The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-18
THROUGH THE DARKNESS.
All Night Long the Funeral Train
Journeyed Westward.

Harrisburg, on board the funeral
train Sept 1S.-Leaving Washington.
the long winding train bearing the re-
mains of the martyred presid mt
plunged out into the darkness and hur-
ried like a black streak on its mournful
journey. The curtains of the train were
drawn as it pulled out of the station.
save for the observation car, in which
the corpse lay guarded by a soldier
and sailor of the republic That car
alone was flooded with light The
countless thousands. extending from
the station far out into the suburbs of
the national city, waiting patiently
there in drenching rain to pay farewell
had an opportunity to catch a last fleet
ing glimpse of the hag-covered casket
as the train sped by. Several thousand
people on the bridge over the eastern
branch of the Potomac, straining for
a last look, could be seen by the lights
strung on the bridge as the train moved
under it, The funeral train was d.
vided into three sections. running ten
minutes apart. A section containing
the Cuban commission and number
of officials of the government was pre-
coded Is minutes by a pilot engine. The
last section contained guard of honor.
After clearing " ashingtOn all was dark
ness. The tram seemed to be running
through a tunnel, so black was the
night. Now and then the faces of a
little mournful group, bareheaded at
the side of the track could be seen By
the light from the death chamber as
the train flashed by, and as the little
villages between Washington and Bal
tinore were passed the sound of tolling
bells came family to the heavy heart
ed mOurners aboard.
AS the train came out of the long
tunnel leading to Baltimore. before
reaching the union station thousands of
silent forms could be seen and the dis
NAL tolling Of the bells could be heard.
A clear drawn bugle call sounded
requiem. At the union station crowds
h. IL do .F no
pie had gained access to the train shed
and they gazed sorrowfully at the cas-
ket while the locomotives were being
shifted. The train, which had arrived
at 9:34 D. m, pulled out for the west
few minutes later.
Passing out of the station at Balti-
more the track was lined with people.
Laborers and handsomely dressed wo-
men stood side by side. Once or twice
a quick flare from a photographers
hashlight exposed the whole train to
view
At Parkton, just before the Maryland
line was reached, brief stop was made
to attach an extra engine to help the
heavy train up the grade at this point
Then for miles the train ran through
the Dutch settlements of Pennsylvania
1t was now after 10 o'clock, but many
Dunkards were at the track. Others of
these simple folk could be seen in the
open doorways of their lighted farm
houses The lighted death chamber ia
the rear car must have been an i'm
pressive spectacle; the bier in full view,
the soldier at salute and jacktar with
drawn sword guarding the body. The
twinl<ling Of the light from that car
was probably seen for miles through
the darkness York was reached at 80
p. m. Ten thousand people were at
the station and along the track leading
to it. The bells tolled dolefully as the
train passed.
The train slowed up but did not stop
at York where the entire population
seemed to have waited far into the
night to see 1t pass The dolorous toll
ing could be distinctly heard by those on
board. Soon after leaving York all had
retired aboard the trains, and they sped
along in darkness It was raining
steadily but neither rain nor the late
ness of the hour kept the mourning
people from being at the track to pay
their final tribute of honor and respect
to their departed.