The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-06-25
THE QUEEN In LONDON.
The Special Train Built for This Occasion.
Palaces on W~heeI-Irowds Everywhere
Wild With Enthusiasm -Luucheon at
Buckingham-Reeepiion to the ENJOYS
by the 0ueea-1he state Banquet-Our
I Representatives in u


Observation-Disclosures to the Envoys
by the 0ueea-Ihe State Banquet-0ur
!. Representatives in Attendance.
Londo June ZI-The queen is nGw in
London An immense crowd gathered at
Paddingtcn station in the early hours o.
this morning and waited with stoiid pa
thence.
The carly hours were enlivened by the
pealing of the bells and in the morning
breeze everywhere hoated the royal
standard The first point of interest in the
days proceedings was Windsor, where by
& o'clock the short route leading from
the castle to the Great Western railway
station was lined by a mass of people
gathered to see the queen start. Flags
and flowers were everywhere, and the
order of the day, God Save the Queen"
appeared on houses and banners without
end. The statue Of the queen near the
castle was decorated and gorgeously cam
opted in renaissance style. and tall Ven
etians masts, with their fluttering pen.
mons, lined both sides of the route.
At II O'Clock the queen left the castle.
The railway station was beautifully dec
Grated in scarlet and gold, flowers in
bloom, and tall, artistic palms. The queen
was received by the directors Of the rail-
way. The Queens Train used for the
first time tOday-was drawn I'D close to
the entrance door. The magnificent en-
CINE, Queen Empress" beautifully paint
ed and decked out with goldleaf. carried
the royal arms emblazoned in. gold and
cOlOrs in front and royal heraldic devices
over the SplashbOards of the driving
wheels. The train was composed of six
carriages, built on the American corridor
system and connected by the rubber COW
cred passages so common in the states.
The queens carriage. which is ffty-four
feet long, occupied the center of the
train. 1t weighs twenty-seven tons, and
IS mounted on two bogie trucks swung
under double-huEs suspension guides.
Like all the carriages, it is painted in
Great Western colors. chocolate, with
cream panels. The headings are in gold
and the door handles. with their moulded
lions heads, are gold plated. The doors
are emblazoned with the royal arms. The
running gear is encased in mahogany,
with a carved lions head at each corner,
above which is a gilded imperial crown.
The interior is divided into three COM
and at one end an open saloon for her
majesty's maids. at the ether an open sa-
loon for the gentlemen in attendance. The
queens room has plate glass bow win>
doWS and a dOmed roof. the ceiling Of
which is white enamel with hand-painted
are in white silk rep. The door handles,
curtain poles and incandescent lamps are
silver plated. the wood work is mahOg-
any anu TIC outer dOCIS are carved with
the royal arms. Near the windows is the
queens favorite swinging armchair and
sofa. A small folding writing table. on
which is an ivory electric bell, completes
the furniture of the apartment. Sliding
glass doors communicate with the two
saloons.
long, equally rich in decoration and fur
niture. for the suite. a corridor carriage
for the officials of the company and two
vans fitted with Gil cooking stoves COM
plete the train.
The start for London was made at Ills
o'clock a. M, and for almost the entire
distance the train passed between scat.
tered groups Of loyal people. Every sta
ton of the Great Western between Wind
sor and Paddington had been decorated.
The railway employees everywhere stood
at the salute. while the platforms were
crowded with cheering people.
the immense terminus had been trans
formed on the up side into a hail of
respondent crimson. garlanded with
fringe of gold, fragrant with the odors of
countless blossoms, walled on either side
by parterres of people. The state car
riages from Buckingham palace were at
the end of the covered way. AS soon as
the queen had taken her seat the Life
Guards drew up in front and roar after
roar Of cheers proclaimed to waiting
thousands that she had arrived.
Throughout, the route to Buckingham
palace was tenanted by an immense as
semblage. Every window had its occu-
pants. every roof its sightseers, every
cN SBd>S III NlC ll1 pIfN u Ss
sidewalk and gardens, the paths and
chairs, and even the trees and ratings of
the parks, were black with loyal human
ity. The queen drove slowly to crafty
her people. Her face everywhere loOSened
the voices of the multitude. In unre-
strained strength the rich and t~umultuous
expression of loyalty and affection broke
forth. Volleys of cheers rose clearly
above the constant roar of reclamation.
Through Burton's gate the queen passed
on to the garden entrance of Buckingham
palace, always between the living lanes OF
her subjects, always the object of endless
homage and salvoes Of cheers, which con-
tinued until the gates had shut the queen
from view.
A number of Americans. armed with
kodaks; had stationed themselves opposite
the palace gate. and somebody in the
crowd shouted Now, yankS, three cheers
for your mother raising a roar Of good
humored laughter.
bowed slowly to the right and left to the
greeting of her subjects. She looked
pleased, and did not wear spectacles, and
appeared not more tired than any lady
of her age might be expected to be. The
Empress Frederick. who sat beside her
majesty. was also dressed in black. Prin-
cesses Christian and Battenberg sat OPP
posite the queen and the empress. The
Princess Christian wore a lilac costume
and the Princess Henry of Battenberg
was dressed in black. Two school girls
rode behind the carriage.
The queen. after she entered the pal
ace, proceeded to her private apartments
for luncheon. and the royal and other
guests had lunch in the state supper
room. Levee costumes were worn, and
the suites, who were also in levee dress,
had luncheon in the garden and in the
vestibule.
United States special envoy. the Hon.
Whitelaw Reid, General Nelson A. Miles,
L. S. A. Rear Admiral j. n. Miller, L. S.
N. and the members of the United States
special embassy, reached the palace a few
minutes after 2 o'clock.
They all wore evning dress. with the
exception of the American officers, and
the simplicity of the attire was in start
ling contrast with the brilliancy of the
uniforms around them. The American
party was received by the master of GER
emonies and all except Mr.. Reid were con-
Quoted by one of the queens equerries to
marques in the gardens, where lunch was
served.
This afternoon. at 4 o'clock, in the
Bow drawing room of Buckingham palace,
her majesty received the imperial and
royal ENJOYS. The room is sixty-four feet
long. finely proportional and richly dec
Grated.
After her ma ioStv had received the Cno-