The Washington times., 1901-09-15

road at 1:35 this afternoon. He had
hard nights ride from the north woods to
Albany, and then swift rush across the
State by train. but his bronzed face show
ed no signs of fatigue as he stepped from
the train to the pletforr1. He looked
grave and saddened, but not in the least
fatigued.
The crowd that greeted him was small
one for the reason that it hal been un-
derstood that he would come to the Union
Station. There people in great num-
bers were assembled to see him. Pre-
cisely for the purpose of avoiding any
demonstration of that kind it was ar
Terrace Station, where Mr.. Roosevelt was
met by Ansley Wilcox and George VIII
liams, in Mr. Williams carriage. togeth-
er with a detachment of the Fourth Sig
nal Coros. mounted. and a squad of twen-
ty mounted police.
With the police and military moving at
a rapid trot in front Of the carriage and
behind, the Vice President drove swiftly
up Delaware Avenue to the house No.
Gil. which has now become one of the his
toric mansions of the country.
Mr. RooseveIts Tribute.
A considerable crowd had gathered in
the neighborhood of the house as the
Vice President and his cavalcade came
Gathering up the avenue and stood si-
lently by az Mr. Roosevelt left the car
riage and walked rapidly up the terrace
steps and so on to the house. There was
not so much as a murmur when the Vice
President alighted. and his appearance
when, a short time afterward, he came
out to start for the Miiburn house, was
greeted with the same grave silence
1t was purely as a private citizen that
Mr.. Roosevelt went TO the house where
the President lay dead. When his eye
lighted on the military and police escort
stin drawn up in the street, he entered
a vigorous objection. and as he was get
ting into the carriage and the military
was lining up to follow him, he called
upon them in short, sharp command
TO halt"
Then he said that he would only have
two policemen go with him So this ar
rangement was made ami with a mounted
policeman on each side Of his carriage he
drove eff up the avenue toward the house
that was nearly a mile away.
1t was solely to pay his respects TO
Mrs. Mckinley that the Vice President
made his visit to the Milburn house, and
although nearly all the members of the
Cabinet were there when he arrived. it
was only as private citizens mourning
for a common friend that they met.
The stay there was short, and when MIR.
Roosevelt started back TO the Wilcox
house it was understood that he was 10
be followed quickly by Cabinet members.
who were TO take part in the ceremony of
the administering of the oath as President
of the United States.
Various rumors were current as to this
ceremony. 1t was even reported that the
Vice President had been sworn in on his
way down from the north woods. II was
very positively asserted that the oath was
to be administered at the Milburn house.
But crowd still hovered about the vicin-
ity of Mr.. Wilcox's residence, and when
The Vice President reappeared there fel-
lowed by Judge Hazel and members of the
Cabinet, it was then known the men wait
ing had not erred in their judgment
The Oath Administered.
The ceremony was so brief that it was
over almost before those out in the street
knew it had begun. They only knew that
Theodore Roosevelt was the President of
the United States when the people in the
house came streaming out on the veranda
and among them the members of the Cab
met, who, singiy and in pairs, entered car
riages and drove away.
And over the proceedings, over the hush
ed crowds in the streets. in thevery atmos-
phere itself, there was a peculiar weight
of sadness that was indescribable. yet
real and sensible This same
spirit of melancholy, indeed. seems to
hover about all that part of the city where
the Milburn house is.
1t is seen particularly in the faces of
hose who gather about the barrier ropes.
The numbers OF these today were almost
As great as in the exciting moments when
the Presidents life was hanging by a
thread.
Then the faces turned fixedly in the di-
rection OF the Milburn house, two blocks
away, were faces of anxiety; today they
all bore the stamp Of sorrow. To look at
them one would have imagined that the
people there had lost some personal friend
that was dear to them. From the first to
the last these outward indications of af-
lection for President Mckinley have been
and now that he is dead, this
fact is even more apparent.
Mr.. Milburn said tonight that Mrs Nc
Kinley was quite calm and peaceful. She
had spent the day in her room. Mr.. Mil
burn stated positively that she would ac-
the body to Washington on
morning.
The only persons connected with the
President who will remain in the house
all night with the body are Mrs. McKin-
ley. Mrs. Barber, her sister; Miss Barber,
her niece; Secretary COrtelyou, and DR.
Rixey. Abner Mckinley and the other
relatives left the house about 10 O'Clock
The body was embalmed this evening
and prepared for burial, but it was not
placed in the coffin. This Will be done
tomorrow morning. 1t was said by those
who had seen the body that the face wore
= most natural expression, although It
was little thin. The expression of the
features was that of perfect peace.