Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-02-07
THOUSANDS ASSEMBLE AT LONDON.


London, Eng, Feb. 2.-o. II a. m. -.
The gray dawn OF a London morning,
with the sky draped with fleecy clouds,
proclaimed ideal conditions for the
funeral day OF England's queen. The
calm serenity Of the atmosphere was
reflected by the crowds which at day
light began 10 assemble at every puint
OF vantage along the route OF the royal
obsequies. So soft, peaceful and nuise-
less was the progress OF the in-gather-
ing hosts, that the constantly swelling
/. tnrongs and the rhythmic tread OF the
assembling troops seemed to accentuate
the solemn stiffness.
The early scenes we're unlike these of
!; many spectacular days which London
has witnessed in the past year. The
crowds which so early gathered In the
streets this morning evinced an entire
lack If feverish unrest and excitement.
Never did concourse of people SO
little need either civilor military guild
ance. No man standing by his mothers
! bier ever needed admonition less than
,did these hundreds of thousands of men
4 and women, gathered from all parts Of
y the kingdom on the funeral route Of
IN the queen.
4 Buckingham Palace, the great hotels
A about the Victoria station, tho Irincely
4 homes in Park Lane, and every shop
Hnnd house thence to Paddington tore
H ttlnmple evidence of the national grief /;
! And together with purple aud white
N festouns, wreaths Of bay and laurel
3'were hanging from every lamppost
= while flags at half mast, bordersd with
Il craiie, told in dignifed, simp!e man
Y ner the story of tho nations loss.
.i4l sk, AT vIcToRi A sTkTIoN,
10. 80 O'Clock -4Victoria station pre-
: sented most animated sppearapce,
spvereigns, princes, the headquarters
staff, field marshals and state officials
n In multi -colored uniforms having gath
leied there to await the arrival Of the
" flneral train.
III o o'clock-The royal train was seen
Blowly approaching the station. All
Heads were Immediately barred, and in
h IA few moments the saloon carriage
n bearing the remains OF her majesty
4 reached the platform. The train con.
y veying the king and queen, Emperor
William and other royalties was imme-
! diately behind that bearing the queen's
Z body.
The king and queen, Emperor William
and the princes and other representa-
tives Immediately alighted upon tn,
hIEiNdl vi tbo ttdlh az bub 5bdblOut hnN
we're conducted TO a pavilion where
the kings Of Portugal Greece and Bel
gium and other distinguished person
ages had already assembled. The bril-
liant gathering was received by th,
king and queen with the briefest delay
THE PROCESSION STARTS.
t1l.23--The coffin was reverently re
moved by an officer and ~ grenadieri
and deposited. The pail, with th,
crown on cushion, the regalia and tn,
insignia of the Garter were place,
thereon, and the procession inarshsllet
ahead became mobile. The procession
4 moved oil in accordance with th,
official programme
a :. II. 35-As the first strains of Chopine
II funeral march echoed through th
"A streets, every head within hearing dis
# tance was barred.
As the gun carriage emerged from
the station, during brief and I'M
/, pressive pause in the procession, al
eyes we're centred upon the pail whiol
covered the coffin. The silence wa
almost painful. Heads we're bent loy
as the gun.carriage slowly movet
across the station yard and took up ii
i place in the procession. Immediatel,
Il behind 1t rode the king, in field
marshal's uniform.
Emperor William, also attired in