Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-02-07
FUNERAL OF VICTORIA.
Some Interesting Features of the
Great Procession.
FORTY THOUSAND MEN IN LINE.

| Forty thousand men lined the route
lof Queen Victoria's funeral procession
Through London on Saturday. Feb. 2.
IOf these 1000 were police, and the rest
were troops of all arms, %, 900 of whom
lhad been arriving from all parts Of the
country throughout Friday night and
lup to 4 o'clock Saturday morning,
writes the New York Suns London cor
respondent They were quarteIed in
railway sheds, buildings of the school
board and in other large structures. In
the Olympia, in which the Buffalo Bill,
Barnum and similar large shows have
been held, $500 of these troops were
ruartered ALI of the troops break
tasted at a. M, returning after the
procession for dinner and Immediately
thereafter embarking on special trains
for their homes after a hard but ever
memorable day.
In the cortege itself there were rath-
er more than $500 persons all told.
This is no great number for the, funeral
escort of a great monarch through her
capital; but, not counting innumerable
members of the British nobility, it in
cluded four kings, one emperor, 20 roy
al princes and in addition the direct
heirs to six thrones. nine ruling grand
dukes or princes, the khedive's brother,
one queen, seven royal princesses and
three royal duchesses.
Along the route, besides the features
mentioned elsewhere. a noticeable point
was the aspect of buckingham palace.
every blind of which was down and
drawn. The huge fore court was clos
ed entirely and empty with the excep
ton of two single lines of troops, which
were ranged along from the entrance
to the palace to the gates as long as
the royal party remained in the palace
and while the latter passed through
to join the procession. These troops
then formed single line across the
fore court facing the wall and saluted
as the royal party passed by.
The roof was covered with the palace
servants, and this was the only sign of
life within the palace precincts Out
side the fore court was assembled
large body of volunteer officers, who
though not performing any duty, had
come several hundred strong from all
parts of the kingdom and, clad in a
great variety of uniforms, took up their
position here in accordance with the
general invitation extended to all vol
unteer corps.
Another striking group before Buck
ingham palace was composed of pic
turesque old Chelsea pensioners-naval
veterans, many of whom bore visible
evidence of service for the late queen
in hard fighting in many lands. Here,
too. was a group of wounded, khaki
clad conyalescents, eloquent of the
South African war. Earl Roberts as
he passed them ON his way to Victoria
station performed one of those little
actions which have endeared him to
every British soldier. AS soon as he
espied them he refined up his charger,
and, riding close up, he addressed them
for a couple of minutes in words which
doubtless will go far to make them for
get the pains of their wounds and their
sufferings.
In the small quadrangle in front or
St James palace was another interest
ing gathering. 1t was of veteran Off
GERS, all in full uniform, one group be-
ing entirely composed of generals. |
Many were very old and bent, but ev-
cry one had soldier stamped all over
him. Here and there an empty sleeve,
sticks evidently carried for real assist |
ance and a glittering array of medals |
on every breast gave evidence that
these war SCARED veterans had done |
yeomen's service for her in whose hon.
or they had now assembled for the last |
time.
OF the greatness of the multitudes |
who saw and the even greater multi /
tudes who remained, but saw not, 9th /
err dispatches have spoken. No coign |
Of vantage was vacant. The trees in /
Hyde park We're thick with people, and |
there were one or two accidents caused /
by the breaking of overloaded branch /
es. Every roof was crowded. The wo-
men were not less enterprising than /
the men in securing n foothold, how
ever scanty, from which it was posi- /
BILE to look over the heads of the crowd.
Girls and women scrambled upon walls /
and ratings and even trees, clinging
where it seemed impossible for any /
one except boys, athletes or sailors to
hold on, but even the briefest glimpse
Of the passing gun carriage was consid-
cred ample recompense for any exer-
ton. Those able to say that they had
seen that went home satisfied.
Probably no one in the whole Of Lon
don. however, was more relieved or
when the days programme
was safely ended than Chief Inspector
Melville of Scotland Yard. who was
for the safety of the great
of royal personages. No
greater opportunity for a great coup |
Dy one desperate, dastardly outrage
sver tempted Europe's horde of anarch-
sts hlft the most elaborate precautions |
lad been taken. In addition to all of
lis own best men, Inspector Melville
lad the pick of European detectives,
he secret service men of Berlin, Paris.
st. Petersburg. Vienna and many Of
italy having come to assist him. Ev-
Try royal parsonage had been unob-
rusively sfiadowed from the moment
If landing in England. But the train