Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-09-19
THE FUNERAL TRAIN.
M Dead President Taken from
Buffalo to Washington.

Buffalo to Washington.
olIEP DETAILS OF The JOURNEY.
- Caskst Placed In the White Houss-
Enhlems Of the Nations Mourning
Everywhere Incidents on the
Journey from Buffalo,
Washington, Sept. 1.-THE remains
~ President Mckinley last night laid
III the east room of the white house,
! where for more than four years he
had made his home as the chief mag
istrate Of the great American repub-
10. Upstairs his widow mourned for
her dead in the family apartments
that now brings back but the saddest
o4 memories. 1t was with simple
ceremony and q silence that fitted
y perfectly the sadness of the occasion
4 that the body of the late president
was borne up Pennsylvania avenue
to the white house and laid upon the
bier in the great east room where
I he had stood so often in the pride of
biz manhood to receive the greetings
Of the common people he loved bet
ter than himself.
It was fitting that such ceremony
Is there was should be severely mill
tary in character, in recognition OF
the fact that the president was the
commander-in-chief Of the United
States army and navy. Nowhere has
there been show Of civilian particle
ration. The streets about the station
were filed with mounted troops and
the station itself was occupied by
stalwart soldiers and sailors in uni
form. The blue-coated policemen
and the railroad employees were
nearly oil that stood for civil life.
II was not SO on the broad stretch
d avenue that led to the white house.
There the people strained and crowd
~ IN vast multitude against the
atif wire ropes which restrained them
from the space marked out for the
~.
line Of procession. The silence that
marked the progress of the funeral
party through the national capital
was profound. The people, as a
whole, did not talk even in whispers
and the only sign Of agitation in the
great crowd was the silent pressing
and striving against the ropes to see
I the mournful cortege which swept
\ along.
The afternoon was cloudy and with
the close Of the day began the dull,
depressing boom Of great gun at in
( tervals Of five minutes. II was the
signal which gave notice Of the mp
proach Of the funeral train. At the
\ Pennsylvania railroad station men in
bright uniforms gathered, mixture
Of soldiers and sailors, and with low
I cred voices talked in groups while
waiting to take up their parts in the
ceremony. From the brigadier gen
eral and naval captain down to the
humblest lieutenant and ensign every
officer on duty in the capital was
( there, save few Of high rank, who
composed the guard of honor, and
waited at the white house.
The train was due ut 1928, but the
clock stood at 1888 when the head
light Of the big locomotive flashed
along the rails and the cars rolled
quietly to stop at the gates. The
way was cleared and down the path
way strobe body Of sturdy soldiers
chosen as the body bearers and guard
They were met at the entrance of the
observation car, where the remains
Law, by an officer and admitted al
Dnce, Through the clear plate glass
windows the casket showed in wrap
pings OF the national flag. covered
with rare garlands and set pieces Of
flowers. The undertakcrs' assistants
removed the floral pieces to the vans
which were to carry them to tho
white house. The sailor with drawn
Outlass and the soldier with 6xet
bayonet who stood grimly like mer
Of stone at the head and foot Of tn,
casket gave way grudgingly to thes'
men, as though reluctant to aban
don their sad duty.
Meanwhile, farther down the sta
ton the party on the funeral traiI
Il were alighting. Mrs. Mckinley wal
4 aided by Abner Mckinley and DIR
Rixoy and was speedily placed in
carriage which drove off at once Il
the white house without awaiting tn,
procession. Close behind came thu
members OF the family OF the lat'
president, who likewise were driver
y away into the executive mansion
Mrs. Mckinley was deeply yelled. Sh'
appeared to bear up with fortitude
hut leaned heavily on the arms Of hel
supporters. President Roosevelt
came next. His arm was closet.
clasped by Capt. Cowles, of the navy
! his brother-in-law, who walked rather
hastily along between the files o
oilcers to the carriage waiting neal
the gates Of the station. The presi
dent walked firmly erect, looking t.
neither side, his face set and sorrow
full. Close behind him pressed thu
members Of the cabinet, escorted b,
Gen. Gillespie and contingent Of thu
ranking army and navy officers il
waiting. Senator Hanna and Sena
4