The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-09-19
CITY MCURNED.
Sad Scenes at the Funeral of the
Empress.

Vienna. September 17.-The aspect OF
this city today was more sombre than
upon any day of the week OF mourning
Hardly bouse was without black drap-
| cries and the entire populace seemed to
have poured out into the streets. Every
train brought hundreds of people from
the country and every one, even the per-
sons belonging to the lower classes, wore
mourning. The street lamps were all
alight, shining dimly through coverings
of Grape. Great torches threw glaring
flames over the royal chapel in which
| the remains of the late EEapress have lain
in state since yesterday morning. The
doors of the chapel were closed at noon,
| thus barring out thousands of people who
were anxious to see the casket.
AT four O'Clock the telling of bells an
nounced the starting Of the procession.
The route from the Hofburg to the in
whose vaults entomb the Hapburgs, Is SO
short that only small proportion OF the
population was able to crowd into the
adjoining streets. While the procession
was being formed the church was filled
with the foreign princes who arrived
without ostentation IN closed carriages
and who were conducted to the front
pews Even the rafters and floor OF the
church in the centre of which stood the
catalfalque were hidden with black drap-
cry. Outside company of distinguished
generals and staff officers were aligned.
A detachment of cavalry led the process.
sion, followed by single horsernan, a
court officer, attired in Spar III cos
tune. Then came carriages, ia which
were seated the servants of the late en-
press and they were followed By second
detachment of cavalry. After these horse
men were three court carriages drawn
by six horses covered with funeral trap
pings, escorted by footmen. They con-
tanned the court dignitaries and ladies in
waiting. A train of servants followed
walking two abreast, and then came the
most imposing feature of the procession.
Several companies of the foot guards and
a squadron of the horse guards followed
by a detachment of yeomen all gorgeously
uniformed preceded the colossal eight
horsed funeral car. On either side OF
it were four footmen and four pages,
with lighted tapers, but the immediate
escort OF the car was composed of six stnl-
wart gentlemen of the archer guard, eight
yeomen, six Hungarian life guards and
eight mounted life guards. Following
the car were several bodies of infantry
and cavalry. A large number of priests
in full oanonicals met the procession at
the Augustine church and proceeded with
it to the church of the Capuchins. The
clergy there marched down the aisle be-
fore the coffin and united in informing
prayers which were also exquisitely
chanted during the service by the court
choir. During the last prayer the coffin
was lifted from the catafalque and the
clergy bearing torches, walked before it.
Emperor Francis Joseph attended by the
highest officers of state. bearing wands,
followed. This procession slowly passed
from the sight Of the congregation down
a stone stairway to the vaults. After the
last benediction had been pronounced in
the vaults the mourners re-ascended and
the high cham berlain handed the key of
the vault to the capuohy who Is the guar
dian of the imperial mausoleum.