St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-09-18
WHITE HOUSE
Shelters Remains OF
the President
Procession Through the City
In Dead Silence
Route From Buffalo TO Washington t1g3r1
Lined With People

Washington, Sept 1.-THE body OF
President Mckinley lies in the east
room of the White House, where, for
more than four years, he lived as the
chief magistrate of the great American
republic. Up stairs in the apartments
occupied by the family of the late pres
ident, his widow mourns among the
saddest of memories
1t was with simple ceremony ana a.
fitting silence that the body OF the late
president was borne to the Whlte
House, where it was laid upon the pier
in the great east room, in which he hau
stood so often in the pride OF his mah-
hood, to receive the greetings OF the
common people, who he loved De'Ier
than himself.
1t was fitting that such ceremony as
there was should be severely military Ill
character, ~ recognition OF the fact
that the president was COMMANDMENT
chief of the United States army ana
navy. The streets about the station
were filled with mounted troops, ana the
station itself was occupied by soldiers
and sailors in uniform. The blue
coated policemen and the railroad en-
ployes were nearly all that stood for
civil life.
1t was not so on the broad avenue
that led to the White House. There the
people strained and crowded in vast
multitude against the ropes that marked
out the line of procession. The silence
was profound, as the funeral cortege
passed through the national capital;
even a whisper was the exception.
A Gloomy Nigh,
The night was humid and dark, and
the surroundings depressing. The train
was due at S:25, but it was S:3S when
the headlight of the big locomotive
flashed along the rails, and the cars
stopped.
The way was cleared, and down the
pathway strobe body Of soldiers and
sailors. chosen as the body-bearers and
guard. They were met at the entrance
of the observation car where the body
lay by an officer, and admitted at
once. Through the plate glass win
doWs the casket showed in wrappings
of the national flag, covered with rare
garlands and set pieces of flowers. The
undertakers' assistants removed the
floral pieces to the vans which were to
carry them to the White House. The
sailor, with drawn cutlas, and the sol
der, with fixed bayonet, who stood
grimly like men of stone at the head
and foot of the casket gave way to
these men as though reluctant to aban-
don their sad duty.
Meanwhile, farther down the station,
the party on the funeral train were
alighting Mrs. Mckinley was speed,
ily placed in a carriage, which drove
off at once to the White House without
awaiting the procession. Close behind
came the members of the family of the
late president, who, likewise were
driven away Immediately to the eX'
ecutive mansion.
Meanwhile the casket was removed
from the observation car, and received
upon the shoulders of the body-bearers
-Four artillerymen were on the right and
four sailors on the left. They walked
slowly to the hearse. In front of the
casket marched four officers. AS the
casket emerged bugle note rose clearly
and Taps rang out.
PROCESSION to White House
Just beyond the entrance to the sta
ton, President Roosevelt with the mem
,, bers of the cabinet had taken station Sc
= as to leave a broad space for the funeral
cortege. They ranged themselves OF
the sidewalk in double rows opposite
each other, and stood with barred heads
as the corpse was carried to the hearsC
- drawn up at the side gate. The hearst
+ was drawn by six al-back horses eacl
q of which was led by colored groom il
y black livery.
4 Just as the body was being placed il
q the hearsc photographer from near
by window suddenly flashed light TO
r the purpose Of obtaining a reproduction
of the scene. Tie fiashlight and &C
p companying noise made people shuddel
o The hearSe quickly moved away, ant
was followed at once by the carriage o
! President Roosevelt and those accom-
% panying him, Carriages containing tn
70 other notableS followed. The militar
y were already in line. AS the processiO
% swept from the Sixth Street static
is into PENNSYLVANIA avenue, deeply in
II pressiye sight was presented. Th
" historic thoroughfare was hung i
j. black. Embems of the nations mourn
d ing were displayed on every building
,t The Stars and Stripes, furled an
N knotted with crepe, foated from hur
dreds of windows. Over all gleame
coldly scores of electric lights, deiinin
sharply each detail of the solemn scene
al Banked on both sides of the avenu
ut from Sixth street to the executive mar
ne sion We're tens of thousands of people
I'll They were come to pay their tribute O
er respect and love to the memory of thei
MT president. With barred heads and i
rs deep silence the people watched the las
homecoming of President Mckinley