New-York tribune., 1901-08-11
SERVICES 1T CRONBERG.
LAST HONoRS TO THE EMPRESS FRED
ERICK-AN IMPRESSIVE NIGHT
SCENE.

Cronberg. Aug 1O-Tho chdrch bells have
been tolling throughout the day The Empress.
the Crown Prince and other princes drove over
from Homburg this morning and were present
at the reading Of prayers by the Bishop OF
Ripon at the side of the coffin of the Empress
Dowager. A requiem service was held in the old
Catholic church Bishop Eckerlwing eIoquently
discoursed on the virtues of the deceased
woman.
All Gay long the heat was intense From
O'Clock this afternoon carriages and vehicles OF
every description came streaming into the town,
bringing sightseers from Honburg, Frankfort.
Nauheim and the country for miles around
Mingling with the soldiers. detectives and work
men engaged in erected mourning masts.
found motley gathering intent upon seeking
points Of vantage from which 70 view the funeral
procession.
From o'clock this morning the military held
the streets and none but the most privileged
few were permitted along the route to be taken
by the cortege- At the bend. where the road
reaches the old part of the town. is a great
arch with green bows and pillars. the sup
port of which is four immense torches.
Punctually at $50 o'clock tonight the far-off
sound of muffed drums and the wiIl-of-the-vi
twinkling Of torches through the distant trees
told the people Of Cronberg that the procession
/
lifted torches drew nearer down the winding
road, it revealed a long. black massive object
on the shoulders of a dozen soldiers Then an
other flare revealed the well known figure Of the
Emperor pacing just behind the coffin II was
weird sight, appearing for a moment and then
dissolving under the 1aring torches. while on
each side for a mile along the road were seen
the glittertng bayonets and helmets Of the 5Otb
Regiment Of the Line, Of which the dead En-
press Dowager was colonel-in-chief The deep
muff1ed roll Of the drums added 10 the solennity
Of the scene
As the precincts Of the old medieval town
were reached the scene seemed even more rnvs-
teal Behind the Emperor followed the royal
family. save the ladies'. none of whom were in
the procession; the Crown Prince Of Greece. the
Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe, the Hereditary
Prince Of Sake -Meiningen, Count Won Sacken-
dorn twho was the secretary of the Empress
Dowager). and other notables
double file of soldiers bearing torches walked
on either side Of the mourners
Inside the dinly lighted church four officers
with drawn sabres, stood as a guard of honor
within the chanceL The coffin was borne silently
down the aisle and deposited between the
guards beneath crucidx The royal nourners
followed. The Emperor. advancing TO the head
Of the coffin, stood with bowed head while Dr.
Dryander. the court chaplain spoke few
solemn words It was an impressive scene The
HlckerlnS Of the candelabra cast grotesuue
shadows upon the tesseliated floor the lights
flashed here and there from the drawn steel of
I the military guard and internittentIv revealed
ana ooscured the Romanesque Jracery and
DasS-relle1 work of the Italian ceiling, which are
/ the most striking features Of the quaint old
/ fifteenth century church. Following the chap
/ laln's address. in the deathIfke Stiffness tha
/ emperor stepped forward and deposited a mag
nihcent wreath upon the coffin. His majesty
] STOOD a moment InotiOnless, then dropped upon
HVr cid
line whole congregation followed and five min
/ utes was devoted to silent PRAYER II was an
/ intensely dramatic scene. the more so because
/ OF us great simplicity Not a sound broke the
/ stiffness of the church. not a sabre moved
among the statuesque figures Of the guard till
/ the Emperor rose, a uarshals baton in his hand
/ and silently left the church followed bv the
/ chief mourners- Then sounded the clash of
side arms as the escort. without spoken word of
/ command. closed up around the carriages and
/ the party was driven back TO Friedrichshof
leaVlng the coffin to rest throughout the night
/ between its silent guardians. beneath the dim
/ light of the glittering candles
Prince Henry OF Prussia, who is now steam
ing up the Channel is expected 10 arrive at
Bremerhaven on Sunday or Monday. too late
/ for the services at Cronberg. but in time 10
attend the burial at Potsdam-
Great crowds Of curious people are arriving
/ at Cronberg. All the hotels are overfowing
and all the windows are engaged for tomorrow.
. Cronberg is overrun with English people in deep
mourning King Edward. with Queen Alex
/ ahdra, goes 10 POJSdam- Then his majesty will
return TO Homburg, alone. where ne will take
the waters, living at his accustomed hotel in the
same style as when he was Prince of Wales
The coffin of the deceased Empress DOwager.
. which was sent from Berlin to Cronberg is of
the English style, with a fiat cover. not the
I German Dyramidal style. The Empress Dowa-
ger herself designed the rOsetUes Ornanentins
the cover and also designed the coffin The
tram which IS 10 bring the funeral party 10
Potsdam has been prepared at Frankfort The
car which will carry the coffin is trimmed with
English mourning cOlors lilac and white and is
richly ornamented within and without Other
cars have been provided for the funeral party.
All the Italian wOrkmen at CrOnberg have
been sent 10 Frankfort have been ordered
not 10 leave their residences The military and
police regulations are of the most drastic nature
and the facilities Of newspaper correspondents
| are much cIrtaiIad