Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-11-07
NEW RULER OF RUSSIA.
Formal Proclamation of His ASCen-
sion of the Throne Made in
ST. Petersburg.

St Petersburg, Nov. 2.-At 9 o'clock
this morning the imperial hcralds, in
brilliant uniforms and attended by a
troop of trumpeters, announced the death
of Alexander Ill and the accession to the
throne of Russia of Nicholas IL. The
two heralds with their escorts traversed
all the principal streets of the city, and
after the trumpeterS had delivered three
ringing blasts upon their trumpets they
made public the proclamation of Emperor
Nicholas IL. as follows:
May the knowledge console you that our
grief is the grief OF our entire beloved ma
uon and may the nation not forget that the
strength and firmness of holy Russia lies in
its unity and unbounded devotion to Us.
In this sad and solemn hour we ascend our
ancestral throne Of the Russian empire and
CARBON of Poland and the Grand Duchy
of Finland indissOlubly linked with it. We,
however, remember the legacy left us by
our lamented father. and imbued with it we
in the presence of the Most High, take
VOW to make our sole aim the development
of the power and glory of our beloved Rus
STA and the happiness of all our faithful
subjects.
The manifesto concluded with COM
handing that the oath of allegiance be
taken to him, Emperor Nicholas IL, and
to his heir apparent, Grand Duke George
AleXandrovitch. his brother. who is to
be entitled Czarowitz until God may
bless with n son the union which his
majesty is about to enter into with Prin,
cess Aiix of HesseDarmstadt.
Throughout st. Petersburg today the
accession IF the new Gar is being cele-
brated as a festival, for this event takes
precedence. OF thc mourning ceremonies
The Russian Newspapers therefore ap-
peared without black borders, and all
signs on public mourning will be with
held until tomorrow. At 10 O'Clock yes
terday evening the first requiem mass
for the repose of the soul of Alexander
III. was celebrated in st. Petersburg,
and all the ministers and members of the
council of the empire were present. When
the service was over all those in attend
ance took the oath of allegiance to Gar
Nicholas H., and to the heir presumptive,
the Czarowitz, Grand Duke George,
brother of the Gar. This morning the
Senate met i'll plenary session and all
its members took the oath Of allegiance.
At the same time all the troops forming
the garrison of st. Petersburg were parad,
ed Ill full uniform with their cOlors and
were sworn with the customary Formally
Later the same ceremony was observed
in the case Of the civil servants of the
empire.
The remains of the Car Alexander III
have been embalmed and attired in the
uniform of the Preobrajensky regiment
Of the guard were conveyed this morn
ing to the small private chapel of the
palace at Livadia. The bier was sur
rounded with lighted candles and IL
watched by relays of priests and officers
of the army. At the religious services
which were afterward held in the chapel
all the members of the imperial family
and the imperial household were pres.
ent. An officiating priest after incensine
the remains began chanting an impressive
liturgy. The whole ceremony was most
imposing and produced the deepest effect
upon those present.
At 10 O'Clock yesterday morning the
Gar expressed q wish to speak to the
CzaroWitz and for several minutes con
versed with him i'll low. earnest tones
while the attendants withdrew. The
Czarowitz replied in few words and bent
down and kissed his fathers lips r hen
the Emperor asked all of his children to
come to his side, inviting the other imme-
date members of the imperial family to
do the same. In a weak but perfectly
audible voice the dying man addressed
his children, and then taking the hand of
the Empress he for the first time since
his illness showed signs of deep emo
ton After this the Gar seemed some
what more cheerful and frequently adj
dressed words Of comfort to the Empress
who had not left his side. Towards 2
o'clock there were signs that the end of
the Car was approaching. His breath
ing became more labOred and a violent fit
of coughing brought on a slight hemor-
rhage and this was followed by fantness.
w men InlS nau partially passed away
the Gar turned to speak once more to his
family, but the Empress, who was sup
porting him, could not hear his words and
almost Immediately afterwards he sighed
deeply and ceased to breathe. His end
was most peaceful.
When the news Of the Cars death was
received thousands of people left their
work and proceeded to churches in the
neighborhoods where they attended serv-
ices held in memory of His Majesty.
Dense masses of people thronged the
streets during the evening, reading the
death bulletins and murmuring prayers
for the Gar as they crossed themselves
in front Of it. It is reported here that
the funeral of the Gar Will take place
on November Is and it is said his body
will lie in state for one week in Moscow.