The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-17

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1e.-Through a liv-
ing lane of bareheaded people, stretching
from Buffalo up over the Alleghenies down
into the broad valley of the Susquehanna
and on 10 the marble city on the banks Of
the shining Potomac the Nations martyred d
President to-day made his last journey to
the seat of the government over which he
presided for four and one-half years. The
whole country seemed 10 have drained its
population at the sides of the track over
which the funeral train passed The thin
lines through the mountains and the
sparsely-settled districts thickened at the
little hamlets, covered acres in towns sud-
denly grown to the proportions of respect
able cities and were congested into vast
multitudes in the larger cities. Work was
suspended in field and mine and city. The
schools were dismissed. and everywhere ap-
peared the trappings and tokens of woe. \
million flags at half-mast dotted hillside
and valley and formed a thicket of color
over the cities. And from almost every
banner streamed a bit of crepe. The sta
tions were heavy with the black symbols of
| mourning.
At all the larger towns and cities after
the train got into Pennsylvania militiamen
enormous crowds. The silence with which
the countless thousands viewed the remains
of their hero and martyr was oppressive
| and profound. Only the rumbling of the
trains wheels. the sobs of men and wom-
en- with tear-stained faces and the doleful
tolling of the church bells broke on the
ear. At several places. Williamsport, Har-
risburg and Baltimore the chimes played
10 kar1
| altogether the journey home was the most
remarkable demonstration of universal per-
sonal sorrow since Lincoln was borne TO
his grave. Every one of those who came
to pay their last tribute to the dead had an
opportunity to catch a glimpse Of the flag
covered bier. elevated to view in the OBJ
servation car at the rear of the train.
There was no other bit of color to catch
the eye this train of death. The locomo-
tive was shrouded in black, the curtains of
the cars in which sat the lonely stricken
widow, the relatives of the President, Cab
met and others were drawn. The whole
black train was like shuttered house save
only that hindmost car, where the body lay
guarded by soldier of the army and a
sailor of the navy.
Mrs. Mckinley stood the trip bravely. In
she pleaded so earnestly to be allowed TO
go into the car where her dear one lay that
reluctant assent was given, and she spent
half an hour beside the coffin. All the way
the train was preceded about fifteen min
utes by a pilot engine, sent ahead to
test the bridges and switches and
prevent the possibility of accident.
TO the precious burden ii carried. The train
had the right of way over everything. Not
a wheel moved on the Pennsylvania Rail-
road system thirty minutes before the pilot
engine was due, nor for the same length OF
time after the train had passed. General
Superintendent ]. B. Hutchinson had sent
out explicit instructions covering every de-
tail. The order concluded: Every pre-
caution must be taken by all employees to
make this move absolutely certain"
General Boyd. assistant passenger agent,
had personal charge of the train. The train
left Buffalo at $50 this morning, and ar
rived at Washington at S3S tonight. In
twelve hours, it is estimated. over half a
million people saw the coffin which held all
that was mortal of President Mckinley.