The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-02-02


warships lowered a few yachts an
channel steamers. Black torpedo boat
and destroyers were skimming abou
and officers gigs and launches swarm
ed everywhere Bugle calls came owe
the waters and gaudy signal flag
burst out and disappeared. The Brit
} ish ships were also lighted with gleam
of the scarlet coats of the marines
The black muzzles of the huge gun
protruding from their ports looked yer.
imposing.
Queens weather came at noon in {
burst of sunshine and the clouds
cleared away from the channel, ling
cred above the tree tops along the ores
of hills on either side and the police
boats ushered the merchant shipping
and crowded excursion craft back tt
their anchorages, under the shelter OF
the shore.
Through the whole length Of the chan.
mel there was only long double file OF
warships with black messenger boats
dashing among them. For nearly three
hours the 1eet watched for the coming
of the funeral. The officers on the
bridges, in the most gorgeous uniforms
with all the decorations and medals
scanned the Cowes shore the docks
through their plasses. An occasional
brilliant burst of sunshine showed tens
of thousands of spectators, subjects OF
the dead queen assembled to witness
her last passage from Cowes to Ports
mouth.
Shortly before 8 o'clock white smoke
broke from the Majestics side and a
second later a report cracked over har-
Dor and echoed to the hill announcing
the starting of the Alberta from Trim
ity pier. From ship to ship the salute
was passed down the line. Each vessel
| of the fleet was firing minute guns
They all employed their shore side bat
teries, so that on the channel sides were
silhouettes of hulls, spars and iron
work before back grounds of dense,
gray smoke. The sound was that OF
great battle.
The funeral fleet was well under way
when 1t came abreast of the press boat
Eight torpedo boat destroyers crept
ahead, moving in pairs like silent, slave
pallbearers marching before hearse.
They were the Portsmouth squadron of
exactly the same size, every inch of hull
and machinery painted dull black
with an officer standing like a statue In
it's bow each Of the crews aligned at
Attention" like sentries, on their
decks. Hardly ripple came from their
bows, their speed being barely five
knots. The pairs of torpedo boat de-
stroyers were about 100 yards apart
with four boats lengths between stern
and bows. Then, a quarter of mile
behind, but seeming, across the water,
but stones throw, followed the royal
yacht Alberta, vessel on which the
eyes Of the world may be said to have
been conferred She was a common
place looking little vessel, lying low in
the water, with a gilt trimmed hull
and side wheels protected by yellow
paddle boxes At ller stern stood tall
officer, uniformed in dark blue alone.
as motionless as part of the ship. The
Union Jack was at the foremost, the
royal standard fell from half way up
the main mast and the naval ensign
trailed from her stern. The after deck
of the yacht was rooted with a white
awning and beneath the awning,
through glasses could be seen the cata-
falque, of royal purple, and ruby lines,
on which rested the coffin. Four officers
in sombre uniforms stood at the four
corners of the catafalque, with their
faces turned towards the ships. A few
other persons could be seen clustered on
the Alberta's deck. AS the funeral
yacht moved slowly past, the decks of
the warships We're crowded with their
all IL.
full complement. The sailors in blue,
with straw hats, formed solid mass
along the decks of each ship, standing |
with their arms at attention.
A line of scarlet coats, topped by |
snowy, shining helmets on the after |
decks, showed where the marines were |
stationed. The fighting tops and guns !
were also manned. The officers stood |
out in snowy, full dress array.
The band Of each ship took up TIE
funeral march when the Alberta came
a abreast of her and the spectators on the
other craft took off their hats.
So with all eyes focused on the tiny
looking, purple bier, the remains of
Queen Victoria were carried by.
Over all the miles of water there came
10 sound save the boom of cannon and
he mournful notes of many bands.
Following the Alberta traled along
i've other yachts at regular intervals.
First was the Victoria and Albert,
oval yacht twice as large as the AL
)erta and of similar design. She car
led the royal mourners, who as reIa-
ives or officials, followed the coffin.
King Edward and Emperor William
we're chief among them, but from the
observation boats, they were the only
group not recognizable. A few scarlet
oats could be seen with ladies in the
leepest mourning and, on the upper
leck the queens Indian attendants
we're distinguishable by their white tur-
)ans.
In the wake of the Victoria and AL
,ert Emperor Williams yacht Hohen-
ollern doomed up like an ocean grey
hound, as large as a warship, painted a
potless white, with yellow tunnels,
rim, glittering, unfuneral, carrying the
German flag at her bow and the naval
nsign at half mast at her stern
Three other yachts came in single
lie behind. The Osborne. larger than
he Alberta and of the same class. Next
anne the admiralty yacht Enchantress
nd then little Trinity House yacht.
finally came another vessel, black,
boat destroyer.
But, the Alberta, marked by the p1r-
e and opal on her deck, and the big