Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-09-20
MEMORIAL SERVICE
AT FAIR GROUNDS
Attracted Tbrona of About Fifteen
Thousand Peopie-The Exercises
in Detail.

Thousand PeopIe-The Exercises
in Detail.
By half past one yesterday afternoon
the people began assembling at the
fair grounds and long before the pro-
cession arrived every available seat on
the grand stand, save those reserved
for the chors and school children, was
occupied and hundreds had gathered in
the space In front 1t was z quiet as
semblage-an assemblage with SORROW
in the faces and grief In the hearts--an
assemblage that fully realized 1t had
dizment. but to pay its tribute of respect
to the memory of William Mckinley,
martyred President and Christian gen
tleman of the republic. =
At 2 O'Clock came the slund of the
first gun of the salute that annoulced
also the starting of the procession over
in the city. A deeper quiet passed over
the assembled thousands as the sounds
OF the minute guns continued and In
many eyes tear drops glistened.
CeaseIessly the throngs or people came
from the Ohio towns across the rier,
from the island. from the city. the lat
ter containing many old men, too old
to walk in the procession.
| Just before o'clock the solemn
sound of the funeral music announced
the approach of the great procession,
and soon the regiments of the National
Guard appeared, marching slowly IN
at the eastern entrance 10 the race
track. With soider-like precision they
came straight across the circle and
formed on its western side, opposite
the grand stand. Following them came
the divisions, one by one, until all had
taken their allotted places.
The second division turned to the
right and came around the northern
semicircle of the track to the speakers
stand They made fine appearance
as they passed around the track, the
| Knights Temp,ars with their white
plumes and black suits at the head of
the column, and the other civic soce-
ties in bright uniforms forming the bal
ance of the division. AS Melsters band
| leading this division, reached the
stretch it played My Country lis of
i Gee" and 1t sent a thrill through ev-
cry heart.
The school children, in the next di-
! vision, came around the south end of
! the track and filed into the grand stand,
occupying the south section reserved for
| them.
BY this time the vast throng had so
increased that it filed all the space in
| front of the grand stand away out to
where the National Guard were station
ed and extended away to the distant
! right and left.
Not less than $4,000 people were pres
ent when Mayor Sweeney, rising from
amidst the distinguished group OF citi-
| zens on the speakers platform, announc-
! ed that Nearer My God to Thee" would
be sung by the audience led by the
choirs Meister's band played the ar
! and tnen the thousands joined In sing
! ing the dead Presidents favorite
hymn.
| And what a scene It wasl
AS the great volume of song rose up
| on the air it was as II a multitude pray
! ed in unison and tears were in the eyes
! of strong men unused to shed them.
After the rendering of the hymn the
venerable DR.. Cunningham, pastor OF
the First Presbyterian church, invoked
! the divine blessing on the
! country, the President, the be-
i reaved wife at Canton, and upon the
vast assemblage gathered to do honor
to the country's leader, lying dead at
his home 1t was a heartfelt, earnest,
touching supplieation for wisdom and
/ guidance and comfort from the Infinite
! cO,,roa NJ all thfnpg