Newspaper Page Text
i
3
4 J"
W1?WZ'''
"? T! -.
S .
4 -: & & -
'
$ r"
( THE HONOLULU REPUBLIC AN.
VOLUME m. NO. 403. HOXOLTJLTJ, H- T WJavjEESDAX, SRgrRMBF.H, 25, 1901. JERICE PTVB CENTS
The Nation Mourns the Death of Its i
Calmly the
of Death
ing
Beloved President, William McKinley
Nation's Chief Passed Into Valley
MrsMcKinley With Him Dur-
Last Conscious Moments.
When Knowledge of the Approaching End
Came to Him He Asked for His Wife, the
Companion to Whom He Had Been
All Love for Thirty Years.
lUFFEO, September 14. President
MsKtty M it 2:15 tkis furl
ing. His last breath passed calmly and almost iiftreiftiWy. Putt
and forgiveness were written on his white m. h had tec mmtm
for several hours before the end eame, and his diath was frw frm pais.
Secretary Cortclyou made the announcement. He came out of
the Milburn house and walked slowly to the newspaper men, who had
congregated behind the rope barrier.
"The President died at 2:15 o'clock," he said in an even tone.
He then turned and walked back to the house, maintaining, even
after all was over, the calm demeanor which has characterized all his
actions during the anxious days and the sleepless nights which have
passed since the President was shot.
All night the President battled with death. At 10 o'clock he was
alone in the combat. Science, skill, infinite tenderness, were beaten
and hopeless. Surgeons and physicians measured his brief span by
moments. They had no Jiope and qffered none. Mystified, baffled and
defeated, they stood aside mal;ft William McKinley alone to face the
" ----.
inevitable.
Meanwhile the Nation the world stgod watching for the final
word Buffalo, where the President was assassinated, stood agape
with horror aud rage. Doctors of known and heralded cunning were
summoned from all available quarters. They came by special trains,
ami were rushed into the presence of death and its unyielding victim.
The wires were hot with summonses for the Vice-President, for the
Cabinet, for the friends "nearest to thedying man, and they came.
From all quarters men who haVknown the dying man as a man
first and then as a leader of his people came rushing, pale with sad-eyed
and hopeless grief.
It was 5 o'clock in the afternoon when the first wild rumor
that the President was dead spread through Buffalo. Heart failure,
the first ominous sinking of a mighty physique, had given the doctors
warning, and their fears spoke from their white faces as they came
and went in the Milburn house.
There was no hope then, and in five minutes the waiting world
knew it. Conscious of impending danger and fearless of it, lie asked
for his wife. She came to him, and, holding his hand in speechless
grief, gave to him the new courage which drugs and physicians could
not give. The clocks spun round and round, and the doctors, waiting
in gloomy groups, wondered that he fought so long. Rumors of death
went down Delaware avenue at every new manifestation of grief and
despair. But he was not dead. His wife, his imminent duties to
Ins country, Itis indomitable hatred of defeat, all bore him up and kept
aloof the final shadow.
But his symptoms grew worse. He rallied and failed by turns.
Ox gen and digitalis had but slight effectrupon his pulse and
tion For he did not live, but-would not die, and the people and
tin world wondered.
As the unconfirmed stories of the President's death flew from
mouth to moulh in Buffalo, an enraged and sorrowing multitude
gathered and swept toward the prison where the assassin lay. Barriers
were hastily thrown across the streets, mounted policemen,
Slate troops and marines were hurried to the scene and for hours after
night iett thc'iail Avas like, a threatened fortress. In the streets, cafes
and HiWie places men met and talked with hated breaths. All day
they talked of the President's heroic struggle, his gentleness and his
cheerfulness. But when they knew that these were all in vain, they
raged silently and forgot everything but revenge.
The President was practically without nourishment all day. His
relapse of Thursday night had warned his doctors against solid food.
Ju- tfttftairitig anxiety they resorted to stimulants, and all morning
yesterday they fought off die impending collapse. It was shortly after
daylight that he opened his eyes, and, looking out of the window opposite
his bed, said; "It is not as bright as yesterday."
His heart rallied a little in the morning hours, but it was his indomitable
courage and not the drugs which spurred it. on. Till noon
lie held his own andthe anxious doctors told the world in guarded
words that there was yet hope. It was past midday when he entered
upon his final struggle. The thousands gathered at the Pan-American
Exposition, the Nation and the outside world, were not prepared
erea ihcaior a reatfaafion that the -worst was at hand.
