Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-11-21
THE CZAR'S FUNERAL.
The Remains of the Late Car of
Russia Finally Laid to
Rest.

St. Petersburg, Nov. l9.-The entomb-
ment Of the remains of the late Gar Alex
ander i'll. took place today in the cathe
dral of st. Peter and st. Paul.
A thick fog enyeloped the city, but the
popuace was astir at the earliest possible
hour and at the same time the troops de,
tailed to take part in the funeral cere-
monies commenced moving towards the 20
SltiOn Of assignment Of them The cathe-
dral was packed with people, including
representatives of all the imperial and
royal families of Europe. The funeral
services were conducted by the metropolis
tan of st. Petersburg and by the metro
politan Of Moscow. The former conduct
cd the Czarna TO her place near the coffin
which repOsed in state in the center OF the
cathedral The Car and grand dukes
md the members of the royal families pres
ent took up positions on the right of the
coffin and the many military officers III at
tendance We're grouped behind the bier. On
the left were the foreign ambassadors and
ministers and their staffs, while grouped
around in different parts of the cathedral
were countless delegations from Russian
cities and elsewhere. including the numer-
Gus dele cations from France.
Enormous crowds of people gathered on
both sides Of the Neya long before the
ceremonies commenced. The opening cere-
mony was announced by three cannon
shots from the fortress The Gar, the
imperial family and the royal mourners
We're received at the door of the cathedral
by the metropolitan of st. Petersburg
and by all members of the Holy Synod
bearing crosses and holy water. The i'm.
perial party formed in a solemn process
sion which marched up the aisle until the
Car and other m0urners reached their ap
pointed places. The funeral service then
commenced and during its progress ia.
pers were handed to all the mourners
Then the high priest with a burning torch
lighted the Cars taper and afterward
did the same with those held by the mem
bers of the imperial family after which
the priest lighted the tapers of all the
other mourners iii turn according to rank
until everybody was kneeling and holding
fickering tapers in their right hands
which. with clouds of incense, followed by
the solemn chanting of the priests. gave
y most weird effect to the whole scene.
At the conclusion of the funeral serv.
ice the mourners Of the imperial family
paid their last respects to the dead Gar
by kissing the icon lying on his breast
The Gar 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 pail behind the
casket. The Gar then placed his fathers
imperial mantle within the coffin which
was then finally closed and the procession
to the tomb was formed. 1t was headed
by the metropolitan of st. Petersburg and
the clergy intoning Il solemn chant. The
clergy We're followed by the coffin. which
was borne by the Gar. the grand dukes,
foreign princes and the most distinguished
generals.
The most impressive portion Of the cere-
mOny was at the lowering Of the late
Cars remains into the vault by high civil
officers of the government AS the coffin
disappeared from view, the loud booming
of cannon and the salvos fired by platoons
of infantry from the adjoining fortress re-
verberated through the church, mingiing
with the words of the burial service, and
the lowering of the mourning flag and the
hosting of the ordinary imperial standard
on the fortress tower proclaimed to the
world outside that the last act in the
mournful drama had been concluded.
When the coffin. enclosed in chest of
thick red copper. was lowered into the
tomb. Gar Nicholas and the Czarina
deposited upon it wreaths OF fresh bios
SONS. The members of the imperial fam
lily threw loose flowers, among which red
and white roses predominated upon the
casket.
The uppermost plaque then was fastened
down upon the copper chest enclosing the
coffin, and was secured by an ingenious
golden paddock provided with duplicate
keys. one of which will be consigned tc
the minister of the court and the other
10 the c0mmanGanC Oh llle 1eteEOpdulOF Shl
Fortress.
The grave was finally closed by a mono
lithic slab weighing 5000 pounds which
will be cemented into the cathedral pave
ment
After this last ceremony the imperial
insignia were carried back in state in
number of carriages TO the winter palace
and were there deposited i'll their accus-
toned place in st. Georges hall.
The Gar bcce the ordeal with fortitude,
but many among the group of imperial and
royal personagas clustered around the open
grave were visibly affected. The Car
remained in the church until the tomb was
finally closed
Berlin, Nov 19.-An imposing funeral
ceremony in honor of the late Gar Alex
ander III. took place today in the church
Of the Russian embassy. Traffic about the
neighborhood was suspended during the
service, and there was Il large guard of
honor outside the church. Emperor Will
lam, in Russian uniform, accompanied
by the Empress, drove to the church in
an open carriage and were present through
out the ceremony. All the diplomatic
corps, including the United States ambas-
sador, Hon. Theo. Runyan, and many
other notabilities were present.