Final Farewell

Placid Face of McKinley Seen the Last Time in Washington.

     Washington, Sept. 17.—After the funeral services almost 20 minutes was required to clear the rotunda sufficiently to permit the opening of the doors for the admission of the general public. Most of the flowers were removed from the casket. The lid was lifted from over the face and at 11:53 the people began to file by, coming into the building at the east door and passing out through the west door. The people passed on both sides of the casket. No one was allowed more than a hurried glance.
     The people came in double file, one line passing to the right and the other to the left of the casket. This was continued until the casket was closed at 6:30 o’clock. Whenever there was an attempt to linger, especially over the casket, as there was in many instances, the person making it was admonished by the capitol police to “pass on.” In this way about 130 people were enabled to view the remains every minute. The crowd consisted of men, women and children, and all colors and ages were represented.
     Many children were carried through the building in the arms of their parents. As the body of the dead president lay in state, it was guarded by representatives of all branches of the national martial service, and besides sentries at the head, foot and sides of the coffin, artillerymen, seamen and marines formed a lane through which the people passed.
     According to the previously arranged program the remains were escorted from the capitol to the Pennsylvania depot by the same martial forces which acted as escort from the White House to the capitol, the funeral party boarded the special train and at 8 o’clock departed for Canton.