The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-09-26
WASHINGTON.
From our Regular Correspondent.
Washington, Sept. al, 1907.

has been born away To- his home at
Canton, but an atmosphere Of funeral
solemnity still envelopes the city.
Even the skies seem rejecting the
mood of the people, for every day since
Monday has been wet and windy, with
an autumn chill in:the air. The two
days ofnourning, Tuesday and Thurs
day, have checked and interrupted
business, and little save what is neces.
sary to daily life has been done.
The informal funeral cortege which
passed up Pennsylvania avenue Mon
day night was the most impressive
that historic thoroughfare has ever
seen. AS the casket went by on its
way to the White House, the street
was lined with people, and instead OF
turning away and going to their homes
they silently tell into line behind it,
and followed it, unbidden and un-
heralded, to the White House gates.
There was no music, and the long pro-
cesson moved almost IN absolute
silence. Now and then some cne
would begin to sing "The Presidents
hymn" and those nearest would Join
IN the singing till the pathetic melody
of "Nearer my God, to Thee" filled
the air
There were some unhappy incidents
at the public ceremonies in spite of
the efforts of the police to repress all
that was not in harmony with the
occasion. The photograph fiend was
among those present, and one of these
gentry had the impudence to squeeze
his way through the crowd and try to
get snapshot OF President Roose-
welt just as the casket was lifted out
of the hearse. The flash of light start
led the horses attached to the hearse,
and they reared, and were only check.
ed by prompt action on the part of
the attendants.
A much more serious incident, how
ever, was the crush which occurred on
the steps of the Capitol. AT I o'clock
there was an immense concourse in
front of the Capitol, covering the steps
and the walks, all the way down to
the Peace Monument and for several
blocks beyond. There must have
been several thousands in the thickest
of the crowd alone. When the doors
were opened-some say before they
were opened-there was rush. 1t is
claimed that somebody said the way
was clear into the rotunda, and that
that started The pushing. Then some
mounted policemen lost their heads
and spurred their horses into the mass
OF humanity, and got caught in it, so
that the plunging, frightened animals
added to the peril. 1t seems as if
police department as we'll used to
handling large crowds as is that of
Washington, ought to have known
better than to allow such an occurrence
In few minutes nearly a hundred
persons were injured, many of them
seriously; and the room beneath that
in which the President lay had to be
turned into a hospital filled with groi n
Ing, shreking patients. Some of them
had been knocked down and trampled
upon.
There was, of course, much work
for the detectives in catching and
hunting pickpockets, who are always
on hand for an occasion like this.
Among those who were robbed was
General Longstreet, who lost his
pocket book and money while stand
ing on the steps of the Capitol, but
did not let that interfere with his at
tending the services, after which he
reported the loss to the police.
Foreign nations have expressed their
sympathy to an even greater degree
than at the time of Garfeld's death,
which by the way, occurred on Sept.
go, 1881, just twenty years ago. The
London Times suggested that it would
be becoming in King Edward to re-
quest the Duke of Cornwall and York,
who is now in Montreal, to attend the
funeral. 1t was impossible for him to
do so, but he sent one of his aids who
represented him at Canton.
President Roosevelt has done moth
ing thus far, except to express his de-
termination to carry out, in a general
way, the policy Of President Mckinley.
In fact, the chances are that he has
not had time to think of much else.
He is a man who usually thinks of but
one thing at time, and all the indi-
cations are that he is very deeply
moved by the recent tragedy, and that
his plans for the immediate future
have not yet been formed. There are
some predictions, however, which are
even now made, based on promises
and intentions ascribed 10 him in the
past, For example, it has been state,l
that long time ago there was an
understanding between him and
L ,L