Huntsville gazette., 1894-11-24
several hundre1

The ceremonies were conducted with
all the pomp of which the ritual of the
Greek church is capable, and with all
the display that the Russian court
could command.
The streets were thronged with peo--
pie throughout the day, and the ut
most good order prevailed. No acci-
dents were reported, despite the con-
stantly surging crowds, and the troops
charged with the duty of preserving
order had nothing to do but to put
themselves upon exhibition and en-
dure the exactions of the cold, damp
and altogether disagreeable weather
until the funeral was over.
The correspondent of the United
Press, who was an eyewitness, tells
the story of the day as follows:
At o'clock in the morning when
the correspondents eutered the cathe-
dral it was scarcely light. At that
hour the undertakers, with screens
around the coffin, were preparing the
body for the last rites, while other
workmen were hanging fresh drap-
cries, etc. The light inside the church
near the bier gave forth ficllering rays
of light, but even these, together with
| the lights hanging before the sacred
| Ikons, made the whole interior of the
edifice a scene of glittering magnifi-
cence. The pillars throughout the
church were covered with silver and
| gold wreaths und there were about
| 1000 other wreaths hung about the
walls. These, with the rich draperies
and the graceful canopy over the bier
and dias formed beautiful center, all
blending with the simple and solid
| decoration of the cathedral.
| The wreaths sent by the various
rulers throughout Europe were placed
about the dais. That sent by Presi-
dent Casimir- Perier of France was in
the shape of shield, fifteen feet high
and draped in the style of the French
emperor. Within the shield was a
large silver wreath crossed with gold.
! Upon it was woven palm branch and
on the top were the French and Rus
sian colors blended with flags upon the
sides. The whole presented most ar
tistic effect.
The most artistic wreath, however,
was that of the Russian army, which
occupied prominent place upon the
! dais. 1t was massive silver wreath,
with silver and gold flags and pennons
In the center was a gold palm which
crossed the whole piece. The effect
was beautiful.
Hundreds of French artificial
wreaths were piled from the catafalque
on the left of the altar, reaching a
great height.
Alto o'clock Holy John of Cronstadt,
attended by priest, entered the ca
thedral, and was engaged in prayer
for some time. The attendants of the
cathedral were in the meantime as
busy as bees in putting up fresh can
dies and giving finishing touches
to the draperies. wreaths and other
decorations. Prayers were constantly
being said by priests upon the altar
and at the head of the coffin, where
the heavily craped imperial standard
hung in silken folds. The white silk
window curtains had been drawn. and
| the windows were framed in black,
through which a feeble light strug-
| gled. A silver wreath on black
! cushion stood in the center of the edl-
fee fronting the altar. 1t was the
wreath of Queen Victoria.
The grave. five fee. deep, was upcoy-
| cred at $50 a. m. and entirely lined
with flowers.
| At this hour the assembly began
gradually to congregate. and brilliant
| uniforms and costumes could be seen
| on all sides. The C0ssacks, who We're
assigned to the duty of escortsng the
imperial family, wore long red tcher-
kers aDa coats and picturesque gar