Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1886-04-03
THE FUNERAL. OF ). KING.
Ceremonies Attending the
Burial OF Alfonso XII.
Unlocking the Coffin and Shouting in the
Dead honarch's Ear.

> Dead honarch's Ear.
Arrived at the Escurial, the special
solemnities of the occasion took place
As the funeral car approached, the
door of the monastery was closed. The
lord chamberlain knocked three times.
4 voice inside demanded, according u
the prescript, WHO wishes to enter ~
The lord chamberlain replied, King
Alfonso the Twelfth" At this an
swer the portals were slowly opened
and the prior Of the monastery appear
ed. The body was then borne into the
church and placed on raised bier be-
fore the grand altar. Then the minis
ter OF justice, removing the lid, said,
"Huntsmen Of Espinosa, is this the
body which you received on the death
of King Alfonso?" The same,' re-
sponded tn chief huntsman do YOU
swear it?' ''Yes, we swear it, This
assurance having been added to the
testimony already given with inde-
pendent formalities 10y the kings ply
sicians, confessor and minister, the
lid of the coffin was let down, not
however, as vet for the last time, and
the bier. was covered with the four
cloaks of the noble orders of Spanish
chlvalry. \ thousand tapers lighted
the chapeIe ardente, and had, it is
easy to Imagine, a splendid effect in
association with the vast and sombre,
though richly decorated, interior of
the ancient pile, and the crowds Of
sorroWing friends and subjects moy-
ing silently about the wreathed pail.
A mass was said and the "Misertre'
sung, and then the coffin was raised
once more and carriat ly titled lieges
of the realm to the entrance of the
stairs leading down4o the vaults
Here the most striking part of the
/ melancholy pageant occurred. No one
descended the stairs to the vault ex-
cept the coffin bearers, the prior of the
monastery, the minister of grace and
Justice, and the lord chamberlain. The
coffin was placed on table in great
chamber or vault of black marble con
tanning the deceased rulers of Spain
who sleep in huge marble tembs dis
posed all round. 1t must have been
a thrilling moment for some at least OF
those assisting when the lord cham
berlain, unlocking the coffin. which
was covered with cloth of gold, raiset
the glass covering from the4face Of tht
dead king and, turning to his compan
ions, demanded silence and attention
Then kneeIing down, he shouted three
times in the mOnarch's ear. '>enor
not; the right ear soon to be "tilleC
with dust" heard only the sounds o
addressed to him in this fashion mfs
have had, for those standing at the en-
trance to the vault, an awfu
seeming of response; for it is sai'
the echo of the triple summons wa
caught by them and seemed CT.
of despair, as it no doubt was wall 0
anguish. for it came from the lips 0
the Duke of >eNto, King Alfonso's ia
vorite companion. The sovereign ly
ing dumb. the duke rose, and follow
ing the ritual, said: Ills majest.
does not answer, Then il is true I'll
king is dead The conclusion a
framed appears somewhat loose, bu
: il is part Of the programme. Lockin
the coffin once more and for the las
time, the lord chamberlain broke IL
: his wand If office and dung the piece
At the foot Of the table whereon th
coffin lay.-Lp,alion .adceFtiser,