The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1881-03-30
sALA's DESCRIPTION
OF the Russian EmperOr's Fu.
neral.


. from St Petersburg regarding the
funeral of the Gar II have ius,
been a spectator of one of the most
magnificent, most impressive. most
pathetic pageants on which, In the
course Of a heightened career, ac-
customed 20 pomps and vanities Of
royalty, from royal bridal and feast
TO royal funeral, ! have ever been
| privileged to set eyes Oh. Three
cannOns fred from the fortress direct.
ed the various mOurucrs 90 get ready
TO take their places. "A similar salvo
about midday gave the signal 90
start. When the sable standard
bearing in white the initials of tho
murdered monarch was uuiuIlcd on
the fortress, the artillery began To-
fire minute guns and all the bells in
/ the city began 90 toll The whole
route was lined by the troops ofths
garrison, immediatly behind whom
the public were permitted to stand.
No galleries or platforms were erect
ed, as house holders were only al
lowed, at their peril or risk, 10 let
their windows or balconies to strang-
ers The police had taken cNecp.
tionable measures 10 preserve order
in the maintenance Of which tho
public, by handbills, were invited 20
cooperate. All houses and public
buildings, too, showed tho samo
amount Of sable flags and drapcry
as when the Empress, not year
ago, was similarly conveyed from
the palace TO the fortress The
route taken was from the great
plain i'm front of tho Winter Palace
by the Admiralty quarry and English
quarry TO Nicholavisk bridge, cross
ing which, the procession took the
street on the line of the island OF
NassalistrOh, across Tootschkoh
bridge and by Alexander Park 90
the fortress, entering the gate called
Iraneskaia. At the funeral cerc-
monies of the Empress, last summer,
the route taken was by the Trinity
bridge, a wooden structure ofbnrgos,
which is removed at the approach Of
ice. The roadways across and tho
frozen Nova are much used and the
fortress is almost Immediately op-
posite the palace. There II a super
stition among the Russians against
transporting the dead over frozen
rivers, and the route by which the
cortege wound was some four miles
in length. The procession consisted
in all, Of thirteen sections, compris-
ing III groups, TO describe which
would occupy many columns.
Among the notable features OF tho
procession was a figure which at
tracted much attention-the Knight
Of the Golden Armor. IL was
mounted on a gorgeously harncsscd
stced, carrying a drawn sword, and
was supposed to symbolic the
bright and spOtless character Of tho
departed sovereign. After it walked
a man-at-arms in sable armor, with
drawn sword. Perhaps the most
picturesque in the ceremonial were
the Deputations, which figured for
the first time in Russian history,
representing the Constitution created
by the late Emperor. Then came
the Justices Of the place and motley
group of peasants, with one Of yari-
able and pat'iarchial appearance oil
attircd I'm their winter grab and
some with the colorod scarf used 10
girdle their shcepsllin and rough
cloth overcoats. Following the
priests came a gorgeous cataialquc,
on which rested the coffin under q
rich canopy of cloth OF gold, sur
mounted by white ostrich plumes.'
Sala saws 1--WE are asking what
next, and next, when a hearse came
suddenly in view, and the prodigious
mass Of humanity, rapidly, 30 t0
speak. as fash OF lightning, un-
covered. IL was a most wOndrOus
sight to behold that black sea Of
hats and caps transformed into an
immense expanse Of pale, upturncd
faces. The funeral car was a bier
of ebony and silver, on wheels with
heavily carved silver spokes, and a
superstructure Of black and silver.
The whole was canopied by superb
material encircling the columns Of
the bier. The coffin ofthe illustrious
deceased was almost hidden by
golden pail, lined with white satin.
The dark car itself was drawn By
eight black horses, completely
shrouded in sable draperics. -Four
General Aids-de-camp stood al each
corner Of the cataialque, the polished
metal wheels Of which glistcned in
the sunlight. Sixteen General
officers held the silkcn cords Of tho
canopy. Behind the bier of his
murdered sire walked Alexander
III, in his imperial solitude, bear
ing alone his filial sorrow and his
State cares, and symbolizing in this
last respect, his unique position.
The Emperor was dressed IN n GEN
erals uniform, wearing the ribbon
Of the Order Of ST. Andrew. Follow
ing the Emperor, nc n respectful
distance, came the Minister OF tho
the Minister Of War and
three officers on duty. Next In
order followed the Grand Dukes and
Princesses, according TO precedence,
with foreign Princcsses These IN
cluded the Grand Duke Vladimir,
Alexis, Sorgius, Paul and Constan-
tine, al on foot like His Majesty
Now that the Philadolphia cApi-
talists who are about 10 claim the
immense tracts Of land In tho State
Of Florida, known as the Everglades,