The Washington times., 1901-09-15
At THE HOUSE OF SORROW
The Military Guard Still Kept
About the Milburn HOme.Fz
Cabinet Members Meet and Hold
Session-Mr. Roosevelt Calls to Pay
n visit of CondoIence-Mnny Rich
Floral lTributes-Scenes of the Day.

BUFFALO, Sept. 1.-THE Milburn hous'
was the centre of as much interest today
as it has ever been since the tragedy
bat the interest that was displayed was
of a much different character. Yesterday
on the part of everyone. it was persona
solicitude for the sufferer, sympathy FOL
his wife and friends in the ordeal through
which they were passing with monenta-
rily decreasing hopes.
Today the interest was n sad one, but
death made it different. 1t was an inter
est on the part of all, filled as it was
with grief in the events occurring in
and around the house in connection with
the changes taking place in the Govern
ment and the characters concerned IL
them.
The crowd that stood as near II
could get to the house on all avenues OF
approach was fully as large as IT has
| been any day past. But it was silent
crowd and showed by this silence the
sorrow that made heavy the hearts OF
all
Through the night, after the Presi-
dents death, people came up to the
guards at the lines and asked in hushed
tones: rs the President really dead?
One old woman who enquired this
turned, away with the tears falling down
the burrows in her face Poor Mrs.
| Mckinley" she said.
| Many of those who came up this way to
| learn that the President was dead were
| Grand Army veterans. One man, who
| said he was from an Ohio post, asked
| particularly how the President had died.
A policeman told him what he had heard.
| He was a soldier. and / knew he would
/ -
1 all.
| A hush seemed to fall on everything
| around the house after the end had
| come This same feeling continued all
Gay. People kept their eyes fixed on the
house and found it almost impossible to
| realize that inside a room there the Pres
ident. of whose recovery only two days
| ago everybody was so certain. lay dead.
After the crowd that mad heard the
news of the ending of the Presidents life
had dispersed and the excitement attend
ing the last hours had suDsided, it was
unusually quiet in the neighborhood and
about the house. This lasted until the
| forenoon hours, when the important
events OF the day consequent upon the
Presidents death began.
About the only persons who went in the
house before daylight were the undertak-
ers. George L. Doullard and Harry ].
Koch. They remained in the house near
Iy all day. but could do little until after
the autopsy.
Secretary Cortelyou, after the people
who had been with the President in his
last hours had. left the house, laid down
Tor >much-needed rest 1t was said that
f,es hads sSrN -6illF eight hours since the
President was shot. Mrs. Mckinley was
then also sleeping. She did not know the
President was dead at the time, nor did
she know until 3 o'clock. 1t was learned
later IL the day the announcement was
made to her at that hour.
Mrs. McWilliams. her cousin. was with
Mrs. Mckinley at the time the news of
the death was broken to the latter,
and she and others of the family
comforted her as much as possi-
BILE. There have bel many rumors
through the day to the effect that Mrs.
NcKfnley's condition was alarming. There
have. been positive denials from persons
intimate with herthat such reports were
true. Mrs. McWilliams left the house
shortly after 9 o'clock and said Mrs. Nc
Kinley was resting quietly. Mrs. Nc
kinley," said she. realized that the out
come of her husbands Illness might pos
prepared for it somewhat"
This morning about o'clock there were
a re,w arrivals at the BIilburn house. prin-
cipally of those who had been present
there during therlast hours of the Presi-
dent. Miss. Helen Mckinley. Miss Mary
Barber, and Lieut.. James Mckinley,
nephew and nieces Of the President. ar
rived carly.
1t was 1890 when members of the Cabi-
net began to arrive. Secretary Root and
Secretary Long We're the first, and they
We're followed by Secretaries Wilson.
Hitchcock, Attorney General Knox and
Postmaster General Smith. They said
that they would hold meeting then and
this began soon after they entered the
house.
After this there was p stream of yisi-
tors Governor Yates of Illinois. with
the members Of the Illinois delegation TO
the exposition. arrived to pay their re-
spects. Later came the Mexican delega-
ton, headed by the Mexican Minister.
There were six OF the Mexicans, attired
in frock coats and silk hats, and they
marched very solemnly, two by two. up
to the house and left their cards.
Senator Hanna arrived early. He spent
nearly the entire day at the house.
At u:i5 Senator Depew arrived. Mr..
Milburn who came out of the house
at noon, announced to the report
ers that the Cabinet was still in session
then. 1t was also learned that Judge
Hazel would be the person to swear in
the Vice President. and they were wait
ing for him 10 arrive. Mr.. Milburn said
that with the Cabinet members were also
Senator Hanna, Senator Fairbanks, and
Col Myron T. Herrick. No word had
come from them.
At O'Clock Miss Barber came out with
Mrs. McWnliams Asked about Mrs. Nc
KinIey. they said: she is doing as well
as could be expected, and we do not ap-
prehend any serious outcome"
1t was 1:2o O'Clock when the members
of the Cabinet began to leave. Their
meeting had lasted two hours. All of
them plainly showed the effect of the
suspense that everyone has felt. AS Sec
retary Wilson reached the corner an old
friend rushed up to him.
This is terrible thing" he said.
1T is simply awful" was Secretary
Wilson'S remark, and he looked as though
he was about to break down. Then the
Cabinet members gave out a tentative
plan for the funeral arrangements and
added that they had also decided to ask
the Vice President TO be sworn In. In
terest. after the Cabinet meeting. began
to centre in the arrival at the house of
Colonel Roosevelt
Shortly after p. m. men began TO dec
orate the house in mourning. During the
time the. President was alive. there was
only one flag on the house. IT WAS draped
over the balcony on the side where his
room was. There is corresponding bal