Evening journal., 1901-01-24
DEATH SOFTENS
VICTORIA'S FACE
Bishop of Winchester Con-
ducts First Solemn CCr0.
monies at COWeS

Cowcs. l3.e oi WIGHT, jan. 2l--At ID
O'Clock this mora.ns lie members
the royal family gathered around thC
lody OF the laia Quel when li2i Il
simple coffin in the Chapelle Ardanta
festoOned with red and white hanglngs
The bishop of Winchester, standing be-
fore an altar removed for the occasion
from the private chapel read q portion
OF the service for the dead.
The coffin rests upon specially
erected platform drapod with roya
purple. the feet lying 90 the east. The
head faces the simple altar over the
features is thin veil.
For q few hours after the conclusion
OF this service the public was admitted
to the room and allowed 10 view the
remains of the sovereign who 80 Ions
reigned over them The body viii rest
there until Sunday, and Il Is probable
that no removal will occur for ten
days
The cause Of the queens death as
officially given was 'senile decay The
doctors have adopted this expression
as the most suitable and truthful. They
attribute the paralysis which attacked
her as secondary TO the general weak
ness OF her condition, nor II IL consid-
cred advisable for reasons of state TO
intimate that her intellect was dimmed
by this particular form of disease
Details of the dying hours We're not
obtainable until late last evening. IL
appears that the queen was moved on
Sunday from her big bed into n small
cot especially built with springs. which
was surrounded by a screen. This was
20 enable the doctors TO reach the pa
tient easily on both sides, which was
impossible when she lay in a bed six
feet wide. In this small bed she pass
ed away
When Emperor William arrived he
rushed without taking of his over
coat to her bedside. and the first words
| he said were words of regre, that his
mother was unable to come. Yes, -
murmured the queen. "I wish 'ViCky
could be here" using the pet name OF
her eldest daughter
On Tuesday afternoon all the mem
bers of the family were In readiness
for the end. AT the Prince of Wales
was summoned. Half an hour later
he was Joined by the other members OF
the family. At 5 o'clock the Duchess
Of York arrived. and the queen kissed
her, saying: II am glad you have
come"
The Bishop Of Winchester began e
pray. The queen slowly sank int,
unconsciousness. At 6.15 p. m the enc
was thought TO have come. The Prince
Of Wales and several others Wake,
out of the room.
But the vitality Of the queen ono
more won the day. For another II
minutes. with only the Princess o
, Wales and a few others present. IN
feeble spark Of life was maintained
At $50, with Emperor William, IN
I Prince Of Wales and the others absent
death actually came.
Death has softened the face. and tn
thin veil conceals no terrible defects
The hand Of the mighty leveler deal
. with her lovingly, and, as the las
1, visitation Of nature has been merciful
ly mitigated, so also have been ia
pomp and glory which accompany th
succession Of the king Tuesday nigh
, neither he nor his wife would allO'
a their encourage to address them b
their correct titles.
n The large force Of detectives preser
a. from London Is a precautlon againl
p any anarchist attempt upon the III
y Of Emperor William, and not on az
y count Of the new king.
Messages Of coincidence do not ceal
70 pour in from all quarters Of q
world President McKinlCys ear
cablegram created q most favorab
u impression it was handed aroul
among the royal personages at brea'
er fast yesterday morning. with the ge
eral comment that American sympatl
~ was ltly the ilrst 70 be received