Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-03-26
ESTABLISHED 1850.
Sala's Description of the Russian
EmperOr's Funeral.

st. Petersburg regarding the funeral of
the Gar: 81 have just been spectator
of one OF the most magnificent, most
impressive, most pathetic pageants on
which, in the course of heightened
career, accustomed to pomps and vani-
ties of royalty, from royal bridal and
feast to royal funeral, have ever been
privileged to set 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 unfurled on the fortress,
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 behind
whom the public were permitted to
stand. No galleries or platforms were
erected, as householders were only al
lowed. at their peril or risk, to let their
windows or balconies to strangers. The
police had taken exceptionable measures
to preserve order, in the maintenance of
which. the public by handbills were in
vited to cooperate All houses and
public buildings, too, showed the same
amount of sable flags and drapery as
when the Empress, not year ago.
was similarly conveyed from the
palace to the fortress. The route
taken was from the great plain in
miralty quay and English quay to
Nicholavisk bridge, crossing which. the
procession took the street on the line of
the island of Vassalistroff, across
Tootschkoff bridge and by Alexander
Park TO the fortress, entering the gate
called Iraneskaia. At the funeral cere-
monies of the Empress, last summer,
the route taken was by the Trinity
bridge, wooden structure of barges,
which is removed at the approach of ice.
The roadways across and the frozen
Neva are much used and the fortress is
almost Immediately opposite the palace.
There is a superstition among the Rus
SLAMS 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, comprising
one hundred and seventy-seven groups,
to describe which would occupy many
columns. Among the notable features
of the procession was figure which at
tracted much attention the Knight of
the Golden Armor. 1t was mounted on a
gorgeously harnesSed steed, carrying a
drawn sword, and was supposed to SYM
bolize the bright and spotless character
of the departed sovereign. After it
walked 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 EN-
peror Then came the justices of the
place and motley group of peasants,
with one of variable and patriarchial
appearance, all attired in their winter
garb, and some with the colored scarf
used to girdle their sheepskin and rough
cloth overcoats Following the priests
came a gorgeous catafalque, on which
rested the coffin under rich canopy of
cloth of gold, surmounted by white
ostrich plumes."
Sala says: eve are asking what next,
and next, when hearse came suddenly
In view, and the prodigious mass of hui
manity, rapidly, so to speak, as flash
of lightning, uncovered. 1t was most
wondrous sight to behold that black sea
of hats and caps transformed into an
immense expanse of pale, upturned
! faces. The funeral car was bier of
ebony and silver, on wheels with heavily
carved silver spokes, and superstruc
ture of black and silver. The whole was
canopied by superb material encircllng
the columns of the bier. The coffin of
the lllustrlous deceased was almost
hidden by golden pail, lined
with white satin. The dark car itself
was drawn by eight black horses, com
pletely shrouded in sable draperies Four
general aiGs de-camp stood at each cor
ner of the catafalque, the polished metal
wheels of which glistened in the sun
light. Sixteen general officers held the
sIlken cords of the canopy. Behind the
bier of his murdered sire walked Alex
ander Ill, in his imperial solitude,
bearing alone his filial sorrow,
and his State cares, and symbolic
ing, in this last respect, his unique
position. The Emperor was dressed in
a Generals uniform, wearing the ribbon
of the Order of ST. Andrew. Following
the Emperor, at a 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 Princesses, according to pre-
cedence, with foreign Princesses. These
included the Grand Duke Vladimir,
Alexis, Sergins, Paul and Constantine,
all on foot like His Majesty,