The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-09-17

| The body lay in a black casket on a
/ black bearswin rug. over the lower limbs
| was flung the starry banner he had loved
! so we'll The flowers were few, as befitted
! the simple nature Of the man. A spray OF
I white chrysanthemUms. a flaming bunch
/ OF blood-red American Beauty roses and a
I magnificent bunch Of yiolets were OF the
/ casket That was all Behind the head,
( against a pier mirror, between the two
! curtained windows. rested two superb
wrethes Of white asters and roses. These
were the only flowers in the room.
I Two sentries. one from the sea and one
/ from the land, guarded the remains They
( stood in the window embrasures behind
/ the head OF the casket. The one on the
north was a sergeant of infantry. In the
other window was the sailor, garhed IN
I the loose blue blouse CT the navy.
FAMILYs LEAVE TAKING.
The family had taken leave of their
loved one before the others arrived. Mrs.
Mckinley, the poor, grier-crushed widow.
| had been led into the chamber by her
physician. DR.. Rixey, and had sat awhile
alone with him who had supported and
{ comforted her through all their years of
welded life. But though her support was
gone, she had not broken down. Dry-eyed,
she gazed upon him and fondled his face.
She did not seem to realize that he was
dead. Then she was led away by DR..
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 McKinley's first
term, Mr.. Lafayette McWnliams of Chi
cago Miss Barber Miss Mary Barber and
DR.. Rixey remained with her there.
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Baer had withdrawn into the library 10
the north of the drawing room, in which
the casket lay, and here also gathered
other friends when the service was held.
The friends and public associates Of the
dead president all had opportunity 10 view
the remains before the service began. The
members of the cabinet had taken their
leave before the others arrived. They re-
NAMED seated beside their dead chief
while the sad procession viewed the body.
They were on the north side of it. 4
place directly at the head had been re-
served for President Roosevelt. Secretary
Root sat alongside this empty chair. Then
came Attorney General Knox. Secretary
Long, Secreary Hitchcock, Secretary VII
son and Postmaster General Smith in the
order named. About a hundred in all saw
the body. Some were overcom with grief
at the sight of the thin, pallid counten-
vulsive sobs. Several cIung TO the side Of
the bier and with difficulty could be per-
tear-stained. The great love for this man
chol5ed in all the house.
Among those In the procession were
Senators Fairbanks and Burrows, Gov
ernor Yates of Illinois, Comptroller
Dawes. General Manderson and Mrs.
Henderson. Representative I4ittauer Of
New York, ex-Poshnaster General VIII
liam J. BisseI and the consulting physi-
clans. most of whom had met President
Mckinley personally for the first time
after he was stricken and had learned to
adore him while he suffered so greatly
and patiently on his bed of pain.
Senator Hanna, who had fairly wor-
shipped his dead friend for years. en-
tered the room at this time. but did not
apDroach the casket His face was set
like an iron -willed man who would not
let down the barrier of his grief. The
senator spoke to no one. His eyes were
vacant He passed through the throng
and seated himself behind Governor
Oden. sinking far down into his chair
ana resting his head upon his hand. Dur
ing all the services that followed. he
did not stir.
Just before II o'clock President Rocse-
welt entered, coming into the room from
the rear through the library. After pass
ing into the hall ne made his way around
through the sitting room behind into the
movement in the room as the president
approached.
The procession was still passing from
the south side from around the head of
the casket and back between it and the
members Of the cabinet seated at its side.
Every one rose and all eyes were turped
toward the president. He moved for
war dagain with the tide of the process
sion to his place at the head of the lire
Of the cabinet officers. He held himself
erect, his left hand carrying his silk hat.
Those who. were coming toward him fell
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. ike the man deep
down in his seat against the wall. who
had forgotten to rise when the president
Of the United States entered. seemed 10
be restraining a great grief.
ROOSEVELT STRICKEN.
When President Roosevelt reached the
head Of the line CT cabinet officers. he
liant hiz feoo q NOV T-o-, tho ~,st-~f ~,
infantryman guarding the dead stood be-
fore him as rigid as a statue. Although
the commander-in-chief approached until
he could have touched him. the soldier
did not salute. The president spoke TO
Secretary Root, or, perhaps, it would be
more precise to say that the latter SPOKE
to him. TIE president appeared 70 be
steeling himself for a look into the face
of him whose death had made him the
first ruler Of the world.
The tension in the room was great
Everyone seemed to be waiting The min
lister OF the gospel stood with the holy
book fn his hand. ready TO begin Per
haps 10 might have been sixty seconds.
Il seemed longer. Then the president.
turned and at the same tine advanced
one step. He bowed his head and looked
down upon the man whose burden and
responsibilities he had taken upon HIN
self Long he gazsd, standing immovahlc
save for the twitching q the muscles %
the ckln as h laborei with heavy breath
10 reprcss his emotion AT last ae step
ped back Colonel Bingham. the asd "a
tho president standing ten feet below the
foo- al the casket. 80 the side Of the Ioyal
CorteIvou. glanced IN the direction of the