The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-10-10
THE CANTON TOMB
M%ausoIeum the Finest Ever Erected
for Any President.
THOUSANDS ATTEND CEREMONY.
Memorial Is Nations Gift to Mem
DRY of Martyred Executive.

Canton, Ohio, never before played
the host TO such a large number of
distinguished Americans and so many
thousands of other guests as came
Monday to participate in or witness
the ceremonies attending the dedica-
ton of the Mckinley memorial ON
Monument Hill, in West Lawn Gene
terry. President Roosevelt arrived
shortly after 10 o'clock on a special
train, and was greeted at the station
every direction. Other special trains
rushed thousands into the city, includ-
ing governors of States, Senators and
Congressman, mayors and other civic
authorities from all over Ohio and ad-
joining States.
The leading feature of the days Gel
ebration was the dedication Of the
beautiful granite structure in which
the bodies Of the murdered President
and his wife will lie. From the speak
ers' stand at the foot of the broad
steps leading up to the monument
President Roosevelt delivered his
eulogy of Mckinley before a throng Of
people that filed every inch Of the
open space and overfiowed far into the
adjoining part of the cemetery. JUS
ticc w. r. Day, president Of the me-
mortal association, and Governor Har-
ris also made speeches, and James
Whitcomb Riley read a poem. The
heroic bronze monument Of Mr.. Nc
Kinley was unveiled by Miss Helen
Mckinley, his sister.
The parade through the streets Of
Canton was the most impressive ever
witnessed in the city. For miles the
marching ranks passed in a narrow
lane through solid banks Of spectators,
sweeping past the reviewing stand in
West Public Square, where stood Pres
ident Roosevelt and other distinguish
ed visitors.
The Mckinley tomb, around which
conferred the impressive ceremonial OF
the day, is the most elaborate monu.
ment erected over the last resting
place of any of the country's Presi-
dents. 1t typiies both the affection Of
all the people and the devotion of his
personal friends, for its cost was de-
frayed by the general public, while
those close to the President in his life
time collected a fund of 100000, which
will assure the maintenance Of the
mausoleum in perfect repair for gen.
erations.
West Lawn cemetery, where the
monument stands, Is on the outskirts
OF Canton. and the lofty structure, on
the crest of a hill, may be seen for
miles, and from the passing trains
which carry travellers to and from the
home town" Of Mckinley.
1t was not long after Mr.. McKinley's
death that the movement. to erect q
mighty and impressive tomb was
launched. AS the first step the McKin-
ley National Memorial Association was
formed and 5000, 900 was raised by
popular subscription. With a part Of
the fund twenty-six acres in the Gene
terry was purchased. A number Of ar
chitects were invited to submit designs
for a ~mausoleum, and that prepared
by III. Van Buren, Magonigle Of New
York was selected. The structure that
is the result rises to q height of los
feet and at the base Is seventy-nine
feet in diameter. The exterior is of
pink Milford granite. Within, the walls
are faced with light. gray Knoxville
marble. The structure is lighted only
from above and the shaft OF sunlight
which penetrates the twilight Of the
mausoleum and falls upon the great
sarcophagus adds beauty to the solemn,
silent room.
The double sarcophagus which holds
the bodies of Mr.. Mckinley and his
wife is constructed of brick and cement,
with an exterior Of polished black mar
bic. The two Baskets, exactly alike, are
of bronze and are Of great weight.
The mausoleum stands in what Is in
reality a park Of its own. From its
facade on the edge of the hill a broad
granite stairway sweeps downward,
broken by four landings to the long
water" which stretches from the base
Of the hill and mirrors the glistening
tomb and long white stairway. The
hill itself has been cut into four ter
races, and at its base is a broad plaza
encircled by a low parapet wall.