Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-09-17
LAST NIGHT At CAPITAL
Remains OF the Dead President
Reposed For Last Time
In White House.
Arrival of the Funeral Train at
Capital Full OF Dramatic
Interest.
-
5ody Rested In Historic East
Room Which Sheltered
Martyred Lincoln.


president was borne up Pennsylvania
avenue to the white house and laid up
on the bier in the great east room where
he had stood SO often in the pride of his
manhood to receive the greetings of the
himself
1t was fitting that such ceremony as
there was should be so military in
character, recognition of the fact that
the president was commander-in-ch chief
Of the United States army and navy.
Nowhere was there a show of civilian
participation. 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 the rail-
road employees We're nearly all that
stood for civil life
1t 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 restrained them from
lshe space marked out for the line of
procession. The silence that marked
the progress of the funeral party thru
the national capitol was profound. The
only sign OF agitation in the great
crowd was the silent pressing and striv
ing against the ropes to see the mourn
full cortege Which swept slowly along.
The afternoon was cloudy and with
the close of the day began the duh. de-
| pressing boom of a great gun at inter-
walls, 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. From
| the brigadier general and naval cap
4 tain down to the humblest lieutenant
| and ensign every officer on duty in the
Icapitol 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
.lof cavalry from Fort Mayer swung
! from Pennsylvania avenue into Sixth
4 street. Then same Secretaries Hay and
4 Gage and Acting Secretary Sanger,
/ commissioner Mcfarland and a few
| subordinates privileged to enter within
| the station Where the train was to stop.
| Among them VAS the veteran captain,
/ Charles Loeffler who had been the per-
scnal messenger and usher to President
! Mckinley and of every other president
| back to the administration of President
Grant; Major Pruden, assistant secre-
| tary to the president: Mr.. Barnes and
Warren Young and others of the white
| star These and the army and navy Of
fetal awaited inside the station the
speeding train. The night was humid
and dark and the surroundings depress-
Il ling in spite of the official gold lace ey-
sI5erywhere about.
i At S:3S o'clock the headlight of the
big locomotive flashed along the rails
land the cars swept quietly to q stop at
4 the gates.
The way was cleared and down the
4 pathway strobe q body of sturdy SOL
diers and sailors, chosen as the body
bearers and guard They Were met at
j the entrance of the observation car,
where the remains lay, by an officer,
and admitted at once. Thru the clear
plate glass windows the casket showed
in wrappings of the national flag, COW
cred with rare garlands and set pieces
of flowers. The undertakers' assistants
removed the floral pieces to the vans
which We're to carry them to the white
!. house The sailor, with drawn cutlass
and the soldier, with a fixed bayonet,
who stood grimly like men of stone at
the head and foot of the casket. gave
way to these men.
Meanwhile farther down the station
4 the party on the funeral train were
alighting Mrs. Mckinley was aided by
Abner Mckinley and DR.. Rixey and was
speedily placed in a carriage which
drove off at once to the white house
without awaiting the procession.
Close behind came the members OF
the family of the late president, who
likewise. were driven away to the ex-
ecutive mansion.
Mrs Mckinley appeared to bear ur
with fortitude. but leaned heavily OF
the arms of her supporters.
President Roosevelt came next. His
arm was closely clasped by Captain
Cowles of the navy his brother-in-law
The president walked firmly erect, his
face set and sorrowful. Close behinC
, him pressed the members of the cabi-
net. headed by Secretary Hay and Sec
rotary Gage. escorted by General Gill
lespie and contingent of the ranking
army and naval officers in waiting
Senator Hanna and Senator Fairbank.
followed.
Meanwhile the casket was being re-
moved from the observation car. One
of the large windows was lowered at the
side, and slowly and carefully the casket
was slipped out thru the opening and
tenderly received upon the bent Shout
ders Of the body bearers.
AS the casket emerged, a bugle note
rose clearly and taps" rang out. That
was the only sound that broke the deac
silence.
Just beyond the entrance to the sta.
ton President Roosevelt, with the mem
| bers of the cabinet. ranged themselves
on the sidewalk in double rows an6
stood with barred heads as the corpse
was carried to the hearse.
The hearse bearing the third mar.
tyred president quickly moved away and
vas followed at once by President
Roosevelt and those accompanying him
AS the procession swept from ths
Sixth street station into Pennsylvania
avenue deeply impressive sight wa!
presented The historic thoroughfara
Twas hung in black. Emblems Of the ma