c inl y ass ssinati n stunned ar a By Dale E-. Shaffer Slowly it passed through the lines of waiting people, increasing speed as it progressed through HILE ATTENDING THE PAN American the 1iving lane of humanity.· As the train passed, a W Exposition at Buffalo, President William beautiful wreath of green leaves, with a fine bow McKinley was shot in the chest and abdomen by of purple ribbon bearing the inscription "Byron's Leon Czolgosz, an anarchist who had a small pistol Love," was handed to Abner McKinley on behalf hidden in nis scarf-wrapped hand. McKinley died of B. S. Ambler of Salem. eight days later at Buffalo, the third president to be The mortuary car was the last one and it con­ assassinated. tained Mrs. McKinley. Named the Olympia, it was During the night of Sept. 13, people here, like the president's favorite private car. At the rear was millions of others throughout the country, kept a the observation compartment, where the flag­ solemn watch in sympathy of their dying presi­ shrouded black casket rested amidst palms, ferns dent. The news of his death was received with ·pro­ and floral offerings. At each comer of the platform found sorrow. City hall bells were tolled and flag which was draped in black a soldier and sailor whistles blown. Church and school bells joined in. stood gliard. Flags atop city halls and manufacturing plants People got only a brief glance of the black ca5ket, were lowered to half mast. draped flag, banks of flowers and inflexible In Salem, all social affairs were canceled. A guards. Then the train was gone. A great sob dance scheduled by the Calumet Club was post­ seemed to burst from the hearts of 5,000 people as poned until Sept. 20, and the Euterpean Dancing they turned away, their last farewell having been Club called off its dance for Saturday evening. said. In downtown Salem the windows of stores and But Salem also played a part in the funeral. In busine·sses were draped in black. Pictures of Presi-· 1896 Frank F. Trimble bougbt a large 7 by 9-foot dent McKinley were draped in crepe. The five rur­ flag. It was carried through President McKinley's al mail delivery wagons leaving the city on Satur­ two campaigns and formed a conspicuous part of day morning were appropriately draped in black, many parades. On Sept. 19, 1901 that flag, which as was the front of the post office. Stores were was used to celebrate many happy occasions was unable to meet the tremendous demand for crepe sent to Canton (upon request) to be used in drap­ and mourning goods. ing the receiving vault and tomb of the president. At Leetonia, whistles were blown and bells rung. It was later returned to Mr. Trimble. With it In Sebring the city was draped in black. At Lisbon The assassination of President William McKinley~~. came a white satin ribbon containing the following the courthouse bell was tolled and business in the inscription: "Canton, 0., Feb. 10, 1902. This flag county offices was suspended. crowd back from the tracks. At the different cross­ was loaned and used to drape the receiving vauft President McKinley had visited Salem many ings, many rigs and teams of horses were drawn and tomb of Pres. McKinley from Seft. 19, 1901 to times and knew a lot of people here. After being up,_Yery little open space was available. February_ 1902, and the thanks o West Lawn elected, he had his train stop on its way back to At 10:30 a second special train, composed of nine Cemetery are hereby tendered to Mr. and Mrs. Washington. Over 5,000 people, including school Pullman cars, came through. It was fi)led with the Frank F. Trimble of Salem, 0., who loaned it. This children, gathered at the depot to hear. him speak a army and navy officials serving as escorts, sena­ ribbon is from the grave of Nancy Alison McKin­ few words from the ba.i:k platform." It was only to tors, congressman and other dignitaries. Next ley, the mother of the President. William Rank, be expected, therefore,'·that Salem people would would come the remains. Sec'y & Supt. of West Lawn Cemetery." In 1902 the turn'out in great numbers to view his funeral train Workmen streamed out of the manufacturing flag was displayed in the front window of The as it passed through the city on Sept. 18, 1901. plants to join the crowd. Loving hands strewed Salem Daily News office. For hours before its arrival, thousands of men, beautiful flowers along the track for a distance of Little time was wasted in carrying out the execu­ women and children came from miles around to 200 yards. Hundreds oI pennies were placed on the tion of McKinley's assassin. At that time, there was gather along