A furious rainstorm was sweeping over the city when the first
ominous announcement came from the Buchanan house: "President
McKinley is dying. He catvlive but a, few moments."
Then Signal Service operators, took possession of the telegraph
wires leading, to therjipuscpf death. Cabinet officers and members
of Qie President's Tamily began to arrive and the heginning of the end
had come.
At 11 o'clock last night Dr. Janeway, the famous heart specialist,
arrive i an electric .carriage at the Milburn house. Soon after it
was announced tliat the President might live for several hours. But
even then his limbs were growing cold and his pulse was fluttering.
Within Ute house, was aglow. Witliin the wife was payoff tltc last
iribuie to the. dying sweetheart of thirty years. Dr. Rixey ledjjjper
into the roosj, and, as she laid her hand alongside his, sh4 sowed,
"I cannot tt him, go."
t half an hour past midnight Coroner Wilson arrived .at tke
Milburn house and another unfounded
announcement of McKinley's death
was.quickly telegraphed to all parts of
the 'country.
He left as soon "as he found that the
order summoning him was a mistake.
But the President, now finally unconscious
and breathing but faintly,
stuggled on. Midnight, 1 and 2
o'clock, found him wavering on the
verge and the men of science could
but stand and marvel at the wondrous,
but hopeless, fight which he had maintained
so long. Intervals of apparent
consciousness came upon him. Sometimes
he opened his fading eyes and
gazed calmly around. At 2 o'clock
the dim, gray light began to fall across
his shrunken face, his lips moved, silently
at first as if In prayer and then
the whisper came, "Death won."
President McKinley's death was entirely
painless. He had been sinking
gradually, but steadily throughout the
entire night, and for almost four hours
had been unconscious. When the end
finally came "Dr? Rixey, alone of the
physicians, was with him hut so gradual
was the approach" of death that it
is difficult to say the exact second
he breathed his last Dr. Rixey,
standing by the bedside, held the President's
hand, felt for the pulse that
was Imperceptible. Bending forward
he felt the President's heart and listened
for the. breath that was not
drawn and announced the end.
With the physician in the room at
the time was Secretary Cortelyou.4
Senator Hanna and a few of the members
of the family.
Mrs. McKinley was not present
When the announcement was first
made to her that her husband could
not live she seemed to be resigned and
bore up bravely, but as the full significance
of her loss came' upon her
she gave way under the strain, and at
the time of her husband's death she
was under the care of a physician and
nurse. It is feared that she will recover
from the loss of her husband
with diffiuclty. if at alt -
Up to 3:35 a. m. Mrs. McKinley had
not been informed of the President's
death.
m. wmim farewell
'
TO MER DYING MUSBAHS
BUFFALO, Sept J3. Shortly after
S o'clock this evening oxygen was ad
ministered to the President, and under
its influence he was aroused. He was
fully conscious and whispered to Dr.
Rixey that he knew that the end wa3
at hand. He asked to see his wife
and Mrs. McKinley was sent for. She
entered his room and it was apparent
to all present that of the two principal
figures in this intense drama, President
McKinley, about to solve the
great mystery, the more fully realis - .
ed. the significance of the awful mo-1
ment THere was no fear In the
tures of the Nation's Executive. J
Mrs. McKinley did not quite seem
to realise that she was seeing her ;
band for the last time alive, and the I
President made It plain that his great
solicitude was for the wife whom he
had watched with such care and love.
Mrs. McKinley sank to her knees
at the side of the bed; her husband's
hands were clasped in hers; her head
was bowed and burled in the bed covering.
Sobs shook her for a moment,
and then she looked ap at Dr. Rixey.
and, with almost a smile on her face,
saidr "I kaow that you will save
him. I caanot let him go. The country
cannot spare him."
Presideai McKinley was lapsing into
laseB&Iblllty. aad the physicians as
sisted "Mrs. McKinley to her feet and j
led her from tho room. On the outside.
Mr. Milfeara explained to Mrs.
McKinley tht tke President was dying
and that he coald live tHl morn-
lag o&ly la the eveat of a direct in-
terposiuoa of rrovuseace. ne. men.
came to the fall realization of the loss
that was upon her aad showed symptoms
of eoSsgac.
Herbert P. Bissett rushed to the
of the sorrowis wife, who
was literally supported by Mr.
Milbsra. Word was sent to Dr. Was-di,
who cam from the 'President's
chamber aaC administered restoratives,
little by littis sae cae hack
to her normal eoaditloa. aaa at S:30
was aad la full
of Iter strHttit.
