The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-03-31
THE DEAD CAR.
Graphic Description of the Inlpos-
ing Funeral Ceremonies.
A Pageant Unsurpassed for splendor and Os-
tentati0n.

Line ldSL Sdu TUGS WeIc pdlu w GAc
memory of the murdered Alexander at St.
Petersburg o March 80. George Augustus
Sa,a telegra ,hs the following regarding the
I'm posing spl,y:
IT have just been spectator Of one OF
the most magnificent, most impressive
and most patriotic pageants on which
in the course of a heightened career, ac-
cu:tomed to the pomp and vanitles OF re-
gality, from royal bridals and feasts to royal
funerals, have ever been privileged to SCI
eyes on Three cannon fired from the fortress
directed the various mourners to get ready to
take their places. A similar salvo about
midday gave the signal to start. When the
sable standard, bearing in white the initials OF
the
MURDERED MONARCH,
was unfured over the fortress the artillery
began firing minute guns and all the bells in
the city began to toll. The whole route was
lined by troops OF the garrison, Immediately
behind whom the public were permitted to
stand. No ga leries or platforms were erected,
and householders were only allowed at their
personal risk and peril to let their windows
or balconies to strangers. The police mad
taken exceptional measures to preserve order,
in the rHaintenace of which the public. by
hand bills, were invited to cooperate. AL houses
and public buildings, too, showed the same
amount of sable flags and drapery as when the
empress, not a year ago, was snllarl! conveyed
from the palace to the fortress. Inc route
taken was from the great plain front Of the
winter palace by Admiralty quay and English
quay to Ncholavisky bridge, crossing which
the procession took the street on the line OF
the island of Vasseevoterog, across 'Tootsch-
koof and by Alexander park to the fortress,
entering the gate called 1nvaneskai. AT the
funeral ceremonies of the empress last sum-
mer the route taken was by Trinity bridge, a
wooden structure OF barges which Is
removed at the approach OF ice, although road
ways ascross the frozen river are much used.
The fortress is almost Immediately opposite
the palace There is a
SUPERSTITION OF THE RUSSIANS
against transporting the dead over frozen
rivers, and the route by which the cortege
passed WIS some four miles in length. The
procession consisted in all of tlsrteen sections,
comprising 172 groups, to describe which
would occupy many columns. Among the
noticeable features of the procession was
figure, which attracted much attention-the
knight Of the golden armOr-mOanted on
gOrgeously harnesscd steed, carrying drawn
sword and supposed to symbolic the bright
and spotless character of the departed sover-
eign. Perhaps the most I....
PICTURESQUE FEATURES IN THE CEREMONIAL
were Regulations which figured for the first
time in Russian history, representing the IN
situations created by the emperor he zemo-
toian, the justices of the peace and military
group of peasants with one at least OF the ven
cradle and patriarchal appearance, all attired
in their winter garb, some with the colored
scarf used to girde their sheepskin and rough
cloth overcoats. Following the priests came
the
GORGEOUS CATAFALQUA
on which rested the coffin under rich canopy
of cloth of gold surmounted by white ostrich
plumcs. Sala says we were asking what next
and next, when the hearse came suddenly IN
view and prodigous mass OF humanity as
rapidly, so to speak, as flash Of lightning
uncovered. II was q most wOndrOus sight to
behold that black sea of hats and caps trans
formed into an immense eXpanse OF pale, up
turned faces. The funeral car was a bier of
ebony and silver, on which were heavily
carved silver spokcs and surerstructure OF
black and silver. The whole was canoplcd by
superb material encircling the columns OF the
bier. The coffin of the
ILLUsrRIous DECEASED
was almost hidden by golden PAIL lined will
white satin, and the vast car itself was drawn
by eight black horses completely shrouded il
sable drapery. Four general aides CAM
stood at each corner of the catafalqua, tn
polished metal of which Glistened in the sun
light. Sixteen general officers held the sille,
cords of the canopy. Behind the bier of hi
murdered father walked Alexander III. in hi
imperial solitude, bearing alone his
FILIAL SORROW, A.
and his state cares, arl symbolizing in this
'ast respect his unique position. The empe
ror was dressed in II generals uniform, wear
ing the ribbon of st. Andrews. Following tn
emperor at q respectful distance came the min
lister of the household, the minister OF war
and three officers on duty. Next in order fol
hn al,lxe accOrdin!
to precedence, with the foreign princes. Ihes
included Grand Dnlke Vladimir, Alexis, Ser
gius, Paul and Constituting, Sergius Michael
Ovitch, Dmmitry Sd, Nicholas, Peter &c
Michael George and Alexander, all on foo!
like his majesty, with innumerable princes.
In the procession, after the grand dukes ant
princes, walked the generals and aide-de
ca,Nps Of the emperor, with the aide cam!
and suites of their imperial highness ant
foreign princes, and then preceded by com
pany of grenaders of the palace, approache
the
STATELY MOURNING COACH,
with the empress and her children, accom-
panied by Princess Marie Poulovana, wife O
Grand Duke Vladmer. The window
of the carriage were fanked b
two esuures Mt arms and the rea
was guarQco ny coupe OF COsSackS. Amos
similarly escorted drove in one mourning Cal
riage the Grand Duchess Alexandria Jose
phenna, daughter of the late Duke SAKE Allen
berg land wife of the Grand Duke Constantine
Olga Feodovarna, princess OF Baden and wifi
of the Grand Duke Michael, with the duches
of Edinburg, Marie Maximilianovra, princes
of Romanisky, Duchess of Leuchtenburg
Theresa Petrovra, Princess Eugene Maximi1
ianovra, of Oldenburg, and Duchess Helen
Georgvlna of Micklenberg Strelitz Follown
these came the
LADIES OF HONOR
attending on the princess, then the gres
court officials with the chamberlains an
gentlemen in waiting, his late majesty's ply
sicians, body servants, etc. Five companies
from many regiments of the guards, or
battery of artillery, two sQuadrons OF cavalr
and another battery of horse artillery, an
finally squadron from the school of cavalr,
Meanwhile the black flag bearing the ciph'
of the deceased car, embroidered in whit
had been hosted to the tall gilded spire of ii
cathedral, within the fortress. The centre
the nave of the cathedral was filled by hus
cafafa}nue with its cloth of rOld. lined VIII