Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1894-11-19
ALEXANDER WITH THE CARS
\ MAGNIFICENT FUNERAL IN 81
PETERSBURG.

\ Great Crowd. an Imposing Ccrc.
mony. Divine Music, Royalty Moth.
ing of the Spectacular Wanting tc
Add Gloomy Mugnlticcncc.
ST. PETERSBURG, Nov 19-Thc morr
ing opened cid and foggy. There was
no rain, but thick mist over urg th,
streets, aud the cmhlems OF mourning
every where displayed were dipping
with moisture thereirom. The popu
lance was astir before daylight. and al
the morning lines of people converced
upon the cathedral Of St. Peter and ST.
Paul, where the booming Of cannon an
nounced the beginning Of the funeral ser
vices.
The troops which had been told off for
duty at daybreak took their positions
promptly, but the thoroue htarcs were
soon lined with infantry, cavalry aid az
tillery. From 8 O'Clock until the hour
of the funeral there was continuous
flow of state carriages conveying high
officials, who were making haste to
take possession of places in the cathedral
allotted tn them. Hcralds stood at the
entrance to the cathedral and group OF
clcrgymen headed by the Metropolitan
of ST. Petersburg stood around the main
door awaiting the arrival of Emperor
Nicholas ii. and the imperial family,
who, when they did arrive, were cs.
corted by the Metropolitan aud his at
tendants to places at the foot Of the cot.
fin which was slightly raised at the head
with the foot towards the altar. Close
to the altar was a platform widecnough
to accommodate most of the principal
mourners. The whole da,s was covered
with a canopy. The religious service
over the body OF the dead Emperor was
probably the most magnificent ol any in
modern times. i'll its external aspect far
exceeding iii beauty aud grandeur the
memorable buria! service of Alexander
IL. The music was divine ard lie per.
tormanccs OF the liturgy sublime in the
extreme. The Surroundings were sub
dued in color, but they wrrcof that q,irt
character which greatly cnhanced the
splendor OF the whole srtEe. The cream
OF royalty and the nobility OF the empire
assisted at the service, and princes of the
hlood,prelates of The orth dox church, no.
blemcn, representatives OF foreign syvcr-
eigns and princes, foreign diplomats and
other distinguished personagcs joined IN
he Iryn, inns ut,I ,,l,.l,,t,. L.,
for rcposc OF the soul o! the dead.
AT the conclusion Of the religious ,erc-
monies the Gar STEPPED for ward to the
coffin, kissed the lips Of the dead En-
peror, the other members of the imperial
family tnd those bourd by ties of blood
or marriage following, the Gar stand.
ing by the side OF the cntfin til all the
tarcwells were over. When the coffin
was closed, the grand dukes lifted it to
their shoulders and bore it to he cn.
trance OF the imperialyaul " hi,h opened
Ill The pavement and, a moment Later,
the mortal remains of Alexander Ill.
were lowered into the resting place OF
bis imperial ancestors.
Moscow, Nov. lS.-A number OF stud,
ents in this city started subscription
day or two ago to purchase silver
wreath to be placed on the bier of the
dead Gar. The subscription list was
seized by some maicontents among the
students, who tore II up, declared that
they would permit no wreath to be
placed upon th, bier OF au.Emperor who
had doubled their college ices. The affair
came to the knowledge Of the secret
police. who arrested 200 students. Most
of those arrested are friends Of the stud
ents who were recently expelled from the
university for not paving their college
assessments