Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-01-26
THE LAST FOND FAREWELL
TAKEN BY ROYAL FAMILY.
THE REMAINS OF ENGLAND'S
GREATEST RULER FOREVER
CLOSED FROM HUMAN VIEW.
THE RAvAGES OF DISEASE
LEFT NO TRACE AND THE FACE
WAS LOVELIER THAN IN LIES
CLOSING DAYS.

COWES, isle of Wight, January &c.
12:45 a. m.-The royal family yester-
day took their last loving look at the
features OF the dead queen. About ten
o'clock in the morning the shell was
brought into the bed room where
were waiting King Edward, Emperor
William, the Duke of Connaught, Sir
James Read and the royal ladies' The
latter having retired, Sir James Read,
with reverent hands, assisted by three
trusted household servants, and in the
presence of the king, the emperor and
the duke, removed the body from the
bed to the coffin.
In death it was lovelier than in the
closing days of life Not trace of the
ravages of the disease was visible. The
servants having retired, Queen Alex
andra, the princesses and the children
were called, and, with lingering steps
and stided sobs, they passed slowly
before this white-robed and peaceful
figure. At the foot, never moving,
stood the king, and when the mourn
ing crowd had passed there remained
only the son and grandson of the dead.
Emperor William wept even more bit
terly than the royal ladies. Finally
he also retired and the king was left
alone. Sir James Read, reckoning to
the servants who were holding the
coffin lid asked the kings instruc-
tions.
For a few seconds the king stood
speeches., stricken with emotion at
the last farewell. Then he said quick
ly: Close it finally. 1T must not be
opened again"
Thus the remains of England's
greatest ruler were forever closed from
human view. Reverently the coffin
was borne into the dining room. Of
ficers and men from the royal yachts
took their stand around the coffin, over
which the king, queen and kaiser gent
ly laid the robes of knight of the
garter, placing at the head diamond
crown. Beneath lay the royal ensign,
while hanging above was the union
jack.
At the altar was the rector of
Whippingham, who read portion of
the funeral service in the presence of
the royal family. Emperor William
covered his face with his hands and
the grief of Princess beatrice was pitt
full. After the benediction each
placed a wreath upon the coffin and
then all retired.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press is informed that the queens will
has not been opened and that, accord
ing to present arrangements, it will
not be opened until after the funeral,
its details being unknown to the royal
family. There is no truth in the
statement that King Edward and En-
peror William knelt by the bedside of
the queen and swore to preserve peace
4 significant feature of all the oeata-
bed scenes has been their absolute nat
uralness and the absence of false or
dramatic elements.
According to a rumor circulating at
Osborne, King Edward desires him
self to be styled His Imperial Majesty
in order to emphasize the fact that he
is Emperor as we'll as King.
To-day Saturday the local volun-
teers and the forces in the vicinity,
will pass drought the chapelle ar
dente. After these will pass the cor
respondents of the leading papers OF
the world.
A very remarkable feature of tie
proceedings is the intense martial air
which pervades them. The naval
parade off Spithead is to be the great
est. if possible, the world has er
seen and the military arrangements at
Windsor will eclipse anything of the
kind ever attempted.
Tonight grenadiers are mounting
their silent guard over the coffin with
guns reversed, arm crossed and heads
bent. The silence is unbroRen save by
an occasional shuttle from the soldiers
in changing their uneasy position.