The record-union., 1897-06-23
THREE SCORE YEARS AGO.
"reminiscences of Queen YiCtOria'S Access
sion and Coronation.
A Sacramentan Who From Tree
Top Witnessed the Imposing
Ceremonies.

Sacramento of all places in the State,
probably enjoys alone the distinction
of having a citizen who sixty years ago
was an eyewitness of the pageantry
connected with the ascension of Queen
Victoria to the throne of England and
/ her coronation, which events are being
celebrated on such a grand scale in
England this week.
That citizen is Richard Dale, the old
time merchant whom everybody in Sac
ramento knows and the present Mama
ger for the Howard Benevolent Associ-
alton.
AT the Victoria jubilee celebration in
Pythian Castle on Monday evening Mr..
Dale delivered an address that was
full of historical interest. His subject
was Sixty Years Ago" and in his re-
marks he told of how he had witnessed
the public ceremonies incident to Vic
torias accession and coronation. This
portion of Mr. Dale's narrative was as
follows:
"On the 20th of June, 1887, the writer
of this. then a boy of Is years, was
playing with other boys in the Mall Of
ST. James Park, when the rear gates OF
ST. James Palace were thrown open and
the sentries on duty presented arms.
A two-seated carriage, with glass front
and drawn by four horses, with pos
tillions, came dashing through the
gates. The carriage contained two
elderly gentlemen. They wore white
drab coats and white beaver hats. The
carriage drove on through the Mall and
up Constitution HILL on it's way to
Windsor, over twenty miles distant. [
learned afterward that it was King
| William ", with his physician, on his
way to Windsor to die.
"On the Oath of June, 1887, I was
again in the Mall playing with some
| boys, when the same rear gates were
! thrown open. a carriage containing
| two ladies, Princess Victoria and the
Duchess of Kent, came down COnstitu-
ton Hill from Kensington Palace,
about two miles distant, along the
Mall, and drove into st. James Palace
grounds. The bells of all the churches,
including Big Ben of st. Paul's Ca
thedral were tolling for the dead King.
There were no railroads or tele-
graphs then, and news was brought to
London by couriers and sent to all the
Government officials. By noon st.
James Park was we'll filled with SOL
diers, Horse, Life and Foot Guards,
lancers and artillery, carriages with
Lord Melbourne and the Government
nobility Dukes Lords and the aristoc-
racy. Then the State carriages came
out of the gates with Princess Victoria
dressed in her state robes, accompanied
by the members of the royal family.
1.-The procession started along the
Mall, through ST. James Park, through
the Horse Guards gates, past White
hall, Charing Cross, along the Strand
through Temple Bar, Fleet street, Lud-
gate Hill, ST Pauls Churchyard
lCheapside and Poultry, and was met at
the Mansion House by the Lord Mayor
of London, the Aldermen and the Com
mon Council, all dressed in their full
robes of office.
THE Lord Mayor proclaimed Victoria
Queen of England, Ireland, Great Brit
ain and the Colonies. The bells of all
the churches ceased tolling; the guns
began firing, and the church bells be-
gan ringing merry chimes; flags We're
hoisted at top-mast; the people cried
out, The King is deadl Long live the
Queen" The procession returned as ii
came, and Queen Victoria took posses
sion of st. James and Buckingham Pal
aces. So ended Accession Day, June
"a, 1887.
Coronation Day, June 2S, 1888, came
in quite cloudy, with some rain, but the
weather cleared up in the afternoon.
Soon after 3 o'clock the morning salute
was fired, bands playing God Save the
Queen BY o'clock nearly all the re-
viewing stands, windows and roofs
were filed with crowds of people, al
though the procession did not start un-
til after 10 O'Clock.
'Oh, such sights! Parades, process
sions, nobility, ambassadors from all
over Europe, carriages with horses COW
cred all over with gold lace and bullion
jewels, court dresses and coronets,
flags, banners and soldiers from every
where! l have never seen such sights
in sixty years, and never expect to see
them again.
THE ceremonies did not end at West
minister Abbey till nearly O'Clock.
was in the Green Park and climbed
high up in tree, having a magnificent
view of it all 1 rushed home to supper
and then father took the family out in
a carryall to see the illuminations and
fireworks. / have viewed many fine
displays of fireworks and illuminations