The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-02-24
VICTOR EMANUEL'seFUNERAL SER
VICES.
The Crush In the Milan Cathedral on the
Occasion of the Celebration of the
Funeral Services Of Victor Emanuel.

Occasion Of the Celebration of the
Funeral Services Of Victor Emanuel.
IN. Y. Times.l
MILAN, Italy, Jan. 25.-Yesterday the
funeral services Of the late King Of
Italy. Victor Emanuel, were held In
this city, as also in other cities Of the
kingdom, by order of the central au-e
thority at Rome. The great cathedral
was accordingly prepared for the sol
emn ceremonies by being draped in
principal altar, q raised platform 60 by
100 feet square was constructed. In the
centre Of this was erected q temple on
arches, supported by four octagon col
umns, ornamented by eight statues
of eminent persons. Continuous with
these columns were four spires
some twenty-five feet high, deliberately
carved and painted. From the centre
arose O. spire about 100 feet high, also
highly ornamented. Beneath this spire,
on -four, circular columns, rested the
coffin Of the king, trimmed with Grim
son and gold drapery. The base OF the
evergreens and flowers, one Of which,
resting under the coffin below the pill
lars, was in the likeness Of @ star. An
oblong wreath lay upon the coffin. The
marble columns Of the cath edral were
draped with black velvet, flags, etc,
and various Colored lamps hung in
groups at convenient distances. High
up under the dome, in front OF The altar,
was the likeness of star formed Of gas
jets, which, in the dim light, seemed to
be unsupported in space.
AS early as o'clock in the morning
the streets were thronged with crowds
Of people coming into the city. They
at times came in squads Of ten to fifty,
marching in the centre OF the street
with measured tread. singing the famil-
lar songs and opera choruses. On all
the principal streets it was the same,
till aboutd 1 o'clock, all aim
ing to get as near the catheral and the
greatequare in frof1t as they could. The
streets, balconies, windows and house.
tops were occupied wherever they com
manded view Of the open square on
which the militay were in line.
Tickets had been issued by the mu-
nicipal authorities, without which no
one was to be admittedoto the Cathed-
raj. This was a fatal mistake, as the
exasperatedI at this apparent favorits-
ism, and long before the door was
opened threats were made that this ex-
cIusion Would be resisted yforce. The
mob was excited, impatient and uH-
reasonable, as mobs always are. They
assembled in dense mass before the
principal door Of the Cathedral, in front
Of which was O. squad Of soldiers to re-
ceive tickets and admit the holders.
As the bell struck the hour Of II, the
door, which is about twenty feet wide,
was opened, the municipal officers.
priests and other dignitaries having
previously entered by O private en-
trance. A rush was made for the door
by the densely packed crowd. Those in
front we're pressed irresistibly forward
Of soldiers struggled to maintain their
places in vain, and were forcibly borne
forward into the building with the wild
stream which had become as restless as
q hurricane. In @ very short time the
building was packed full, and yet
ward amid the dearening ' roar of
shouts, curses, groans, and cries for
help. Each one seemed intent on self
preservation, and powerless to escape.
No one could move except with the
crowd, which was compact mass
ct e., humanity mani " sTaying ha and auiverng
down from exhaustion or fainting could
not rise. again, but were helplessly
trampled upon. A friend relates to me
his experience thus: II tried to get out
Of the great current, but could not. In
the struggle was lifted from my feet
and borne along for many rods, without
touching the hooro con my right was a
woman whe had been crushed to death.
Her head had fallen upon her shoulder,
the blood streaming from her mouth
and nostrils. Her body was borne along
erect. Behind her was young woman
shrieking, I am dying, Oh help me, I
am dying' l tried to raise my arms to
help her, but could not, for they were
as firmly held to my side by the pack
as though chained toomy body. And
this wild struggle went on INCREASINGLY
those inside to get out, and those out
side to get in. The funeral services had
begun soon after the opeHing of the
door, but the noise rendered the sounds
Of the great organ and choir almost in
distinguishable. o.
Efforts were made to relieve the
pressure by openinR the doors, but that
was slow process, considering that
they all opened inward against the
packed mass, and the keys Of the doors
in front could not be hastily found.
dr Al. was cleared by the aid Of a strong
The floor (Which, by the way, is not
seated as In American churces) revealed
a CHASTITY spectacle. Two men and
three women lay dead, and eight others
were taken up SO badly crushed that
they died within the next twelve hours.
Sixty Of the injured were removed to
the hospital, some of whom cannot re-
cover. The floor was covered with hats,
bonnets, pieces of clothing, and blood
stains, indicating the frenzied struggle
for life in this wild mob, wherein no
one seemed to have had a purpose of
injury to others, and yet contributed to
the result by the force Of circum-
stances
1t is estimated that thereowere 1000
to 10000 persons on the floor Of the
building. On the square in front were
perhaps $4,000 who knew nothing Of the
struggle going on within, and many
pressing toward the entrance. The
military force at hand on the square
was ample to compel order, but it was
timid and hesitating. The mob detied
its orders, and broke in crowds through
hn Tn r