the railroad tracks. As far as the eye track to be crushed by the wheels of the car bear- no 10-year appeal process. Leon Czolgosz ·was could see, people were lined up and down the . ing the body. scheduled to die in the electric chair at Auburn tracks. At 10:55 the train, drawn by engine No. 66 and Prison in New York on Oct. 29, 1901, only 53 days The scheduled time for arrival of the funeral operated by Henry Hukill and Frank Powers, came after he had shot the president. Great effort was train here was 10 a.m., but an announcement was into view. The cab, hand rail, bell and pilot were made to assure that he not receive notoriety in any made stating that it would be an hour late. At heavily draped. Following were the president's form while he was alive or after he was dead. about 10 o'clock a pilot engine and baggage car, favorite Pullman C(lrs containing Mrs. McKinley, Immediately after the execution his clothing and sent ahead to see that the track was dear, went President Theodore Roosevelt, the cabinet, relatives through slowly. Police were busy keeping the and close friends. Turn to McKINLEY on page 4 ®~-r Ohio's favorite son By Lois Firestone Although he was born in Niles, William McKin­ ley's roots were embedded in Columbiana County. His grandfather David, an early settler in the vil­ lage of New Lisbon, taught in the one-:room log cabin the townspeople built for a school along the Market Street hill. His mother· Nancy grew up in East Fairfield and his father ran a foundry there before the family moved to Niles. People in the county pointed with pride to "Ohio's favorite son" during and after his rise to power. McKinley never forgot them, either - in one of his speeches he said, "I cannot forget that, when I was first a candidate for Congress, it was the splendid majority of rock-ribbed Columbiana County which assured my election." McKinley was teaching school when the Civil War broke but and he quit his job to enlist as a private in the 23rd.Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Repeated promotions followed; by the war's end he had risen to the rank of major. In his early 20s, McKinley moved to Canton where he studied law and opened a practice there in 1871. Five years after he settled there he was elected to the U. S. Congress - and re-elected three times, serving four terms. McKinley became popular with the county's pot­ ters who were suffering financially because of· tariff-free imports coming from European earthen­ ware and china makers. Their plight led him to study closely the protective tariff system. This resulted in the "McKinley Bill" which called for a 55 to 60 rrcent tariff on imported pottery. Photo courtesy of the Salem Historical Society In 189 , McKinley_was elected governor of Ohio, and in 1893 he was re-elected by a plurality of over 80,000 votes - his dedicated stance as a protec­ Columbia Street School was built in 1881 and, sadly to the hlfn~reds of people. who attended clas~es and tionist gave him overwhelming popularity and spent hours during and aftG.r schoo! on .the playground, the buzldzng was razed zn 1953. The schools huge strength. He easily won the nomination for the bell is preserved in the Salem Hzstorzcal Museum. presidency at the St. Louis convention in June 1896. His popularity and the prosperity of the country led to his re-election in 1900. Six months after his second inauguration he was felled by an anarchist assassin's bullet. 1 McKinley is buried in Canton where a national memorial in his honor was raised along 800 Serving Salem McKinley Monument Drive. The McKinley Museum of History, Science and Industry is there, iiiiiiiliii with Pride too, and includes a McKinley Gallery, Historical Gallery, and research library. The Hoover-Price llS'E~NfJlllBill~·:. :·:··lllt:::.:= Planetarium and the Discover World science center ··:·:·:· , ::::·:.,:-:::,,::::,,,, .. are situated in the complex which is open every :.:,.:::::;:,/:·,:::,:,:,,:,::::::;:;::=:=::,,,:,:!!~~,,,;'~~Vision day. Summer hours are Monday througn Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 7 Manufacturers and Designers of p.m. Injection Molded Plastics "We mold service 'Yesteryears · as well as quality A weekly historical journal Published by the Salem News in our products." Founded June 8, 1991 161 N. Lincoln Ave. Salem, Ohio 44460 Phone (216) 332-4601 Thomas E; Spargur publisherI general manager Iii Harry L. Stewart managing editor SEKELY Lois A. Firestone (FORMERLY WARREN MOLDED PLASTICS) Industries editor 800 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, SALEM, omo 216-337-9961 250 Pennsylvania Ave.