The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-09-24

posted in the little front room, former
ly used as the presidents library, she
pleaded to be allowed to enter the room
and sit beside the casket. Consent was
reluctantly granted. and for half an
hour the stricken widow sat in the dim
light beside the .flower-draped bier
Then she was led away to her room and
has not left it since. Through this
morning she wept ~piteously our after
hour.
Owing to her condition she was able
to take no part in any of the ceremo-
MES today. neither at the church nor
coming into the chamber of death when
the body was borne away for the Ia.
time. From this time on she will be
guarded with the most solicitious are
and quiet, for it is only in this way
h a a collapse can be averted.
THE COFFIN NOT OPENED AGAIN.
The face of the late president was
seen for the last time when it lay in
state yesterday in the court house. The
casket was not opened after it was re-
moved to the Mckinley residence and
the members of the family had no op-
~portunity to look again upon the silent
features.
The casket was sealed before it was
borne away from the court house. When
Mrs. Mckinley came into the death
chamber last night for her last mo-
ment beside her dead husband, she
wished to hav a I'M look at the up
turned face; but this was impossible,
and the sealed casket with it's flowers
and flags were all that h saw
MAGNIFICENT FLORAL TRIBUTES.
The collection of flowers was probably
the most beautiful ever seen in the
United States. The Conservatives of
the country had been denuded to sup
ply them.
From the four quarters of the earth
came directions to adorn the bier of Nc
Kinley with flowers whose fragrance
might be symbolical of the sweetness
and purity of the ended life; but those
tributes from foreign countries were
buried beneath the floral b of Nc
Kinley'S countrymen. There were tons
and tons of them and a list of those
who sent them would be almost a COM
plete roster of those prominent in the
official, commercial and social life of
the United States.
ASSEMBLING FOR THE FUNERAL
AS the time approached for bearing
the body of the dead president from the
Mckinley home to the church. the little
cottage on north Market street was the
centre of "a vast c~oncourse Of people.
Regiment after regiment of soldiers,
acting as guards were in triple lines
from the curb back to the lawns.
The walks had been cleared and the
| multitude took refuge on the great
sweep of lawns where they formed a
solid mass of humanity Surging forward
to the lines of the soldiers. In front of
the Mckinley cottage were drawn up
the two rigid files of body bearers
eight sailors of the navy and eight SOL
diers OF the army. awaiting the orG"r
to go within and take I'D the casket.
THE PRESIDENT ARRIVES.
Just at 1 o'clock. the black chargers
| of the Cleveland troop swept down the
| street, their riders four abreast, in their
brilliant HusSar uniforms. with flags
| bound in crepe and every sabre hilt
showing its fluttering emblem Of mourn
ing. Their coming was the signal for
the approach of President Roosevelt
| and the members of the cabinet. The
| presidential party moved up the walk
to the entrance of the house n form
ed in a group to the left. The presi-
| dents face looked very grave and he
stood there silently with uncovered
head awaiting the body Of the dead
chieftain. Beside him stood Secretaries
| Gage. Root. Wilson. and Hitchcock
and just across. Attorney General Knox.
Postmaster General Smith, Assistant
Secretary of State Hill. representing
Secretary Hay. and Secretary Cortel-
you.
THE GUARD OF HONOR.
4 EAlcIlulIS 1uTlnST uONu luc vain was
the guard Of honor. the ranking gener-
ais of the army on the right and the
chief figures of the navy on left.
Lieutenant General Miles. in the full
uniform of his high rank. with sword
at his side and band of crepe about his
arm stood alongside the members OF
the cabinet, n with him were Major
Generals Brooke. Otis and Macarthur
and Brigadier General Gillespie. Across
from them was ranged Rear Admiral
Farquhar. representing Admiral Dewey,
ranking head Of the navy, Rear Admiral
Crowninshield. Rear Admiral O'Neil,
Rear Admiral Kenney and Brigad'er
General Haywood. the latter comrlan-
der-in-chief of the marine corps.
AS the presidential party came up the
black chargers of troop A, swung into
battalion front facing the house. and
the long line OF flashing sabres ad-
vanced to salute.
PRIVATE SERVICES AT THE RES
IDENCE.
Now the deep toned wall OF the
church bells began and every steeple In
Canton gave forth it's dolorous plant
It was lis o'clock and the time had
come for taking up the body. A brie1
' private service had been held within the