MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
JEFFERSON CITY - Just hours after the announcement that a plane, carrying Governor Mel Carnahan, his son Roger, and senior campaign adviser Chris Sifford, a lone candle, held by mourner Steve Simmons, burned a vigil for the victims at the governor's mansion where is wife, Jean, was staying.
At about 1 a.m. the mansion stood silent as a handful of people gathered outside to offer prayers for the governor.
Steve Simmons held the half-melted candle for the governor, as tears welled in his eyes he refused to believe the governor was dead.
"I believe our lord is keeping watch over him, and it may be considered by some to be false hope, but I just believe that God's going to pull him out and he is going to be alright," Simmons said through his tears.
Earlier in the evening several cars were seen entering the governor's compound, but the passengers identities could not be determined.
John Keeble works across the street from the Governor's mansion, and was a softball teammate of Sifford. He was standing outside the gates to show his support and condolences.
"It will be a different view out that window tomorrow morning," Keeble said, "I am just totally stunned."
Another mourner, holding a bouquet purchased at a gas station, reached through the iron gates, and placed the bright flowers on the grounds.
And a woman, pacing back and forth in front of the mansion managed to say, in spite of her tears, "He was a good man."
By 4 a.m., Chuck McPheeters, was the only mourner outside the governor's mansion.
"I thought somebody ought to be here. It's silly, but I just thought somebody ought to be here," McPheeters said, "he was the best damn governor in the 25 years I have lived in this state."