The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-03-22
EARTH TO EARTH.
FUNERAL PAGEANT OF RUsSIA's
MURDERED GEAR.
An Eye Witness Gives an Account OF
the Imposing Demonstration In
Honor Of the Late Alexander
A HHgnIGeOnI, Impressive
and Pathetic Spectacle.

NRw YoRE, March 2l.-George Augur-
tus ssla telegraphs from st. Petersburg
regarding the funeral OF the Car: ~
have just been spectator OF one Of the
most magnificent, most impressive and
most pathetic pageaIts on which, in the
course of a'lengthened career accustomed
to the pomp and vanities OF royalty, from
royal bridals and iOasls to royal funerals,
have ever been privileged to set eyes.
Three Csnnons, fred from tho Fortress,
directed the nations mourners to get
ready to take their plsces. A similar ga.
lutte, about the middle OF tho day, gave
the signal to start, when sable standard,
bearing in white the initials Of tho mur.
dered Monarch, was unfurled over the
Fortress, the artillery began to Gre tho
minute guns and all the bells in the city
began to toll. The whole route was lined
by the troops oil the garrison, imme.
diately behind whom the public were per.
mitted to stand. Nogalleries or platforms
were erected, as house holders were only
allowed, at persona risk and peril, to let
windows or balconies to strangers,
"The police had taken exceptional moas-
ures TO preserve order, In the maintain
RnCe OF which the public, by hand blllp,
were invited to cooperate. All the houses
and public buildings, too, showed the same
amount OF Sable flags and drapery as when
the Empress, not one year age, was simi.
larly conveyed from the Palace to the
Fortress. The route taken was from the
great plain In front OF the Winter Palace
by the AdmirR " quay and English
quay to the NlCho laiVsky bridge, crossing
which the possession moved to the street
on y line with the Island OF Vassile Os.
troR across TootchokoT bridge, and by
Alexander Park 10 the Fortress, entering
the gate called Iyaneskii.
"At the funeral ceremonies OF the En-.
press last nummor the route taken was by
way OF Trinity bridge, wooden structure
OF barges which Is removed at the sp. &.
proaCh OF ice, although tho roadways
across the frozen NeVa RTO much used.
The Fortress Is almost Immediately oppo.
site the Palace.
"There Is a superstition among the Rus
SLAMS against transporting the dead across
frozen rivers, and the route by which the
cortege passed was some four miles In
length.
"rhe procession consisted In all of
thirteen sections, comprising 172 groups,
10 describe which would occupy many
columns. Among the noticeable features
OF the procession was figure which at
tracted much attention, the Knight of
Golden Armor, mounted on a gorgeously
harnessed steed, carrying q drawn sword
and supposed to Bymbolize the bright and
spotless character Of the departed Boyer.
eign. After him walked man at arms
In sab 10 arm0r with drawn sword. Per.
hHps the. most picturesque feature In the
ceremonial were the deputaiions, which
figured for the first time in Russian his.
tory, representing the institutions created
by the late Emperor. The zemstais, the
justices OF the peace, and motley group
Of peasants, with one at least Of a vener-
able and patriarChal appearance, all attired
In their winter garb, and gome with col
ored scarf used TO grdle their Bheepskin
aud rough cloth overcoats. Following the
priests came the gorgeous CataialQue, on
which rested the coffin under rich
conopy OF cloth Of gold, surmounted by
white ostrich plumes" ="
Mr.. Sala says: 1--WE were asking what
next and next, when the hearHe came
suddenly In view and the prodigious mass
OF humanity rapidly, so 10 speak, as dash
OF lightning, uncovered 1t was most
wondrous sight 10 behold that black sea
ot hats and caps transformed into an i'm.
menae expanso Of pale upturnGd faCes./
The funeral car was bier OF ebony and
silver, on wheels, with heavily carved ell
yer spokeB and eupOrsEuCture Of black
and silver. The whole was Can0pled by
superb material, enCirCling the columns Of
the bier. The collin OF tho illustrious de.
ceased was almost hidden by a golden
pal lined with white satin, and the vast
car itaelf was drawn by eight black horses
completely shrouded In sable draperies.
Four general aids de.Camp stood one
at each corner Of the CataialQue,
the polished metal wheels OF
which glisteneh in tho sunlight. Six.
teen general officers held the siken cords
Of the canopy. Behind tho bier OF his muE.
dered sire walked Alexander III, In his
imperial solitude bearing alone his tlial
sorrow and his State cares, and symbo.
lyzlng In this last respect hia unique
position. The Emperor was dressed In
the general uniform, wearing the ribbon of
the order OF St. Andrews. Following the
Emperor at q respectful distance came the
Minister Of Housohold, Minister Of War,
and the three officers on duty. Next in or.
der followed the Grand Dukepiand Princes
according TO precedence, with foreign
princes. Thee included Grand Dukes
Vladimir, Alexis, SergiuF, Panl, UonstAn.
tine, sergiuB MichaeOvRky, Demitti, the
three NlChOlasses, Peter, the two MChsela,
George and Alexander, nll on foot like his
Msjeaty, with innumerable princes, 10.
manoir-ky, Of LeuChtenbetg, Nicholas and
George, oi MaxintromoviCh; Peter, Alex.
ander and Constantine Of Aldenburg, and