Several teste were with ar, Hd ln
their syxiMktay she. foaad sareease.
To eae afce whispered: "I will be
streac fcfc sake." .
Aa attwayt was mik to -persuade
airs. MesQatty t retira U w& some
rest. Site rcfstC. 9a sa4 Uwt her
duty was thr. a4 shewoaU remain
.-v m
&!
within call of those who were with
her husband.
Mrs. McKinley was again summoned
to the bedside of hen husband at "10
p. m. He roused sufficiently to recognize
her and made a" feeble movement
as If to clasp her hand. Then his lips
moved.
"God's will, not ours, be done," was
his farewell utterance, both to his
stricken wife and to life Itself.
Then he sank into unconsciousness,
and as Mrs. McKinley was tenderly
led from his side she plainly realized
the coming of hsr last great sorrow
the crowning affliction of a life full of
grief, bravely borne.
As the minutes; slowly passed her
strength began to give way, and at
11 o'clock she was in a state of almost
complete prostration. She seemingly
did not know what was going
on around her, and was at once pjaced
under medical care,
When the President breathed his )
last Mrs. McKinley was in an ad-
joining room.
SCENES-AT THE DEATHBED.
Cabinet and Mrs. McKinley See Presi
dent During Consciousness.
MILBURN HOUSE, (Buffalo), Sept.
13. Before o o'leock it was clear to
those at the President's bedsides thai
he was dying, and preparations wore
made for the last sad, offices of
from those o were nearest and
dearest to him. Oxygen had been ad-ministered
steadily, but- with little
effect in keeping back the approach of
death.
The President came out of one period
of unconsciousness, only to relapse
into another. But in this peripd,
when his mind was partially clear,
occurred a series of events of profoundly
touching character. Down
stairs, with strained and tear-stained
faces, members of the Cabinet were
grouped in anxious waiting. They
knew the end was near and that the
time had come when they must see
him for the last time on earth. This
was about 6 o'clock.
One by, one they ascended the stairway,
Secretary Root, Secretary Hitchcock,
Secretary Wilson were there.
There was only a momentary stay of
the Cabinet officers at the threshold
of the death chamber. Then they
withdrew, tears streaming down their
faces and words of intense grief choking
In their throats.
After they had left the sick room
the physicians rallied him to consciousness,
and the President asked
almost immediately that his wife be
brought to him. The doctors fell back
into the shadows of the room as Mrs.
McKinley came through the doorway.
The strong face of the dying man was
lighted up with a faint smile as their
hands were clasped. She sat beside
him and held his hand. Despite her
physical weakness she bore up bravely
under the ordeal,
The President, in his last period of
consciousness, which ended about 7:40
o'clock, chanted the words of the
hymn. "Nearer. My God, to Thee. ' ana
his last audible words, as taken down
hy Dr. Mann at the bedside,, were
"Good-by, all; It is God's
way. His will be done."
Then his mind began to wander,
and soon he completely lost conscious-'
ness. His life was prolonged for hours
by the administration of oxygen, and
the President finally expressed a desire
to he allowed to die. About S:30
o'clock the administration of oxygen
ceased and the pulse grew fainter and
fainter. He was sinking gradually,
like a child. Into the eternal slumber.
By 10 o'clock the pulse could no longer
be felt in his extremeties, and" they
grew cold.
Below stairs the
gathering waited sadly for the end.
All evening those who had hastened
there as fast as steel and steam
could cany the coaUaaed to arrlve.
They droverup la carriages at a gal
lop or were whisked up la automobiles,
all latest spo getting" here before
death came. Ooe of the last to
arrive was Attorney General Knox,
who reached the hoase at 9:30. o'clock.
He was permitted to go aavtalrs to
look for the last time uaoa the face
of his chief.
Despite the fact that vitality continued
to ebb as midaljht aaroached.
no efforts were spar i keep the
spark of life glowiasv Br. Jaseway
of New York city axrirasl at the station
at 11:43 o'clock. He was .showa
to the President's., reem. at oace, aad
began aa examiaatiaa at the alatsat
Inaaiisate form.
Secretary Lose arrirai at the MU-burs
softer at 11'.$ o'clock. "This
was his Irat visit t the chy, aa he
I had the satisfaction of seeing the
President alive, even though he -was
net conscious of his visitor's presence.
The President did not again recover
consciousness.
PUHS FOR HE FUNERAL
AT HATIIH1L CAPITAL
BODY TO LIE IN STATE IN CAP-
1TOL BUILDING FOR
ONE DAY.
