Evening journal., 1901-09-17
FUNERAL TRAIN
In WASHINGTON
Presidents Body Arrived in
Nations Capital Last Night
Most Remarkable Demonstration Of
Sorrow Since Lincoln Was Borne
10 Grave

Washington. Sept 17-Through
living lane of bare-headed people
stretching from Buffalo up over the
Alleghenies. down into the broad val.
ley Of the Susquehanna and on to the
marble city on the banks OF the shin
ing Potomac, the nations martyred
President yesterday made his last
journey to the seat of the government
over which he presided for four and
one-half years. The whole country
seemed to have drained its population
at the sides of the track over which
the funeral train passed. The thin
lines through the mountains and the
sparsely settled districts thfckened at
the little hamlets, covered acres in
towns suddenly grown to the proper
tons Of respectable cities, and were
congested into vast multitudes in the
larger cities Work was suspended I'm
field and mine and city. The schools
were dismissed. And everywhere APP
peared the trappings and tokens of
woe. A million flags at half-mast dot-
ted hillside and valley. and formed a
thicket of color over the cities, and
from almost every banner streamed a
bit of creme.
The stations were heavy with the black
symbols of mourning At all the larger
towns and cities after the train got
into Pennsylvania militiamen drawn up
at present arms kept back the enor-
nous crowds. The silence with which
the countless thousands viewed the
remains Of their hero and martyr was
oppressive and profound. Only the
rumbling of the train wheels. the sobs
from men and women with tear-stained
faces and the doleful tolling of the
church bells broke on the ear. At sew
eral places, Williamsport. Harrisburg
and Baltimore, the chimes played
Cardinal Newmans hymn. Taken al
together the journey home was the
most remarkable demonstration Of uni
yersal personal sorrow since Lincoln
was borne to his grave. Every one
of those who came to pay their last
tribute to the dead had an oppor.
tunity to catch a glimpse of the flag
covered bier elevated to view in the
observation car at the rear of the
train.
Black was everywhere. The locomo-
tive was shrouded in It, the curtains
of the cars in which sat the lonely.
stricken widow. the relatives Of the
President, cabinet and others were
drawn. The whole black train was
like a suffered house save only for
that hindmost car, where the body lay,
guarded by a soldier Of the army and
a sailor of the navy.
Mrs. Mckinley stood the trip very
bravely. In the morning, soon after
leaving Buffalo. she pleaded so earnest.
ly to be allowed to go into the car
where her dear one lay that reluctant
assent was given, and she spent half
an hour beside the coffin. The train
had the right of way over everything.
Not a wheel moved on the Pennsylva-
mia railroad system 30 minutes before
the pilot engine was due, or for the
same length of time after the train
had passed. General superintendent
]. b. Hutchinson had sent out explicit
instructions covering every detail
George W. Boyd. assistant general
passenger agent. had personal charge
of the train. The train left Buffalo at
$50 yesterday morning and arrived at
Washington at $50 last night. In ~
hours il is estimated that over half a
million Of people saw the coffin which
held all that was mortal Of President
Mckinley.