The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-09-20

vanced. keeping a clear area for the ad
vancing casxet and the long train of mourn.
ers. The hearse halted and Immediately
President Roosevelt and members of the
J Cabinet alighted. Again they grouped them
selves at either side of the entrance. and
with uncovered heads, awaited the pass
ing Of the casket. Then the fiower-coveret
| coffin was brought from the hearse. and a.
! it passed within the blaclS-draped entrance
! the President and his Cabinet followed will;
/; in the edifice. The mourners, too. fassed in
side. but the stricken widow was not among
! them. She had remained behind in the old
home, alone with her grief.
CHURCH WAS A
WILDERNESS OF FLOWERS.
The scene within the church when the
casket was carried on the stalwart shoul-
ders of the soldiers and sailors was pro-
fOundly. impressive. A black border twenty
. feet high. relieved at intervals by narrow
white bands falling 10 the floor. swept COM
pletely around the interior. Only the gilt
organ pipes. back Of the pulpit rose above
it. The vestibules on either side of the chan
Gel leading into the church were black tun-
nels. the stained glass windows on either
side were framed in black and the balcony
of the Sunday school to the rear, thrown
'open into the church by large sliding doors,
was shrouded in the same somber colors.
Graceful black streamers festooned along
black canopy above the chancel. From this
directly above the low fag-covered .cata-
falque, on which the casket was to rest,
hung a beautiful silk banner its blood-red
and snow.white folds tied midway with a
band of Grape. But it was the floral display
at the front of the church which filed the
whole ediice with glory
The center OF it all was great wreath
OF American beauties, framing a black bor-
dered portrait of President Mckinley. From
IT. extending outward and upward. was a
perfect wealth of gorgeous blossoms. The
effect was as II a great rushing wave Of
color had broken into flowers, at the foot of
the bier. They extended up even to the
organ pipes against which lay four wreaths,
three broken. as IL to represent the quar-
ters Of the moon. 1t was exquisite Words
melt away powerless before the tender
beauty. Purple and green were the domi-
nant colors-orchids, violets palms and
evergrecns against the somber background.
There We're many handsome pieces.
Against the walls on either side were floral
flags and upon the pulpit rested an urn in
white carnations. broken at the base to
represent the water flowing from 1t. At
either side of this urn was the cross of
the Knights Templars. and the crown of
the knights of Pythias, awhile to the east
was the square and compass of Masonry.
Almost directly above the support for the
cOIHH h. SuHUOTSl Oh ltHQlS RulleTeu ukG
stars in the black sky. The light from
without came dimly through the stained
glass windows.
Under the fields of starry banner, the
fragrance Of flowers lowering all about. and
the music OF Beethoven's grand funeral
march pulsing from the organ, the body
bearers gently lowered the flag draped and
flower adorned coffin to its support.
The members of the Loyal Legion Gov
ernor Nash. Governor McMillin of Tennes-
see and Governor Longina of Mississippi.
each with his full uniformed staff, had al
ready entered the church from the west
entrance and had filled up the most wester-
'ly Of the sections of pews. The members of
the Senate and the House of Representa-
tives had preceded the coffin through the
door at the side of the chancel through
which It entered. They were ushered in as
at all state ceremonies by the sergeant-at-
arms OF each body. Senators Allison OF
Iowa and Bate OF Tennessee headed the
senatorial representation, Of which there
were about forty. and Speaker Henderson
and Representative Dalzell that OF the.
House. OF which more than half of the
membership must have been present.
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
PRESENT BIZ HUNDREDS.
The congressional party filled UP the en-
tire east section Of pews and the rear half
Of the two central sections. The local clergy
men occupied seats below the organ usually
occupied by the choir. All had risen as the
comm was borne in. -.
The Generals. and Admirafs OF the army
and navy, who comprised the guard Of hon.
or. In their resplendent uniforms. followed
the body and occupied the first pew on
either side OF the center aisle.
President Roosevelt and the Cabinet came
slowly after. All were In black; and wore
blank gloves. The President alone had on
an. overcoat. He took his place Immediate
" behind Lieutenant General Miles, next
the center aisle In the second pew to the
eaStward. 90 close was he to the conn
he could almost have. leaned over and
:tnnched Il. Bectetsry Cofte1you. Justice
l6eEenpa oe the ounfGnA Cspsrt - n.