The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-02-05
THE HBEa s1C6s
HITcHES lN-EaE PRd6RAl vvAlCIl
ADDED THE INTEREST
On Account OF Baking horses the
Gun Carriage, Used as . Bier, II
Drawn to she Chapel by Blue-Jackets.
The Venerable eArchbishop OF Canter-
- bury Overcome, Supported to the
Altar Just AZ He Pronounces the
Benediction

London, February 2-Tonight the
queens body lies in the Albert chapel
at Windsor, guarded faithfully, await
ing the last rites. Within. the castle
is brilliantly lighted. King Edward
and Queen Alexandria. Emperor W.l-
liam and the princes and their suites
dined magnificently this evening.
Three kings and heads of principali-
ties, with special representa- left
Windsor this evening after lunching at
the castle. Their departure was some
what interfered with by the enormous
proportions Of the crowds gathered
around the Windsor station and In
many cases the royal personages were
literally bundled into the special
trains awaiting them.
1t was at Windsor that the only
bitches in the elaborate programme of
the day occurred, and these added to
rather than detracted from the dra-
matte and pathetic interest. The first
and most Striking was the utter n
tractability of the horses attached to
the gun carriage bearing the coffin.
The alarm and chagrin of the king
and emperor who had hurried up to
ascertain the cause OF the delay in the
procession leaving Windsor station was
patent upon their faces. The horses
struggling in the traces and the coffin
was almost thrown from the gun car
riage. Lord Roberts asked the king
for permission to take out the horses
and substitute for them iackies who
had come up from Portsmouth as a
guard Of honor. This suggestion was
quickly sanctioned and the last time
Victoria's body was borne before her
subjects, it was by her royal handy
men" who at an opportune moment
saved the situation.
Tonight the king sent a message of
thanks to Prince Henry, of Batenberg,
for the services Of the sailors Of his
command.
The other hitch occurred during the
religious part of the ceremony. The
service at St. Georges chapel was
brief, but beautiful The choral SER
vice had formed a fitting elimination
to the martial parades. The trembling
voice of the archbishop of Canterbury.
ed the final benediction before he urn
ed to go up the altar steps. His sight
and strength failed him and ne totter-
ed, groped. and was On the point of
falling when the archbishop Of York,
who had been standing some distance
behind him, advanced and caught his
hand and gently led the venerable pre-
late to the holy table. Then they both
knelt, the greatest disnitaries of Eng
lands church. next in rank to the
royal blood. their heads bowed upon
the purple altar cloth.
While the archbishops prayed and
the bishops and clergy reverently kept
their knees, the king AID Emperor Will
liam, followed by three kings, walked
almost hurriedly up to the ala: rails
and out into the castle by a private
exit Their gorgeous suites followed
mechanically and a kaleidoscope of
color and royalty surged up the chan
Gel. Against this hurrying :hrong .he
coffin and kneeling figures within the
holy enclosure stood out in contrast.
Still the archbishop prayed and still
the gaily caparisoned o,inces sought
an outlet by which they might gain the
Waterloo chamber. in which the long
delayed luncheon had beer laid. Al
most touching the coffin they chatted.
Ambassador Choate snoo6 hands with
another ambassador.
The the stream turned. for orders
came for the suites and ambassado-s
to go out by another door. The return
ing throng met those coming up almost
at the coffin, well nigh causing a me
lee. Finally they reached the other
door and the body OF the queen was
left alone before the altar. save for the
stern figures Of her gentlemen at arms
with halberds in hand guarding the re-
mains.