Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1901-09-20


led away by DIR. Rixey and took up
her position at the head OF the stairs,
where she could hear the services
Mrs. Hobart. the widow OF the vice
president during Mr.. Mckinley's mrs.
term, Mr.. Lafayette McWiiliams OF
Chicago. Miss Barber, Miss Mary bar
Der and DR.. Rixey remained with her
The other members Of the family, Mr.
and Mrs. Abner Mckinley. Miss Helen
Mckinley, Mrs. Duncan, Miss Duncan,
Mr.. and Mrs. Barber and Dr. and MRS.
Baer. had Withdrawn to the library. 10
the north OF the drawing room. IN
which the casket lay, and here also
remained other friends when the ser.
vice was held. :.
The friends and public associates OF
the dead president all had opportunity
to view the remains before the ser
vice began.
Senator Hanna, who had fairly wor.
shipped his dead friend for years, en-
tered the room at this time. but did
not approach the casket.
Just before II o'clock President
Roosevelt entered, coming into the
room from the rear through the libra
ry. After passing into the hall he
had made his way around through the
sitting room behind into the library.
There was an instantaneous movement
| in the room as the president ap.
preached. The procession was still
passing from the south side around the
head of the casket and back between
| ii and the members of the cabinet seat.
! ed at It's side. Everyone rose and
all eyes were turned toward the presi'
dent. He moved forward again with
the tide of the procession to his place
at the head Of the line of cabinet OIL
GERS. He held himself erect, his left
hand carrying his silk hat. Those
who were coming toward him fell back
on either side to let him pass. He
paused once or twice to shake hands
silently, but there was no smile to
accompany his greetings. He. too.
like the man deep down in his seat
against the wall, who had forgotten
to rise when the president of the Unit
ed States entered, seemed to be re-
straining a great grief. When Presi-
dent Roosevelt reached the head Of
the line Of cabinet officers he kept his
face away from the casket.
The president appeared to be steel
ing himself for look into the face
of him whose death had made him the
first ruler Of the nation.
The tension in the room was great
everyone seemed to be waiting. The
minister Of the gospel stood with the
holy book in his hand ready to begin.
Perhaps it might have been 60 Sec
onds, it seemed longer. Then the
president turned and at the same time
advanced one step. He bowed his
head and looked down, upon the man
whose burden and responsibility he
had taken upon himself. Long he
gazed. standing immovable save for
a twitching of the muscles of the chin
as he labored with heavy breath to re-
press his emotion. At last he STEP
ped back. Colonel Bingham. the aide
to the president, standing 10 feet be-
low the foot of the casket at the side
of the loyal Cortelyou, glanced in the
direction of the Rev. Charles Edward
Locke of the Delaware Avenue Metho.
dist church, who was to conduct the
service.
The pastor was at the door leading
into the hall, a station whence his
words could be heard at the head of
the stairs. The signal was given and
there welled out from the hall the
beautiful words of LEAD Kindly
Light" sung by quartet. It was
President McKinley's favorite hymn
Everyone within sound of the music
, knew 1t and half of those in the room
put their faces in their hands to hide
their tears. Comptroller Dawes leaned
against bookcase and wept. Presi
dent Roosevelt seemed to be swayine
} to and fro as if his footing were inse
) cure.
Then followed the sermon ant
J prayer.
All present Joined in the Lord.
], prayer as the minister repeated it
President Roosevelt's voice being audi
BILE at the back of the room Tit
service concluded with simple bene
I diction
. The funeral director was about tt
) step forward to place the cover OF
! the casket when suddenly there wa
: movement behind Governor Odell
Senator Hanna who had risen, saw
that the last opportunity to look int,
the face of his dead friend had come
= Pressing forward in an instant he wa
: at the side of the casket and bending
: over looked down into 1t. Almost tw,
!. minutes passed and then he turne,
!. away and the coffin was closed.
Colonel Bingham signalled the bod,
y bearers. Four sailors, two infantr,
;. sergeants and two artillery sergeant
! bore the casket aloft and out OF tn
! house. The president, cabinet an,
: others followed it. Mrs. Mckinley an,
l. the members of the family remained
y The widow had passed through tn
ordeal bravely and without breakin
$ down. The trained nurses and tn