The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1894-11-23

ST. PETERSBURG, Nov. 2O.-A thick
fog enveloped the city to-day, but
the podulace was astir early, for all
were anxious to witness the last
ceremonies in honor of the late ear,
Alexander III. At the same time the
troops detailed to take part in the
funeral ceremonies began moving to
the places assigned to them.
In the cathedral of st. Peter and st.
Paul were representatives of all the
imperial and royal families of Europe,
aud a vast crowd of notables. The
metropolitan of st. Petersburg con-
Quoted the czariua to her place
near the coffin, which reposed in
state in the center of the cathedral.
The z a and the grand dukes and the
members of the thirty royal families
of Europe with their suites took up
positions on the right of the coffin,
and the many military officers in at
tendance were grouped behind the
bier. On the left were the foreign
ambassadors and ministers and their
STATS. while grouped around in differ
ent parts of the cathedral were count
less delegations from Russian cities
and elsewhere, including umerou
delegations from France.
Enormous crowds of people gath
cred on both sides of the Neva, long
before the ceremonies began. The
car, the imperial family and the
royal mourners were received at the
door of the cathedral by the metro
politan OF st. Petersburg and by all
the members of the holy synod bear
ing crosses and holy water. The i'm
perial party formed in procession and
marched up the aisle until the ear
n other mourners reached their ap-
pointed places.
H SERVICES o IMPRESSIVE.
At 1890 o'clock the funeral service
began while three cannon shots were
fred. Tapers were handed to all the
mourners, and the high priest, with a
burning torch, lighted the czar's
taper, and afterwards did the
same with those held by the members
of the imperial family, after which
other priests lighted the tapers of all
the other mourners in turn according
to rank. until everybody was kneel-
ing and holding lighted tapers in
their right hands, which, with clouds
of incense and the solemn chanting
of the priests, gave a most weird eff
feet to the whole scene.
At the conclusion of the funeral
service the mourners of the imperial
family, including the czarina and Car
Nicholas, paid their last respects to
the dead car, kissing the icon lying
on his breast. The car assisted the
czarina, who was terribly affected.
Eight generals then removed the
pail and carried the coffin to the altar
while eight other generals bore the
casket. The Ear then placed his
fathers imperial mantel within the
coffin, which was then finally closed,
and the procession to the tomb was
formed. 1t was headed by the metro
politan of st. Petersburg and the
clergy intoning a solemn chant. The
coffin borne by the car, the grand
dukes, the princes and the most dis
tinguished generals followed.
LAID AWAY IN THE VAULT.
The most impressive portion Of the
ceremony vas at the lowering of the
cars body into the vault by high
civil officers of the government. As
the coffin disappeared from view the
loud booming of cannon and the SAL
vos fired by ~platoons of infantry from
the adjoining fortress reverberated
through the church, mingling with
the words of the burial service, and
the lowering of the mourning flag
and the hosting of the ordinary i'm
perial standard on the fortress tower
proclaimed to the world outside that
the last rites had been concluded.
The Ear bore the ordeal with forti-
tude, but many among the group of
imperial and royal personages clus-
tered around the open grave were
visibly affected. The czar remained
in the church until the tomb was
finally closed.
After this last ceremony the imper-
ial insignia were carried back, in
state, in a number of carriages to
the winter palace and were there de-
posted in their accustomed place in
st. Georges hall. -
Since the first day of the lying in
state there had been no diminution
in the number of those seeking to
Gahc d IdSG lOOh dU tiiC 1dCC vi 1GuSSid y
dead ruler, and so great were the
crowds that the police were unable
to control the masses, and SO violent
was the pressure at times that lamp
posts and trees were knocked down
and many persons badly hurt.
WHERE THE CARS r BURIED.
The Cathedral of st. Peter and st.
Paul was originally built by Peter the
Great in 1903. 1t is often called the
Fortress church, because it stands
within the fortress which was built
on the island by Peter of Peters
burgsky. Beneath the pavement r
great vaults, in which all the Russian
sovereigns since the foundation of st.
Petersburg lie buried, with the ex-
ception of Peter II. who died at Mos
cow and was inferred there. Over
head in the church magnificent mon
uments mark the sites of the graves.
The interior of the church is covered
with banners and other military
trophies captured in the various a
waged by Russia.