Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-05-04
Eloquent Description of the Death and Burial of
the Emperor Nicholas of Russia.

| We have received from friend who is on visit
to the Russian capital, (says the Washington Union)
the account of proceedings there consequent
| upon the decease of the late Emperor NICHOLAS:
| ST. PETERsBURGH, March Is, 1855.
The Emperors death cannot be more startling to
| any one in America than TO thousands who were
within stones throw of his death bed. Up to a
very short time before the event no bulletin
ceived from which the least danger could be inferred
| Immediately on hearing the news we hurried into
the street 10 it's effect the people The cur
rent setting strongly toward the winter palace,
and, arriving there. We found chaos of equip
ages before the doors, and knots of all conditions of
men gathering 1t plain that the story had
not yet spread wide nor gone far; STILL we were both
disappointed in the demonstration of popular
We had heard so much of the national grief al the
death of Gar Alexander, that we were almost pre-
pared to find troops of peasants sobbing and shrek
ing al the palace gates. But in this case, beyond
general sad expression, the of some old women,
and the devout tribute of some who uncovered bow
ell, or crossed themselves they passed the palace,
there were at first striking signs of The
general grief doubt deep, but it's first phase
was sombre and stupid. In day or two, however,
the crowd about the palace had become immense,
and mourning took the shape of rage against the
principal medical advisers of the late Emperor.
The German race is detested by the true Musco-
vi!e and according to common report, the peasants
called loudly for death to the German physician,
whose want of skill had, as they said +" killed the
father" Russian gatherings gen orally quiet to
degree, but in the terment of the crowd seeking
sight at the corpse, many strange characters were
thrown 10 the surface story current of sturdy
old Mujik who came on foot all the way from his
distant hamlet TO the capital in order to satisfy him
self as 10 the reality of the Cars death, and who
gained admlttance while the coffin shut. The
attendants refusing to open it, his suspicious
aroused and on arriving once more outside he began
harangue to the crowd TO prove that all was fraud;
that there was corpse that il not our
Gar; y that the enemy had without doubt imprisoned
him ; and that his chidren-i e., the people-must
rescue him. Quite sensation thus caused
among the long bearded wearers Of sheep skins but
the good of the authorities led them to conduct
him at TO the opened coffin when his simple
hearted treason turned to deep mourning at the
sight of the Gar really dead. No doubt
that the strong, stern who lay there was loved
as well as feared No other, not the first Alex.
ander, has ever gained so strong hold upon the
national affection and confidence. | have never be-
fore had so clear notion of the strange fusion of
the Asiatic idea of the Patriarchate with the Euro
pean idea of the monarchy which supports the Rus
sian Crown. To the great body of the people the
least OF the Cars attributes is his cheftaincy in
and his kingship in peace. He is father and Provi
dence-guarding against all calamity dsposing Of
all fortunes and all lives
The embalmed body lay in state week at the pail
ace, and ALL from highest to lowest were admitted 10
kiss the dead mans hand final homage The
scene, entering the room, was most striking,
though all the arrangement simple. small
gilded canopy covered the gilded coffin Near by
was drawn up a detachment of the splendid BODY
guard all around were ranged the nnumerable or
ders presented by foreign potentates placed
were the several provincial crowns of the empire
At the dead mans feet stood company okvenerabe
priests in flowing hair and beard chanting in a low
monotone the Sclavonic prayers, which continued
night and day from the moment of the sovereigns
death to that of his burial. Hard by was the little
chamber, where, stretched his leather camp bed,
and wrapped in his military cloak, he passed out of
range of cannon and carcatures. He died we'll; the
worst OF his enemies cannot gainsay that.
The comments in the European journals have been
most interesting. In middle Europe the Autocrat is
generally set down great man in the extreme
west he is generally declared to be who aChievd
greatness and lost his title within the last years
To one who regards the present condition of Euro
pean State relations the history of the Baltic demon
sraton, the condition of part of the Crimean army,
and the whole course of the war; the fact will no
doubt be suggested that if Nicholas grasped the
title of great man it has not been wrested from him
by western arms diplomacy. The long story of
quarres between princes and generals of mbecility
in commanders, of reproachng for cowardce between
allies of armies killed through reckessness,
ed through selfshness, is no page of late Russian
history. Many Of the western journals dwell upon
the sudden nature of the Emperor's death, and they
hint at poison but, in the language of of the
fairest English papers, such hints honor neither the
good Intentions the sagacity of those who make
them" There is probably not person within the
reach of the facts who has any such suspicion
There is not one here who does not know the thirr
10 be impossible
The funeral was worthy of the man, and of the
place the man has held. 1t mixture of ancient
Muscovite pomp and modern Russian splendor of
the ceremonial of the Cars and the court-rual Of
the Emperors; of old riches won in battle and new
riches gained IN commerce. Here was It's great char
acteristic. In travelling about Western Europe one
may stumble on scores of national displays where
every detail is polished and the whole artistic; but
this combination of the two elements civilized taste
and barbarlc pomp-gave 10 this nation a pageant
gorgeous and most unique, showing great strength IN
art yet escaping all criticism, for there rules
by which 10 try it.
On Saturday troops of cavalry escorted through the
principal streets herads who made proclamation of
the coming ceremonies. On Sunday morning, long
before daybreak, minute guns firing from the
fortress of Saints Peter and Paul. Then commenced
the ranging of the great bodies of cavalry in double
line side of the whole path, to be followed by
the procession from the winter palace TO the fortress
church Thus were formed two compact lines. each
, five miles long, and of cavalry most superb, OF
horsemen disciplined like machines and equipped
:, like princes; and this a small part of the small
reserve left in this capital. To the side of the
street opposite the cavalry locked the people-tht
stylish occupying windows and balconies, while
the peasants crowded the pavement These crowds
formed for long time the only visible preparation
for the coming pomp; but to all who cared for mill
tary display there great store Of bright pcture
in that long line of troops bearing the ysage and cos
tune of Russians, Cossacks, Tartars, Poles and Cir
It cassians. So too, every who cares TO observe
p human nature as such scenes develop it, had in ev
cry crowd of peasants perfect mine of strange char
r. acer The contrast between the gaily-dressed cav
alters and the peasantry with their sheepskin coats
colored robes, strange hats, and long boards, wa
't most striking.
The procession was immense. Some regiments G
the most splendid of the Russian cavalry and infan
try led the way, with marshas and high officers c