The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-09-26
EgE2TEsSSxa

N.,IlOl, SpPCIdI.- Win UlGJeStlC So
lemnity. surrounded by his country
men and his townspeople, in the pres
ence OF the President Of the United
States. the cabinet. justices of the
United States Supreme Court, Senator's
and Representatives in Congress, the
head of the military and naval cstab-
lishmentS, the Governors Of States, and
a great concourse Of people who had
known and loved him. all that is NOR
tai OF the third President to fall by an
aSSassin's bullet was committed TO the
grave on Thursday. 1t was spectacle
of mournful grandeur. Canton ceased
to be a town and Swelled to the proper
tons of a great city. From every city
and hamlet in Ohio from the remote
corners of the South and from the East
and West, the human tide flowed into
the town until 100000 people were
within its gates, here to pay their last
tribute to the fallen chief.
The final scene at the First Metho-
dis; church. where the funeral service
was held and the beautiful West Lawn
Cemetery. where the body was ConSign-
ed 10 a vault, were simple and impress
s!ve. The service at the church con-
sisted OF brief oration, prayers by the
ministers of three denominations and
singing by a quartette. The body was
then taken to Westlawn and placed in
a receiving vault, pending the time
when it will be finally laid to rest be-
side the dead children who were buried
years ago The funeral cortege was
very impressive. and included not only
the representatives Of the army and
navy of the United States, but the en-
tire military strength Of the State OF
Ohio and hundreds Of civic, fraternal
and other organizations. 1t was two
miles long.
One Of the most pathetic features OF
the day was the absence of Mrs. Nc
kinley from the funeral services at the
church and in the cemetery when the
body Of her husband was laid 10 rest.
Since the first shock of the shooting,
then Of the death and through the or
dea! of state ceremonies, she mad borne
I'D bravely. But there is limit to hu-
man endurance and when the day came
il found her two weak to pass through
the trials of the final ceremonies.
Through the open door Of her rocm she
mains of the late President, from the
body was borne out of the house. After
that Dr.. Rixey remained close By her
side. and although the full force OF the
calamity had come upon her, it was be-
lieved by those about her that -here
was a pr0vdential mercy in her tears,
as they gave some relief 70 the an
guish OF the heart within.
The streets Of the little city OF Can
Ton were filed with plutne9. pranclng
horses and densaly packed bodies or
moving men assembling here for the
procession which was to es;orc the "e-
mains of the late President from the
church to Westlawn Cemetery. Thirty
special trains. in addition TO the :eSu-
lar trains. had arrived before neon.
The biggest crowd in the history OF
Canton. which was here during the
campaign of 1896 estimated at owe"
60 OOOO, was exceeded today. The awe
stricken crowds upon their arrival all
moved as by a common impulse to-
WaTu JUe Olu ldLllItdl -iNANiAtNs Wv
tage, Ehe"e the :nmains Were iyirG.
Military guards stationed at the four
corners Of the lawn paced their beats,
but there was no other 'iga or life
about the house Of death. he window
shades were down. A long border o.
black which had been nut III place after
the body was removed to the house
:xl F,;, no rnOf Of fh,a nDrrh
from which President Mckinley had
spoken to delegations from every State
in the union and where he had met and
talked with all the chieftains OF his
party. No badge Of conventional
mourning was on the door. Instead
there was a simple wreath Of palms
bisected by a beautiful band of wide
purple satin ribbon.
The face of the President was seen
for the last time when It lay i'll state
Wednesday in the court house. Tho
casket was not opened after it was re-
moFad to the Mckinney residence and
the members OF the family had no Op-
portunity 20 look upon taC silent feat
ures again. The casliet was sealed be-
fore it was borne away from the court
house. When Mrs. Mckinley came .nto
the death chamber 70: her last NC
ments beside her dead husband She
wished to have a final look 1t the up
turned face. But this Was Impossible
and the sealed casket with its flowers
and flags were all that she. saw.
The collection of flowers was proha-
b1v +La most beautiful ever seen in tlC
United States. The conservatories OF
the country had been denuded to sup
plv them. From the four quarters OF
the earth came directions to adorn the
bier of Mckinley with flowers whose
fragrance might be symbolical OF the
oo+,ass ond nuyity Of the ended life.