The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1894-11-24
lAIO WITH HIS ANCESTORS
impressive Burial of Alexander
Of Russia.
The Funeral Service Of hIodsrh
Times-Dcsoription of tho Scene at
the Cathedral-rhe Autocrat
Sleeps by His Mother.

ST. PETERSBURG, Nov. 1o.-The morn.
ing opened cold and foggy. There vas
no rain, but II thick mist o%verhung the
streets and the emblems of mourning
everywhere displayed We're dripping
with moisture. The populnce was
astir before daylight and all morning
lines of people We're converging upon
the fortress cathedral of st. Peter and
st. Paul, where the booming of
cannon announced the beginning of
the funeral services. The troops which
had been told OFF for duty at daybreald
took their positions promptly and tho
th%oroughfures were soon lined with in
fantry, cavalry and artillery. From S
o'clock until the hour of the funeral
there was Il continuous flow of street
carriages conveying high officials. who
were making haste tn take possession
of the places in the cathedral which
had been allotted to them.
Heraids stood at the entrance to the
cathedral and a group of clcrgymen.
headed by the metropolitan of St
Petersburg, stood around the main
door awaiting the arrival of Empero,
Nicholas II and the imperial family,
who, when they did arrive. were es.
eorted by the metropolitan and ms at.
PENDANTS to places at the foot of tho
coffin,
The religious service over the body
of the dead emperor was probably the
most magnificent of modern times.
pIn.nipn,,t 81 t,r,,r t1,a ,epn,,II,l tI.>,
sands were splendidly robed members
of the holy synod. meetropolitans OF st.
Petersburg and Novgorod, the cars
confessor, the clergy of st. Peters.
burg and vicinity and the conr.
dignitaries, among whom were ladies
OF honor, ladies' of the b~cdchnmber and
ladies in waiting, all ROBBED in deer
black, which in some instances vas
partially relieved by white scarfs
collars u drnpery. Besides these
there were serried masses of
officials, ministers, field mar.
shais, generals, secretaries of state, all
in fun uniform and displaying many
decorations; the c%zarina's suite, mem
bers of the state council. tho members
of the senate and all foreign uinbassa-
doris, including Mr.. Brcckinridge. am
bassador of the United States.
The signal for the services to begin
was the firing of three guns from the
fortress. just as the third gun was
fired EmperorNicllolas III and the impe.
Sial family appeared at the west dooroi
the cathedral and preceded by
the metropolitan of st. Peters.
burg and the members of the holy
synod, all of them magniticently robed
In yestments of black and silver, pissed
through the body of the ediice towards
the catatulque. The metropolitan OF
st. Petersburg carried Il great cruelty
us chief of the holy synod
aud as the procession passed toward.
tho catafnlqGe sprinklcd holy
water upon those about him ut the
same time audibly repeating n prayer
After the czal and the imperial family
and the holy synod had taken theil
places, the metropolitan and clergy
standing in semicircle around the head
of the coffin, the metropolitan begnr
the mortuary mass, which with OK
eral splendor of the occusion, was tbs
is said for any other faithful membo,
Of the orthodox church. After tht
general mass for the dead with It's elab
crate ceremony, special service for tile
dead ear was begun. The service
began with n brief prayer, after which
psalm 81 mas sung by an unseen male
choir. Then followed the singing o.
psalm 1l9, which was divided into
three stations, with an anthem afte,
each part.
An Impressive Scene.
When the tapers were lighted this
- go, ,,,- --
ent were standing, tho czar with the
imperial family and visiting relative.
on the right side of the coffin. Yhe car
ina, pale and frightened looking, much
affected, stood by the side of the ear.
With her was the princess of Wales,
duchess OF Coburg, King Christian OF
Denmark. prince of Wales, duke of Co
burg, duke of York and "a number OF
naval officials and ambassadors with
their suites. On the left of the coffin
were Il number of ~clergymen and in
front u number of military and other
dignitaries. A large number of Rus
sian gentlemen We're grouped in the
fortress yard, there being no room for
them within the cathedral.
When the ZOE was brought forward
all present bowed low and crossed
themselves, the choir chanting lowly
and with subdued voices. Aftera pause,
during which silent prayer was offered
up, the czar stepped forward to the
coffin and kissed the lips Of the
dead emperor, other members of the
imperial family and those bound By
ties of blood or marriage following
until all of the farcwells were over.
Then eight generals appeared bearing
the lid of the coffin, which was fas.
tened in it's place. Eight other
generals bore away the purple
pail which had covered the coffin
exposing the bare giided surface of the
casltet to Wow. Grand dukes then
lifted the coffin to their shoulders and
bore it to the entrance to the imperial
vault, which opened in the pavement,
and u moment later the remains of
Alexander Ill We're lowered into the
resting place of his imperial ancestors.
At the moment the coffin was
lowered q gun was fired and the car
stepped forward and took n handful of
earth which he scattered upon tho
casket. AS The body was lowered and
placed by the side of the coffin CT the
mother OF the dead car. the netropol.
iian reeited the last prayer for the
dead, adding, Ave do our last duties ia
an even remembered and glorious ruler
of all the Russins, Alexander ILL.," An
of the members of the imperial family
fled slowly past the vault followed by
all persons who had been in the catf,e.
dral and ia, ohsequies of Alexander Ill
We're over.
Long Live the Gar.
Tho funeral ri es which were begun
promptly at 1880 a. M. were concluded