The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-01-29
vlCTORlA'S CHILDREN TAKE THEIR
LAST FAREWELL
FOREVER HID FROM MORTAL EYES
By Order OF the King the Comm Is to
Remain Closed-The Removal ofrhe
Remains From the Bed Room to Their
Resting Place Until the Fuueral-The
Scene Affecting, but Free from All
Dramatic Elements - III Solemn
Watch.

Cowes. Isle of Wight. January ss,
l2:45 a. m.-The royal family yester-
DAY took their last loving look at the
features of the dead queen. About 10
O'Clock in the morning the shell was
brought into the bedroom, where were
waiting King Edward, Emperor Vii
liam. the duke of Connaught. Sir James
Reid and h royal ladies. The last
named having retired. Sir James Reid.
trusted household servant and in the
presence Of the king. the emperor and
the duke, removed the body from the
bed to the coffin.
Not a trace of the ravages of disease
was visible. The servants having re-
and the children were recalled, and
with lingering steps and stifled sobs,
they passed slowly before this white
robed and peaceful figure. At the foot,
never moving, stood the king, and when
the mourning crowd a passed there
remained only the son and grand son
of the dead. Emperor William wept
even more bitterly than the royal ladies.
Finally he also retired and the king was
left alone.
For a few seconds the king stood
speechless but then he said: "Close it
finally. 1t must not be opened again"
Then reverently the coffin was borne
into the dining room Officers and men
from the royal yachts DOL their stand
around the coffin over which the king,
queen and kaiser gently laid the robes
of a knight of the Garter, placing at
the head a diamond crown. Beneath
lay the royal ensign. while hanging
above was the union jack.
At the altar was the rector of Whip
bingham, who read a portion of the flu
neral service in the presence of h
royal family. Emperor William cover
ed his face with his hands, and the
grief of Princess Beatrice was pitiful.
After the benediction ach placed a
wreath upon the coffin and then all re-
tired.
The queens will, according 10 pres
ent arrangements, will not be opened
until after the funeral. its details be-
ing known to the royaI family.
A significant feature of all the death
bed scenes has been their absolute nat
u~ralness and the absence of false or
elements.
According to a rumor circulating at
Osborne, King Edward desires himself
ITO be styled his imperial majesty in Or
der to emphasize the fact that he is
emperor as well as king.
Today Saturday the local volun-
teers and the troops in the vicinity will
pass through the chapelle ardente. At
ter these will pass the correspondents
of the leading paper Of the world.
A very remarkable feature of all the
proceedings is the intense martial air
which pervades them. The naval pa
rade off Spithead is to be the greatest
if possible, the world ever saw, and the
military arrangements at Windsor will
eclipse anything of the kind ever at
tempted.
Tonight grenadiers are mounting
| their Silent guard over the coffin, with
| guns reversed, arms crossed and heads
| bent. Thc silence is unbroken save by
an occasional shuttle from the soldiers
| in changing their uneasy position.