The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-17

the United States army and navy. No
where was there show Of civilian partici-
patton. The streets about the station were
filled with mounted troops. and the station
itself was occupied by stalwart soldiers
and sailors in uniform. The blue-coated
policemen and tie railroad employees were
nearly all that stood for civil life. It was
not so on the broad stretch of avenue that
led TO the White House. There the people
strained and crowded in a vast multitude
against the stiff wire ropes which re-
| strained them from the space marked out
| for the line Of procession The silence that
| marked the progress of the funeral party
| through the national capital profound.
| The people, as a whole. did not talk, even
! in whispers and the only sign of agitation
| in the great crowd was the silent pressing
and striving against the ropes to see the
| mournful cortege. which swept slowly
| along.
| ASSEMBLING OF ESCORT.
The afternoon was cloudy and with the
| close of the day began the dull depressing
| boom of a great gun at intervals of five
minutes. 1t was the signal which gave
| notice of the approach of the funeral train.
At the Pennsylvania Railroad station men
| in bright uniforms gathered, a mixture of
| soldiers and sailors, and with lowered
| voices talked in groups while waiting to
take up their parts in the ceremony. From
the brigader general and naval captain
| down to the humblest lieutenant and en-
| sign, every officer on duty in the Capital
was there save a few of high rank who
composed the guard of honor and waited at
the White House
| Presently in dead silence two troops of
cavalry from Fort Meyer swung from
Pennsylvania avenue into Sixth street.
| Then came Secretaries Hay, Gage, Acting
Secretary Sanger and Commissioner Nc
| Farland and a few subordinates privileged
to enter the space within the station where
| the train to stop. Among them was
| the veteran captain, Charles Loeffler, who
| had been the personal messenger and usher
to President Mckinley, and of every other
| President back to the administration of
| President Grant; Major Pruden, assistant
secretary to the President. Mr.. Barnes and
Warren Young, and others of the White
House staff. These and the army and
navy officials awaited inside the station
the speeding train. The night was humid
and dark. and the surroundings depressing
in spite of the official gold lace everywhere
| about.
/
| S:25 D. m, but the clock stood at S:42 p. m.
when the headlight of the big locomotive
flashed along the rails and the cars swept
| quietly to a stop at the gates. The way
| was cleared. and down the pathway strode
| a body of sturdy soldiers and sailors chosen
as the bodybearers and guard They were
met at the entrance of the observation car,
where the remains lay by an officer and
| oAp af tba cla MI ata
glass windows the ca sket showed in wrap
pings of the national flag covered with rare
| garlands and set pieces of flowers. The
undertaker's assistants removed the floral
pieces TO the which were to carry
them to the White House. The sailor with
| drawn cutlass and soldier with fixed bay
onet who stood grimly like men of stone at
the head and foot of the casket gave way
grudgingly to these men as reluctant to
! abandon their sad duty.
THE FUNERAL PARTY.
Meanwhile, further down the station. the
| party on the funeral train was alighting.
| Secretaries Hay and Gage had pressed for
| ward and entered the car where the mourn
| ers sat and assisted them to descend. Mrs.
| Mckinley was aided by Abner Mckinley
| and Dr. Rixey and was speedily placed in
| carriage, which drove off at once to the
| White House without awaiting the process
| sion. Close behind came the members of
| the family of the late President, who like
| wise were driven away to the executive
| mansion. Mrs. Mckinley was deeply veiled.
She appeared to bear up with fortitude, but
! leaned heavily on the arm of her sup
porters.
President Roosevelt came next His arm
| was closely clasped by Capt Cowles, Of
! the navy, his brother-in-law who walked
rather hastily along between the files Of
| officers to the carriageway next the gates
| of the station. The President walked
| firmly erect, looking to neither side, his
| face set and sorrowful. Close behind him
| pressed the members OF the Cabinet, head
| ed by Secretary Hay and Secretary Gage.
| escorted by General Gillespie and a con-
| tingent of the ranking army and naval Of
| fcers in waiting. Senator Hanna and
| Senator Fairbanks followed. The former
walked without a sign of weakness and as
though he had nerved himself to the oc-
| casion
| Meanwhile the casket being removed
| from the observation car. One of the large
windows was lowered at the side and slowly
| and carefully the casket was slipped out
| through the opening and tenderly received
upon the bent shoulders or the body Dear
| ers. Four artillerymen from Fort Henry,
| Md, were on the right and four sailors on
| the left. Strengthening themselves under
| their burden they walked slowly towards
| the hearse. Before the casket marched
| four officers-Major Parker, Colonel Bing-
| ham, Captain Gilmore and Major McAuley.
| and in that order While the officers on
| either side and in the entrance stood with
| uncovered heads the remains were carried
/ to Sixth street and placed in the hearse
AS the casket emerged a bugle note rose
| only sound that broke the dead silence.
| Just beyond the entrance to the station
| President Roosevelt with the members of
| the Cabinet had paused and had taken sta
general cortege. They ranged themselves
/ on the sidewalk in double rows opposite
| each other and stood with barred heads as
| the corpse carried to the hearse and
! drawn up at the side of the gate. The
| hearse was exquisite affair ana was
| drawn by six coal-black horses each of
which was led by colored groom in black
| livery.
| MADE PEOPLE SHUDDER.
Just the body being placed on the
! hearse an incident occurred that caused a
murmur OF dsapprobation. \ photographer
| from a nearby window suddenly flashed
~.