Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1901-09-20
WILLIAM MCKINLEY.


The friends and public assistants of
the dead president all had opportun
ity to view the remains before the
service began. The members of the
cabinet had taken their leave before
the others arrived. They remained
seated beside their dead chief while
the sad procession viewed the body.
They were on the north side of it.
A place directly at the head had been
reserved for President Roosevelt.
Secretary Root sat alongside this
empty chair. Then came Attorney
General Knox, Secretary Long, Secre-
tary Hitchcock, Secretary Wilson and
Postmaster General Smith, in the or
der named. About a hundred in all
saw the body. Some were so over
come with grief at the sight of the
thin, placid countenance that their
frames shook in convulsive sobs. Sew
eral clung to the side of the bier and
with difficulty could be persuaded to
leave. Almost every face was tear
stained.
Senator Hanna, who had fairly
worshiped his dead friend for years,
entered the room at this time, but did
not approach the casket. His face
was set like an iron-willed man who
would not let down the barriers of
his grief.
Just before II o'clock President
Roosevelt entered. There was an in
Simultaneous movement in the room
as the president appeared. The pro-
cession was still passing from the
south side around the head of the
casket and back between it and the
members of the cabinet seated at its
side.
The president seemed to be steel
ing himself for look into the face
OF him whose death had made him
the first ruler of the world. The ten
sion in the room was great. Everyone
! seemed to be waiting. Then the pres
| ident turned and at the same time
! advanced step. He bowed his head
and looked down upon the man whose
burden he had taken up. Long he
| gazed, standing lmmovable save for
| a twitching of the muscles of the
| chin as he labored to repress his
emotion. At last he stepped back.
| Col. Bingham, the aide to the presi-
! dent, standing below the foot of the
casket at the side of Mr.. Cortelyou,
! glanced in the direction of Rev.
Charles Edward Locke, of the Della
ware Avenue NJ. Z. church, who was
to conduct the service.
The pastor was at the door leading
| into the hall, station whence his
| words could be heard at the head of
the stairs. The signal was given and
there swelled out from the hall the
beautiful words of Lead, Kindly
Light" sung by quartette. 1t was
President McKinley's favorite hymn.
When the singing ended the clergy
man read from the 18th chapter of
First Corinthians. All had risen as
he began and remained standing =
throughout me remainder of the ser
! vice. Again the voices rose with the
words of Nearer, My God to Thee"
the very words President Mckinley
had repeated at intervals of consci-
BUSINESS during the day before he
died. AS the music died away the
pastor spoke again. LET us pray"
he said, and every head fell upon its
breast. He began his invocation with
stanza from hymn sung in the
Methodist church.
All present joined in the Lords
Prayer as the minister repeated it,
President Roosevelt's voice being aud
ible at the back of the room. The
service concluded with simple bene-
diction. The funeral director was
about to step forward to place the
cover on the casliet when suddenly
there was a movement behind Gov
Odell. Senator Hanna, who had
risen, saw that the last opportunity
to look into the countenance of his
dead friend had come. Pressing for
ward in an instant he was at the side
of the casket and bending over and
looking down into it. Almost tive
minutes passed and then he turned
away and the conn was closed.
Col. Bingham signalled the body
bearers. Four sailors. two infantry
sergeants and two artillery sergeants
bore the casket aloft and out of the
house. The president, cabinet ano
the others followed it, Mrs. McKin
ley and the members of the family
remained. The widow had passed
through the ordeal without breaking
down.
1t was within a minute of 11:3(
o'clock when three long rolls of {
muffied drum told those outside the
, house that the funeral cortege was
about to appear. From the darkenet
rooms the assemblage began to fill,
out to the street Soon the walks ant
lawns were again covered with tn,
: silent throng, with heads barred. A
i the moment the casket appeared
, "Nearer, My God to Thee" ascendet
, in subdued strains from one of tn,
military bands. Tenderly the bear