The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-17
the Only Ex-President Living, Who is in Washington Today
Attending the Funeral of the Late President.

military organizations carried their
arms but with colors draped and furied.
The crowds were silent, all was sad,
mournful and oppressive. The people
stood with heads uncovered and many
bowed in apparently silent prayer as
the hearse passed along
After the carriages in which were the
diplomats. followed long line of 9TH
ers containing the justices Of the su-
preme court. the senate and house com
mittees appointed to attend the funeral,
the local judiciary, the assistant secre-
taries OF the several executive depart
ments. members Of the various govern
ment commissions and official repreSen-
tatives of the insular government The
remainder of the procession was COM
posed of large representation of local
bodies Of Knights Templars, over
thousand members of the Grand Army
of the Republic, the Confederate veter-
ans of the city of Washington and Of
Alexandria, Va, various religious and
patriotic societies including the Sons of
the American Revolution, secret socie-
ties and labor organizations and repre-
sentatives of out Of town organizations
The military order Of the Loyal Legion
of which President Mckinley was a
hOnOred member with a representation
from the Pennsylvania and New York
Communicates formed a conspicuous
part in this portion of the procession as
also did the Knights Templar of this
city and Of Alexandria, Va, and a bat
talon Of the uniformed rank Knights
of Pythias- The full force of letter car
riers Of Washington, each with a band
of black crepe around his arm walked
10 the solemn tread of the dirge. The
banners of all Organiza tions were folded
and draped with black and all the
marching civilians wore mourning
badges and white gloves. Fife and drum
corps and bands rendered at frequent
intervals along the route the presidents
favorite hymn, Nearer. My God to
Thee" The procession occupied one
hour and a half in passing a given
point.
PEOPLE WAITED FOR HOURS.
For hours before the arrival of the
funeral cortege at the east front of the
capitol an impenetrable Gordon of peo-
pie had massed along the walk and
areas fronting the plaza. Thousands
had gathered here to pay their last
tribute Of respect and love to the MEM
DRY of the dead magistrate
The entrances to the senate and house
wings of the capitol and the great
marble staircases ascending from the
plaza to the respective entrances of the
house and senate were jammed with
people. A good rain was falling but
their places. 1t was a silent tlrOns.
Scarcely even was the murmur of
whispered conversations audible.
The police arrangements We're per
fected earlier in the day Captains
Cross and Pearsc&. by direction of the
superintendent of police. Major Richard
Sylvester, cleared the plaza and threw
around it a Gordon of officers. The m z in
entrance to the f0tunda of the capitol
in which the religious exercises incident
TO the ObsequieS were to be he'd was
reserved for distinguished guests and
entrance of the funeral party Sho tly
after 9 o'clock selected details from
the Nineteenth. Thirty-ninth and 18th
companies. artillery corps under com
mand of Capt w E Ellis. arrived and
were tationed on the north side of the
main steps ascending from TIE plaza
to the rO1unda A similar detachment
tleship Illinois under command of
Lieut. Destroyer and Nav C7dets {
Williams and Bruff. together with a de-
tail of marines from Washingt- bar
racks. under command of Cant ]. H
Russell, was stationed on the south side
of the steps. Shortly afterwards pr m
inent officers Of the army and nav ia
full dress uniform began to arrive in
carriages They Gil not enter the ro-
tunda at once. but remained on the pOr-
tico. in accordance with general orders !
apart from the guard of honor.
DEWEY CAME EARLY
Admiral Dewey was an early arrival t
He was attired in the brilliant uniform /
of the admiral of the navy. but wore
the regulation service sword with its
knot of crepe at the hilt instead OF the 4
handsome sword presented to him by
the American people. He was given a /
most cordial reception.
At 1912 o'clock the head of the pro-
cessiOn arrived at the north end of the +
capitol plaza but instead OF swinging +
directly into the plaza and passing in F
front of the capitol as usually is done /
on the occasion of presidential inaug- +
1ra tions the military contin gent passed I
eastward on 3 street. thence south on I
First street east. Headed by Major