Troops Will Be On Guard and When
Remains Are Removed They Will
Have a Large Military Escort
Interment at Canton.
WASHINGTON, Sept 15. The following
official statement making im-
Iportant changes in the plans for the
funeral service over the remains of
President McKinley in this city was
given to the press tonight:
In compliance with the earnest wish"
es of Mrs. McKinley that the body of
(her husband shall rest in her home
at Canton Wednesday night the
lowing changes in the obsequies of the
late President will be made
Funeral in the rotunda of
the Capitol will be held Tuesday
morning on the arrival of the escort
whhlh will accompany the remains
from the White House. The body, of
the late President will lie in state, in
the rotunda for the remainder of Tuesday
and will be escorted to the railroad
station Tuesday evening. The
funeral train will leave Washington
at or about 8 o'clock Tuesday evening
and thus will arrive at Canton, O., daring
the day Wednesday.
The heads of the various
and their, principal assistants
were busy today making arrangements
for the proper execution of so much
of the funeral programme as fell to
them respectively. Secretary Hay
came to his desk early in the morning
and remained throughout the day.
Thoi'gh It was Sunday, cablegrams of
condolence were still coming to the
Deiartment of State from all parts of
th world.
In tho War Department Acting
SansT was In consultation with
General Gillespie. Colonel Ward and
LGeneral Barry, arranging for trans
portation to Washington of the troops
to participate in the funeral proces
sion, making details for guard duty
and other matters. General Randolph,
chief of Artillery, who is to represent
the Army at the Capital, arranged
with Sergeant-at-Arms Ransdall that
they should co-operate in the manage
ment of the funeral ceremonies at the
Capitol. Four private soldiers will
stand watch day and night, one at
each corner of the catafalque, so long
as the remains of the late President
shall lie in the Capitol building. A
suitable guard will be maintained at
the entrances and will keep the people
in alignment when they are ad
mitted to the Capitol to view the re
mains next Tuesday.
Acting Secretary Hackett ordered
that a detail should be made consisting
of two officers, four petty officers
and twenty-one privates in the Marine
Corps for duty at the Capitol next
Tuesday to supplement the Army
representation.
The special guard of honor to represent
the Navy at the funeral ceremonies
will comprise the following officers
of high rank: Admiral Dewey,
Rear-Admiral Crownlnshield. Rear-Admiral
O'Neal. Paymaster-General
Remsey and Brigadier-General Hey-wood
of the Marine Corps.
While General Brooke will be in
general charge cf the military arrange
ments here. General Francis L. Guen-
ther, will be in command of the military
contingent In the procession.
Colonel Samuel Reber. son-in-law of
General Miles, has been detailed to
meet Mrs. McKinley and look specially
after her comfort, while Colonel Henry
H. Whitney of General Miles staff
has been ordered to perform a similar
task for Pjestdent Roosevelt.
At the Capitol Sergeant-at-Arms
Ransdell directed the preparation of
the rotunda for the fuaeral service.
The space In even this vast stractare
s entirely Insufficient to meet the demand
tor admission of "more than a
fraction of the persons who believe
they should be admitted to the services.
The general public will be excluded,
as the accmmodatloas will
not suffice for the officials who mast
be present The diplomatic corps,
alone will occupy about 200 places, aad
in addition there will be the UaitecT
States Supreme Court, the Hosse of
Representatives, "and a large aamber
of officials. Army and Navy aad
Every Army and Navy ameer
fn Washington having: been ordered to
attend the faneral service tsey ateaa
wcnld consume a large portioa of tfci
seating space. The geaeral pabllc will
have an. opportnaity to view tke re-
(Continued o s3bUi )
V
RUT. EH Pi! TRUE
TO THE HOMGRID CHEF HIM
Thousands of People line the Streets as the Puneral
From the Milburn. House to the City 4ff
- Hall family Services at the House.
B
UFFALO, September 15. President McKinley's body started on
its last earthly journey this morning. Members of his family and
his personal friends will follow through four days more, while
saddened people bow beside his bier, until the mortal husk of his
soul shall find its last testing place in Canton beside his mother.
The funeral service of William McKinley, the man, took place in
Milburn house, where he died, this morning. There were gathered'
men and women who knew and loved him before an admiring Nattol
elevated him to the highest state man can attain, but did not
from those he knew in humbler days. That was as he worn
have had it. The simple ceremony; simple as the nature of the nV
it commemorated, was arranged by men who knew his heart. It tvV.
conducted by the son of his old pastor and one who, as a boyha)
sat upon his knee to prattle boyish troubles into his willing "fear.
