUSPENDED :
BUSINESS HOLsEs CLOsED-SPORTS POSTPONED.
CROWDS THRONG STREETS
IN AWE THEY WATCH THE TOTAL CEssA-
TIoN OF ALL FORMS OF TRAFFIC

TIoN OF ALL FORMS OF TRAFFIC
..o.h.r da, has passeo tuII of significance TO all
VINO saw IL and TO be remembered by them as long
as they live Yesterday was the last OF the series
of days which have been filled with so much sdo IN
terest and experience through the fall OF great
figure before the nation and the world. "heh
Americans In all lands home and abroad, were
giving expression their sorrow in the loss OF th
trusted leader when rulers and people OF Iofeish
nations were laying aside their daily occupations 10
show reverence for the memory Of the Presloeht oi
the United States it appropriate that the city
which holds Americans than any other III tIio
world should be example Of earnest apprecia'ioh
Of the affction which has befalIen all Aineiicaiis
and Of its significance.
The observance in New-York of the day of Presi-
dent McKinley's funeral is therefore an importah
part of the history Of the day 1t was most I'M
pressive time for all who observed it, Thousands
realized that it would be and the city was as
full of visitors eager store up the memory OF
how the DAY passed in New-York. as if some great
celebration and show had been announced
THE CITY DRESSED FOR THE OCCASION.
The dressing OF the city for the occasion had been
going on for five days. All the streets were hung
with funereal black The bright hues OF the nag re-
lieved the severity Of the decorations everywhere
but with no jarring note. for the nauohal cooiS ;
telong TO the sorrows az well as TO the joys OF the
nation and they bear their part as wen IN eA-
pressing the one as the other. Each nag, hod'ine
from the middle of its mast. brought to every mlnd
the thought of the general grief as surely as
spread 10 a higher breeze ii would nave 'oiu oi d
victory OF recalled a day of triumphant memory
Sslues OF canon greeted the sunrise anu were tiie
@rs+ o,,se-,-ance of the day. Again at sunset the
guns we're fred and spoke the last farewell or the
army and the navy their lost commander
Business was put aside in the city as II II hau
been Sunday. II would be lard indeed TO rennen-
her q week day when little work was dohe'
Not even the occupations OF a holiday were goiiis
on On a holiday hundreds are at work 10 aihuse
the thousands The crowds of yesterday old not
II
,hev had The theatres. which on an orolldIS
holiday reap harvests. were all closed Inc many
men and women who are employed IN lleill leSN'u =
with the others All the city offices were smut ana
the business Of city departments ceased an ou'
chat of the Police and the Fire departments 1hey
are among the canngs which have no holidays
sbons we're closed as if il had been Sunday and'
again as if it had been Sunday the chuIces W.. w.
men People of every creed assembled IN their
r1aces of worship for services in memory OF the
dead President Roman Catholic. Protestant and
Jew all prayed at the same time. each IN MS OV u
- temple and in his own way for the rest ol ille
\prest man who has gone and for the removal i1om
he land of the stain of his death Services We're
held on all the ships in the navy YARD all put
unavoidable work being ended for the day.
THE HUGE CROWDS.
And for all this solemn observance more people
were in yesterday than are often seen' except
for some great celebration. All day the streets
were filed with them. Broadway was crowded
through the afternoon from the Battery 10 Central
Park and there were thousands in the Park llseII
The most of these were from out of town There
vas nothing for these people TO DO. and they
seemed desire to 90 nothing. Ihey slIhplS
emin eneG SLOW" o e the solemnity of the day and oi
all that belonged TO it, looking al the deeoralions
when the real funeral service in Canton had be-
fg mon one another the greatest spectacle of all
Because of the size and the seriousness and the
II was not the people from of town alone who
nate al up and down through The middle of the
city. When the well to do New-Yorker is not al
into the country. but the poor cannot go TO the
and so, when no amusenents are prov provleed, tney @
iii the streets. The streets of the East Side yes
city were standing in them. Each street looked
as if the dwelers in al the neighboring streets
of doors TO receive them til the meghboring streets
with unusual vividness how many people live in
The most impressive moment OF sIl came at the
hour which had been ann4unceS ,,I for the moving
Then il had been determined that far as possible
even the work which always must go on should
which most clearly mark the spirit OF the age
transportation ana the conveying OF in5orma ton
s-trd at rest and DO reverence to the life which
he instant of half past three all the streetcars
= city were stopped al The trains Of the & ele-
BriGge halted. the boats in the harbor and on the
We're st For five minutes there wag nrobs h
less activity n New-York City than there has ever
even than in The deadest ho1rs Of the night al.
though all the streets thrOuged with people.
For those who foot stopped on their
way ana stood still the strange sight of
every thing standing still. Crowds gathered about
the electric cars. gazing at them. If to be as
sured of the phenomenon that they did not move.
TRAFFIC AT A sTANDsTILL
On all the lines which take their power from cen
tral stations the pause of course accomplished
simply by shutting off TIE current On the ele-
waited roads and lines Of horsecars orders had been
given TO engineers and conductors 10 make the
telegraph and telephone offices that all work
should cease as far possible and for those five
minutes scarcely message of any kind was con-
Neyed tO OF from NeW-Iork about the CITY At
the same time bells toled. bands in the
squares played solemn music, and in places
CROWDS sang hymns
In the evening many of the visitors had gone
home. but the streets up town still thronged
Upper Broadway was even crowded than on
an ordinary night, for those who did not care 10
spend the whole evening in their homes could
md little 10 do but 10 stroll in the streets. Again
II was silent company, it had beea in the
afternoon. and il moved slowly up and down the
street until il grew tired and gradually melted
away. and this remarka bic day over
This morning business will hegin
sorrow for q time. then they will diSa ppear and
memory alone viii keep IL alive. But memory will
hold II long. Those who the city yesterday
IN its mourning dress and watched the reverent
crowds Of the people and their guests will keep
the picture in their mirds as one of the wonderful
ana indelible Impressions of their lives
A PRESBYTERIAN TRIBUTE
Philadelphia. Sept ls.-The following communica.