The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-11-20
LAST OF EARTH
Emperor Alexander Buried
With Great Pomp.
Services Attending Inierment In
Accordance With Orthodox Church.

ST PEIA4s. JAG, Nov. 2o.--Applications
sre belng roceiycd from all parts OF Russia
for flowers that were used in the fortress
cathedral during the lying in state OF
Csar Alexander's body and at the funeral
services There will be general distribu-
tion OF flowers 10 those who desire to Sc
cure mcincnto OF the dead car. The
Horal offerings received from France were
very numerous.
lt Is the intention OF the Prince ana
princess of Wales 90 remain In -. Peters
burg until after the marriage Of Grand
Duchess ALEXANDRIA Feodorovna princess
Alix) TO Gar Nicholas. Both Gear Mich
olas and his mother have repeatedly ex-
pressed their profound gratitude for the
devotion and Kindness of the Prince and
Princess OF Wales in their trying ordeal.
The religious service over the body OF
che dead emperor was probably the most
magnificent funeral ceremony OF modern
tirnes, in its external aspects far exeelilng
IN beauty and grandeur the memorable
burial service of Alexander III.
The Final Services.
The signal for the services to begin was
the firing Of three guns from the fortress.
just as the third gun was fired Emperor
Nicholas III and the imperial family ap-
peared at the west door of the cathedral,
and, preceded by the metropolitan OF st.
Petersburg and the members OF the holy
synod, all of them magniflcently robed In
vestments OF black and silver, passed
through the body of the edihce toward
the catafalque.
The metropolitan Of st. Petersburg
oarried the great cruclfix ms the chief of
the holy synod, and a. the procession
passed towards the catafalque, sprinkled
holy water upon those about him, at the
same time audibly repeating prayer.
After the czar and the imperial family and
the holy synod had taken their places, the
metropolitan and the clergy standing in
Isemi-osrcle around the head OF the coffin,
the metropolitan began the mortuary
mass, which, with tho exception Of the
elaborate music and the general splendor
of tho OCCASION was the same as the SER
vice for the dead which is said for any
other faithful member of tho orthodox
church.
When the host was brought forward all
present bowed low and crossed them
selves, the choir chanting slowly and with
oubdued voice. After pause, during
which silent prayer was offered mp, the
esar stepped forward to the coffin and
kissed the lips of the dead emperor, tho
: ether nen1bvrs of ths irupertat funfty and
those bound by ties of blood or marriage
following. the ozar standing by the side of
che cofan until all the farewells were over.
Placed In the Tomb.
Then eight generals appeared, bearing
hhs I'D Of the coffin, which was fastened
IN its place. Eight other generals bore
. away tho purple pail which had covered
the cofin. The grand dukes then bore the
Ccff1n to the entrance of the imperial
vault and moment later the mortal
eemains Of Alexander Ill were lowered
Into the resting place OF his imperial an
eestors.
A. tho moment tho coffin was lowered a
gun was fired and the czar stepped for
ward and took handful OF earth, which
he scattered upon the casket. As the body
was lowered and placed by the side of the
cof1n Of tho mother Of the dead czar. the
metropolitan reoited the last prayer for
the dead, adding, "We do our last duties
20 an ever-remembered and glorious ruler
of all the Russias, Alexander Ill"
All of the members Of the imperial fam
fly then filed slowly past the vault, fol-
lowed by all tho persons who had been In
che cathedral, and tho obsequies of Alex.
Ander Ill werc over.
IL Was Terrible Moment
when tho time came for the family of
Csar Alexander to bid farewell TO his re-
mains- The widowed empress mounted
the steps Of the bier supported by her son,
Gear Nicholas.
Her feelings spent themselves in burst
Of hysterioal sobs and tears, from which
uhe was unable to recover. Again and
again she bent over and kissed the dead
hands lying crossed upon her husbands
4 breast.
There she stood aside and the imperial
and royal personages kissed tho hands,
after which the general public withdrew
Then rosary was laid upon the forehead
Of the deceased, and an absolution written
upon parchment was placed In the hands.
The lnt6rment followed.
Big-Hearted spaniards.