Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-02-06
GREAT NAVAL FUNERAL.

of places of worship in London and
throughout the empire.
GREAT NAVAL FUNERAL.
Body of Queen Victoria Leaves the Isle of
Wight for London.
Cowes, Feb. with grand, yet
mournful, display of naval pomp and
power, the body of Queen Victoria was
borne from it's quiet resting place in
Osborne House to Portsmouth, the
heart of England's navy. The half
hundred red fighting ships that in the
afternoon fired their broadsides and
minute guns were inferior in strength
to the force gathered in the same wat
ers for the jubilee celebration, but the
lack Of formidableness was fully
atoned for by the solemnity of this
fleet in mourning. Over the still wat
ers, between the roll of the six-pOund-
ers, came strains Of Chopin's and Bee
thoven's funeral marches. The crews,
accustomed to cheer with the hearth
ness which belongs only to "Jackies,"
stood silently along the decks, and the
flags which usually float dehantly in
the breeze, dropped half way down the
halyards.
The most powerful feet England
could gather on short notice lay inert
and silent save for the mournful
strains Of the bands and the woeful
sound of guns that betokened neither
peace nor war, but death. Past these
the naval funeral procession slowly
steamed. Ahead were eight destroy
eTs, and seldom have these speedy
craft drawn their long black hulls so
sluggishly through the water. Steam
ing leisurely after them was the royal
yacht Alberta, half screened by the
awning ON the poop, the royal coffin
placed on a crimson dais, the curtains
of which were drawn back and tied
to four poles, leaving free to view the
magnificent casket and robes. Some
times a beam, sometimes ahead, was
the Trinity House yacht Irene, watch
ing the course, while in the wake Of
the coffin came the royal yacht Vic
toria and Albert, with King Edward
and Queen Alexandra and the English
royal family.
Then came the royal yacht Osborne,
with other royal personageS, the i'm
perial yacht Hohenzollern, with EN-
pClOl w lhC IuhO anu DuNhSoS
of Connaught and others, the admiral
ty yacht Enchantress and a Trinity
House yacht with officials on board.
The main squadron of battleships and
cruisers were moored two and half
cables apart, In one line extending
| from Cowes to Spithead. The channel
feet, under the command Of Vice
Admiral Sir Harry HOldsworth Raw
son, formed the eastern portion, and
| the reserve feet, under Rear Admiral
Sir Gerard Henry Noel, formed the
western portion. The fofegn war yes
sells were moored southwest of the
| British ships in the order of their ar
rival and alongside of them Were
moored eight British gunbOats, the
Antelope, Cleaner, Skipjack, Leda,
Rattlesnake, Alert, Gree and Speed
well.
After leaving Trinity pier, the AL
| berta, with her attendant escort,
| steamed along the deep channel be-
| tween the coast Of the Isle of Wight
| and the single line of battleships and
cruisers. The main line was as fol-
lows, beginning at Cowes: The AL
exandra, Camperdown, Rodney, Ben
bow, Collingwood, Colossus, Sans,
Pareil, Nile, Howe, Melampus, Severn,
Galatea, Bellona, Pactolus, Belorus,
Diana, Conqueror, Arrogant, Minerva,
Niobe, Hero, Hood, Trafalgar, Resolu-
ton, Jupiter, Hannibal, Mars, Prince
| George and Majestic. Minute guns
were fired by all the ships in the
Solent and at Cowes commencing when
the Alberta left the pier. Each snip
ceased firing Immediately after the
tail of the procession had passed her.
| After the procession had passed the
| Majestic, the forts and ships in Ports
mouth barbor commenced firing min
ute guns and continued firing until the
Alberta was alongside the wharf.
No stands were displayed and en-
signs and Union Jacks were at half
mast. The bands played the funeral
marches of Chopin and Beethoven
only. No national lanthem was played.
On the approach of the procession the
ships were manned and the guards
and bands were paraded. The officers
were in full-dress, and the men Mum
Der rig" and straw hats. The guards
presented arms as the Alberta passed
each ship and then rested on their
arms reversed until the procession had
passed A detachment OF marines and
the admirafs band were on board Mel
son old flagship, the Victory, in Ports
mouth harbor. All the sea-front and
dock yards were named by marines
and sailors, while Barrow island was
manned by boys from the training
ship st. Vincent, and men from the
gunnery ship Excellent. When the
Majestic was left astern, the Alberta
was moored for the night.
Titus Amendment Knocked OUT.
Des Molnes, Ia, Feb. 2.--The su.
ppeme court has announced that the
decision of the lower court in the
Titus biennial election amendment was
affirmed. This knocks out the amend
ment to the constitution and results
in state election being held this fall
In Iowa.