There- was a prayer for his soul ; for heavenly support in their sorrow
of those he left. His favorite verses of Scripture were read; his
favorite hymns were sung. Then the family and friends took their last
look upon the dear face.
The funeral of William McKinley, the President, commenced this
afternoon in the official residence of the. city where he died. There
again everything was as he., who never denied the people's desire to
meet him face to face and paid with his life the self-sacrifice would
have had it. From noon into another day, reverent thousands upon
thousands flowed past his bier, taking a last look on the face they, too,
loved for what it meant to them and to their country.
The funeral cortage left the Milburn house at ? I 45 o'clock.
Slowly and solemnly, in time, to the funeral march, it moved between
the crowds of men, women and children, stretching away two miles
and-a half to the City Hall. Nearly to hours were required to traverse
the distance. Fully 50,000 people saw il pass. They were padecdjnto
windows, perched on roofs, massed on verandas and compressed into
solid masses, covering the broad sidewalks and grass plots. Most of
them stood bareheaded as it passed. All eyes were on the hearse,
which carried the mortal remains of William McKinley. The Sixty-fifth
Regiment band of the New York National Guard led the line.
Behind it was the military escort and a full battalion of soldiers made
up of National Guardsmen, United States Infantry, United States
Artillery and United States Marines. Then came the carriages of the
President,' members of the Cabinet and dignitaries, preceding the
hearse.
Behind the military escort came a line of carriages of friend.,
associates in soul of the dead President. The wailing cadence of
Chopin's funeral march rose and fell. The liquid tones of bells came
up from the southward to mellow Chopin's funeral cry with a note of
hope. While the military band poured out its music, the chimes in the
belfry of old St. Paul's Cathedral reverently sang "Abide With Me,"
"Nearer, Mj' God, to Thee," and then "America."
AH night the decorators had been at work preparing the City
Hall. Funeral bunting was draped inside and outside. During the
storm of the early morning the exterior decorations were torn down
and some of the bunting became entangled in the machinery of the
great clock on the tower. It stopped with its hands pointed to 2:15
o'clock, the hour at which the President had breathed his last on the
preceding night.
A block away ropes had been stretched across the streets leading
to the City Hall, and behind these the crowds were massed in thousands.
Its mere weight pushed the ropes out of place, and the police
were constantly overpowered in .holding the crowd in line against the
impatient multitude which neither dread of rain nor storm itself could
disturb.
The head of the funeral line- reached the City Hall a few minutes
after the military escort marched down past the main entrance,
wheeled into line and came to "present arms." At that moment the
storm which had been threatening broke. Rain fell in torrents and
belated thunder pealed through it.
The carriages carrying President Roosevelt and Cabinet members
rolled up and the occupants alighted. The hearse came, and, four sergeants
of the United States Army and four quartermasters from the
naval detachment lifted the casket and the band played "Nearer, My
God, to Thee." There were no flowers on the casket, but its top was
covered with wreaths of immortelles.
President Roosevelt and the members of the Cabinet were gathered
in the rotunda of the halL From the pillars and staircases humj
draperies of black and white bunting in the main corridor, running
through from east to west. Another corridor, crossing at right
angles was banked up with potted plants. It had been arranged
that the crowds should enter the wide corridor at the eastern entrance
and pass out at the western entrance. Half way a low sloping platform
draped in black had been placed ior the coffin. It was so arranged
that the head of the coffin could be slightly higher than its foot,
which was toward the easL Directly above the spot where the coffin
was to lie a circular opening to the second floor had been completely
covered by a dome of black bunting, within which hung straight down
above the coffin tour flags, forming a cress with the lower edges, a
cross which pointed to the four points, of the compass.
President Roosveh and the Cabinet members ranged themselves
about the spot where thecPresident's body was to rest. President
Roosevelt stood at the foot of the coffin, on the right side, with
Secretary Jloot opposite and lacing him. On President
left were Attorney-General Knox.
vslson.
On Mr. Root's right liand were Postmaster-General, Smith, Secretary
Hitchcock and Mr. Cortelycra, the President's private secretary.
The casket was open. The- lower half, was draped with, flags,
"ts
(Continued on
Page Eight.).
V."
s
Roosvelt's
Secretary Long and Secretary
N
.'Pi
WM vt. ,
-., - T "ifa. .-1 rf .
:
-.-,
-Bf iewAJwkiR.
