CREATED/PUBLISHED: United States : Thomas A. Edison, Inc., 1901.

SUMMARY: The photography in this film is from several camera positions. The first position was over the heads of the crowds that lined the street watching the cortege begin. Mounted police precede the escort for he funeral procession. the next camera position is from the other side of the spectators and reveals the escort of various military organizations represented (army, navy, marine corps, West Point and U.S. Naval Academy cadets). Another camera position includes the immediate family in their carriages preceding the hearse carrying the body of the president [end of part 2]. The next camera position, high above the heads of the people, is in front of the building where the memorial services were held. It shows the hearse and the casket being removed and taken on the shoulders of the bearers up the steps of the church. In the background are streets crowded with people. The last scene shows large groups of people leaving the memorial services.

From a contemporary Edison film company catalog: The following series of pictures shows the complete movements of the funeral cortege from President Milburn's house on Delaware avenue, Buffalo, N.Y. to the City Hall. Each separate scene as enumerated below dissolves one into the other. The picture will be sold as a complete series with dissolving effects or the separate parts will be sold as described below.

This starts with the funeral procession leaving the Milburn house on Delaware avenue, Buffalo, N.Y., headed by the mounted police of Buffalo, followed by Companies I and F, of the 14th U.S. Infantry, under personal command of Major General John R. Brooke. Following them come a company of the 73d Coast Artillery, which was then on duty at the Pan-American Exposition. The National Guard of the State of New York, consisting of picked companies from the 74th and 65th Regiments, were also in line. These march to the music of the 14th United States Infantry Band. The Military Escort was followed by the Naval Contingent given below. Fifty sailors from the United States Gunboat Michigan, under command of Lieut. Minix.

After them come the blue jackets with open throat shirts showing their bronze breasts, their loose black neck scarfs and sailor knots,with yellow leggings and jackey hats [end of part 1]. Immediately following the sailors come the carriages containing President Roosevelt, U.S. Senator Mark Hanna, Senator Chauncey Depew, President Milburn, of the Pan-American Exposition, and Secretary Cortelyou, and following these is the hearse containing the body of the President drawn by four black horses and escorted by sixteen sailors and marines from the U.S. Gunboat Michigan. President McKinley's hearse is followed by many carriages containing officials and mourners. Immediately the funeral cortege passed out of view, our circular panoramic device was put into motion and a panoramic view of the Milburn house, where President McKinley died, was secured. The vast crowds are also shown in the picture, with the press and military tents in the background.

Source: American Memory - Library of Congress