The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-09-17
AT THE MILBuRN HOUSE.

AIlOGEn House.
l4.-Absolute quiet prevailed in tho
neighborhod OF the Miiburn residence
through the early hours or the day.
The police maintained the lines on
Delaware avenue and the streets which
intersect IL and double picket lines, pa
trolled by fourteenth infantrymen.
protected them from any Intrusion
Many persons came to the outer police
lines and gaxed In silence at the house
where the body OF the dead president
reposes.
Pathetic figures IN the crowd were
scores Of old Grand Army men who
grieved a the loss OF a comrade. Them
bitterness at she crime seemed melted
in regret. Many OF them pleaded with
the police for admission to the lines. de-
claring that it was their right and
privilege TO guard the body OF the
man who fought in their ranks and was
their comrade. The police regretfully
enforced the order against them.
\ heavy. damp fog still hung over the
city and gave the air a chill that was
penetrating. At o'clock a company OK
the Fourteenth infantry commanded by
Lieutenant James Ware. relieved the
guards. who had been on guard duty for
twenty-four hours. The formalfties or
posting the new guards took place at
once.
None who came TO show their sor-
row for the dead president failed TO ask
was known that she was not strong
physically and there was grave fear
for the consequences OF the suffering
and shock she had experienced. The
first word OF announcement came
from the servants OF the household.
who said that she was still in her
room and had apparently rested well.
This report was amply confirmed at
S:45 O'Clock by DR.. wasdin. who had
called at the house to see her. He said
that she had not only rested fairly
well. but was showing encouraging
strength in her grief
Mrs. Barber and Miss Mckinley, sis
terS of the dead statesman. drove to
the Milbu-n house at $3.50 o'clock and
were at once escorted IN. Both showed
deep grief.
Abner Mckinley. brother OF Presi-
dent Mckinley. drove to the Milburn
house at 10 o'clock. accompanied by
Lieutenant James Mckinley. Colonel
Brown and Mr.. Meek OF Canton. The
police removed the rope lines and the
carriage rolled slowly up To the en-
trance of the house. Mr.. Mckinley
bent forward in his seat in the carriage
and shaded his eyes with his hands.
When he alighted he walked slowly up
to the door of the house with his eyes
downcast and head bent His face
plainly showed the strain and grief OF
the night
At 10 o'clock Milburn house which
all through the morning had been silent
and. to outward appearances. deserted.
showed its first stir. The relatives OF
| Mr.. Mckinley began arriving and the
waiting attendants stood at the open
| door to receive them. Mr.. Milburn
| Joined the party at 10 o'clock and for
| a time stood at he door with barred
| head with some of the friends OF Mr..
| McKinley's family. By that time great
| crowds were banked at he ends OF the
| rope enclosure, but perfect order was
| observed.
| The most painful scene OF the morn
| ing was caused by camera men. To
| the number of more than thirty. they
| gained admission through the police
lines. and even the grief of the reia-
| ttves OF the dead president was not sa-
| cred to them. They pointed their cam
| eras into the tear-stained faces of the
relatives and snapped the shutters. The
| police declined TO take the responsible
| ty Of rejecting them.
| THE CORONER ARRIVES
The coroner Of Buffalo. Mr.. Wilson.
| arrived at the residence at 10 o'clock
| and officially viewed the body He
stated to an Associated Press represen-
| tative that it had been his intention
| 10 empanel jury. but he had been Of
| hcially advised by the district attorney
| that such progress would be unneces-
sary. After the autopsy he said. he
| would issue certificate of death and
| permit for the removal OF the remains.
| Senator Hanna came to the house at
| 1O:4O o'clock accompanied by Cornptrol-
Ter Dawes and Elmer Dover. his pri-
| vate secretary. The senator walked
| slowly and haltinglv and bowed his
| head as he approached the house that
| sheltered the remains OF his dead friend
Exaggerated reports OF Mr.. Hanna's ILL
| ness had been sent out and his ap-
pearance on the street completely dis
PEELED them. He is broken in spirit at
the death OF President Mckinley. but
remains strong physically.
AN AFFECTING INCIDENT.
An affecting incident Of the morning
was the coming Of Mrs. Garret a. Ho-
bart. wife of the former vice president
of the United States. and her son.
Hobart was In deepest mourning and
after her visit to the house. came out
with her handkerchief to her eyes,
weeping.
THE CABINET ASSEMBLIES.
The members Of President McKiaIey's
cabinet began assembling at 1890
o'clock. Secretary Root was the first u
| arrive and after him came Secretaries
Long. Wilson and Hitchcock, Attorney
General Knox and Postmaster General
Smith The only absentees were Secre-
taries Gage and Hay. The cabinet
members went to q rear parlor OF the
Milburn home and there began a con-
ference.
THE AUTOPSY.
At the same moment the surgeons
selected to perform the autopsy had as
| s<Gnbled in the rooms I'D stairs where
the president had died and where his
body still rested.
MESSAGES OF CoNDOLENCE
The expressions of coincidence began
to arrive almost simultaneously with
the announcement Of the presidents
. death. showing that the people every
where had waited on through the weary
watches of the night for the news that
the end had come. After daylight the
| kilograms began to arrive in a steady
stream. thousands reaching the house
| before noon. Those for the grievfnz