Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-11-20
SILENTLY SLEEPS.
Remains of Late Car En-
tombed at St, Petersburg,
Funeral Services Most Elaborate and
Magnificent of Modern Times.
The Imperial Flag Of Gar Nicholas Now
Floats Over Russia.

St Pctcrshurg Nov l9.-Thc religious
service over the body Of the dead Emperor
was probably the most magnificent funeral
| ceremony of modern times, in its external
aspects, far excclling in beauty and
grandeur the memorable burial service
! of Alexander H.
The signal for the services tO begin was
| the firing of three guns from the fortress.
| Just rs the third gun was fired. Em-
pcror Nicholas and the Imperial family
| appeared mt the west door of the CathC-
dral, and preceded by the metropolitan of
| 1t. Petersburg and the members of tho
| Holy synod all Of them magniiiccntly
| robed in vcStmcntS of black and silver,
passed through the body of the clitcc to-
ward the catafalquc. The metropolitan
of st. Petersburg carried the great cruel
| fix as the chief Of the Holy Synod, and Us
the procession passed toward the cata.
falquc. sprinkled holy water upon those
about him, AT the same time audibly ro.
pcating prayer
| After the Gar and imperial family aud
| the Holy Synod had taken their places,
| the metropolitan and the clergy, standing
| in a semi circle around the head Of the
| coffin, began the mortuary mass, which,
with the exception Of the elaborate music
and general splendor of the occasion, was
the same as the service for the dead which
is said for any other faithful member Of
| the Orthodox church
At noon the air inside the church was
heavy with incense and the dim light
within was starred with thousands Of tap
! crs, each mourner and visitor holding one.
| The first taper was ligtcd by the Gar. As
! His Majesty lighted his taper he held it.
aloft and from it slowly spread stream
| Of light When the other tapCrs were
| lighted the scene was one of rarcst beauty,
the sanctuary and the body of the cdillco
| sparkling as though jCwcllcd with cmcr-
aids, sapphrcs, opals, etc.
All present were standing. the Car and
the imperial family and the visiting royal
ties on the right side of the collin. Tho
! Czarina, pale and fragile and looking
much affected. stood by the side of the
| Gar With these weru the Princess of
| Wales. the Duchess of Coburg King
| Christian of Denmark, Prince of Wales
/ the Duke Of York, the Duke of Cohurg. n
| number of naval officials and the ambas-
sadors with their suites.
| After the general mass for the dead,
with its elaborate ceremony, the special
service for dead Gar was begun.
The service began with brief PRAYER
after which Psalm 81 was sung by an
unseen male choir. Then followed the
singing of Psalm 1l9, which was divided
! into three sections with an anthem after
each part The first anthem was the
Gloria Allaluin''; the second, "Hnvc
Mercy Upon My Soul; and the third,
Blessed Art Thou, q Lord, Teach Me
Thy Judgments. At the end of tho
second station, before the anthem was u
prayer.
/ At the conclusion of the special service,
which was very elaborate, the Czar stepped
/ forward To the coffin and kissed the lips
of the dead Emperor, the other members
of the imperial family and those bound by
ties of blood or marriage following, tho
Gar standing by the side of the coffin un.
! til the farcwclls We're over.
| Then eight generals appeared bearing
the lid of the coffin, which was fastened in
its place Eight other generals bore
away the purple pail, exposing the bare
| gilded surface Of the coffin to view.
| Tho grand dukes then lifted the coffin
! to their shoulders and bore IL to the en-
! trance to the imperial vault, which opened
| in the pavement, and n moment after tho
mortal remains of Alexander Ill wern
| lowered into the resting place Of his inn
perial ancestors
! At the moment the coffin was lowered n
! gun was fired, and the Gar stepped for
ward and took handful of earth which
| he scattered upon the casllct. As the body
was lowered and placed by the side Of tho
coffin Of the mother Of the dead Car, the
metropolitan recited the last prayer for tho
dead, adding: "Wc do our last duties
to an ever remembered and glorious ruler
Of all the Russias, Alexander III
! All the members Of the imperial family
then filed slowly past the vault, followed
| by all Of the persons who had been in the
cathedral and the obsequics Of Alexander
| III. were over.
| The funeral rites, which were begun
! promptly at 10 80 A. NJ, were concluded
at g 30 =. NJ. when the scene suddenly
changed. The troops stationed outside
the cathedral fired three rounds of mus
| kerry and n salvo Of cannon was fired from
| the fortress At the first salvo of artillery
the mourning flag which had been flying
at half mast from the fortress since tho
arrival of the Czar's body, was lowered
and in its place appeared the imperial
! standard Haunting itself at full mast.
! The bands at g. - were playing lively airs
and marches, and the vast crowds which
! throngcd the streets were surging toward
/ the winter palace.
The large candle which remains lighted
iCnntiDupd on 2d rapp