Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-03-22
UNeXAMPLeO DISPLAY0F SPLeNDOR.
A GORGEOUS SPECTACLE.

The Funeral of the Lste Gar. at st. Pc
tersburg The Most Magnificent Pa.
geant Ever Seen.
New YORK, March 2l.-George Au-
gustus Sala telegraphs from st. Peters
burg regarding the funeral OF the late
Gar:
/ have Just been the spectator of one
OF the most magnificent, most impress
sive, most pathetic pageants on which,
in the course OF my heightened career,
accustomed to the pomp and vanities Of
royalty, from royal bridals and feasts to
royal funerals, | have ever been priyi-
legged TO Set eyes upon.
Three Cannon Fired
from the Fortress directed the various
mourners to get ready to take their
places. A similar salute about the mid
die of the day gave the sigma for the
start, when the sable standard, bearing
in white tine initials of the murdered
monarch, was unfurled over the Fort.
ress.
The artillery began to fire minute
guns and all the bells in the city began
to toll. The whole route was lined by the
troops OF the garrison Immediately be-.
hind whom the public were permitted
10 stand. No galleries or platforms
were erected as the house holders were
only allowed at their personal risk and
peril to let the windows or balconies 10
strangers. The police had taken excep.
tional measures to preserve order in the
maintenance OF which the public by
hand bills were invited to co operate.
All houses and public buildings, too,
showed the same amount Of sable flags
and drapery as when the Empress, not
a year ago, was similarly conveyed from
the palace to the fortress. The route
by which the cortege passed was some
four miles in length.
The Procession Consisted Of Thirteen
Sections,
comprising l72 groups, to describe
which would occupy many columns.
Among the noticeable features OF the
procession was Il figure which attracted
much attention, The Knight of Golden
Armor, mounted o. a gOrgeOusly har.
messed s,ced carrying drawn sword
and supposed to symbalize The
Bright and spotless Character
OF The departed sovereign. After him
walked a .man-a -irms in a sable irm "
with drawn sword. Perhaps the most
picturesque feature in the ceremo-
NAL were the deputations which
figured for the first time in Russian his
tory representing institutions created
by the late Emperor--the Iemstais, the
] Justices of the Peace, and molly group
of peasants, with one at least oil vener.
able and patriarchal appearance, all at
tired in their winter garb, some with
closed scaris used to girdle their sheep
skin and rough cloth overcoats. Fol-
lowing the priests came
The Gorgeous CatafAlquo
on which rested the collin under ricii
canopy of cloth OF gold, surmounted by
rich ostrich plumes.
Sala saws: We were asking, "What
next?" "and next?" when the hearse
came suddenly IN view and prodigious
mass of humanity as rapidly, so to speak,
as flash of lightning, uncovered. twas
10 behold was that black sea Of hats and
caps transformed into an expanse oi
pale upturned faces. The funeral car
was a bier OF ebony and silver on
wheels, with heavily carved silver
spokes and the superstructure OF black
and silver The whole was canopied by
superb material encircling the columns
OF the bier.
The Coffin of the Illustrious Deceased
was almost hidden by golden pail,
lined with white satin, and the vast car
itself was drawn by eight black horses
shrOwded in sable draperles.
The four general aides-le- q mp stto
one at each corner Of the catafalque
of polished metal, the wheels OF which
elistened in the sunlight. Sixteen gen
era officers held the silken cords OF the
canopy. Behind the bier OF his muir
dered sire walked
Alexander III,
in his Imperial solitude, bearing alone
his tilial sorrow and his State cares and
symbolizing in this last respect his
unioue position. The Emperor was
dressed in the general uniform, wearing
the ribbon OF the Order OF 1t. Andrews.
Following the Emperor at respectful
distance, came the Minister OF the
Household. the Minister OF War and
three officers on duty. Next in order
followed the Grand Dukes and Princes
ses, according to precedence with the
foreign Princes.