The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-11-16
THE BURIAL OF A OZAR.

front of the Iberian Chapel and
solemn mass was celebrated in the
Cathedral of the Archangel Michael,
where the public were given an op
portunity to view the remains Thou
sands were busy all night putting the
city in mourning for the late Gar,
the streets in the morning presenting
the appearance of festive rather
than funeral occasion the, only dis
tinguishing feature being the heavy
folds Of black drapery arranged upon
walls and pillars here and there.
There was a great and conglomerate
mass of individuals, comprising the
peasantry, the gentry, the tourist and
the soldier, the like Of which had not
been seen since the coronation Of
Alexander III, some ten years ago.
1t is said that no less than 10000
men worked all night to complete
tie mourning drapery, and about
1000 men were employed in paving
with cobble stones the streets over
which the corpse was to be carried.
About two and half miles of such
pavement was laid by the peasantry.
And then to muffle the clatter and
noise that would arise from passing
over it, thick layers of sand was scat
tered all along. The entire route
was thus easily distinguished by the
pavement and drapery.
The train with the body arrived at
Io:4o o'clock. The successor, Gar
Nicholas ii, was saluted as soon as
he alighted. He was accompanied
by the Grand Duke Sergius, num-
Der Of the higher clergy, the Civil
Governor and the Commandant,
members of the court, the chief no.
bility down to the third class, the
Mayor of Moscow and many other
subordinate generals and officers.
The procession being formed in
groops, the generals acted as pail
bearers and carried the coffin to the
temporary chapel, where the metro
politan read brief service. From
here the remains were taken slowly
and solemnly to the funeral car in
waiting.
Everything moved like clock-work,
the firing of a cannon being the sig
nails given. 1t the first fire the ISo
classified groups formed and took
place in the column, the whole pro-
cession comprising fifteen different
divisions and no doubt given place
according to caste or rank of nobility. |
The line Of procession being thus
formed, another signal started its
slow and solemn march, amid the
tolling of thousand bells in the
famous city of Moscow. When the
chapel was reached the clergy stepped
out bearing the miraculous picture of
the Virgin, and with which they
blessed the body.
The members Of the imperial
amily gathered between the gorgeous
pillars at the foot of the coffin and
istened to the reading OF the solemn
mass for the dead, the service closing
With music.
The imperial family and their at
endants then retired within the
kremlin, while those holding tickets
we're admitted to the cathedral, where
he body laid in state. Here they
passed around the dais slowly, taking
, last look at the dead Cars face.
After the nobility and gentry came
'eople of all sorts and grades in the
yes of society, who were kindly ad-
nitted in the supposed order Of their
ank and blueness of their blood.
The body was watched day and
light by six staff officers, twelve
ubalterns, and two special guards at :
ach door. The spiritual repose of :
he Car is cared for through frequent :
masses at appointed hours, and every
ody, now that he is dead, is, welcom-
d to bid farewell to Alexander the =
II of Russia. +
ST. PETERSBURG, Nov. 18th, 1894. +
This city was heavily draped in !
,ourning to day long before the =
ody of the dead Car arrived from !,
Ioscow. The entire population in !,
Dected the extensive decorations. j
he line of procession here was over
'ur miles long A strong detach
lent of sailors formed the guard of
onor. Sixty pages, all holding
indles, assembled at the depot and h
waited the arrival of the funeral 7
ain. The hearse in waiting was 6,
raped with gold cloth and silver :
ssels. The top Of the hearse was r
by the imperial crown y
I'd ancient gilt helmets. The pro.
,ssion was divided into three sections
I'd thirteen divisions, the hearse
aiding the section to the Winter
alace where the body was laid in
pose. "a
Death. q