The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-02-05

trotted into the station and became the
center of interest. He was soon fol-
lowed by the earl marshal, the duke of
Norfolk, and many Of the most distin-
guished British officers. Then came
the carriages for the. queen and the
princesses.
Following the carriages and preceded
by an officer, came an object at which
every officer in the animated throng
instinctively came to the salute and
every head was barred. It was the
little khaki-colored gun-carriage which
was to carry Queen victoria's remains
from Victoria to Paddington station.
The eight Hanoverian cream-colored
horses, which also drew the late queen
on the occasion of the jubilee, were
used today.
The gold harnesses, scarlet coated
postillions and scarlet and gold cover
ed grooms, who held each OF the horses
by the bride, were all the same. Only
the little gun carriage. instead of the
glittering glass-and-gold coach, mark
ed the change. With the exception
that rubber tires were on the wheels
the gun carriage was as if in actual
use. The place for the coffin to rest
was over the gun.
THE TRAIN ARRIVES.
1t was then nearly IL o'clock, when
amid cries of THE King Of Portugal s
Horse!' The Grand Duke of Hesse's
Horse!" as the princes mounted, the
train steamed into the station, a min
ute ahead of time.
All heads were uncovered as the sa-
loon carriage bearing the queens re-
mains stopped exactly opposite the gun
carriage, and King Edward, Queen
Alexandria. Emperor William and
others alighted. Then the bearer par
ay advanced to the saloon carriage and
with hands at the salute. and, stand
ing a little in advance Of the oti,
King Edward watched the painfully
slow removal Of the coffin to the gun
carriage. 1t was finally accomplished
and the pail and the regalia of the
British crown were placed on the cof-
fin.
The king and the others with him
then mounted and the procession start
ed.
The procession, apart from the gun
carriage bearing the coffin and royal
family and official mOurners about it,
was not noteworthy. Parliament, the
judiciary and the commercial bodies
were not represented. Royalty, the
army and navy monopolized the pa
geant. Three thousand soldiers and
sailors, picked companies representing
all branches of the service. cavalry, ar
tillery, infantry, yoemanry, militia,
volunteers and colonials. formed the
advance escort. They marched slowly
and without music. Most of the uni
forms were covered with dark over
coats and the standards were draped
with black. the officers wearing bands
of crepe on their sleeves
The infantry marched in columns of
four with rifles reversed. They were
half an hour in passing. Then came
Field Marshal Earl Roberts and his
staff and after them, four massed bands
palying funeral marches. Three hum
musicians announced the coming Of the
body Of the queen There was a long
array Of court officials. under the lead
ership of the duke of Norfolk, all at
tired quantity and brilliantly, bearing
maces or wandS most Of them elderly
men who for years had served the roy
al lady for whom they were perform
ing the last Offices.
Most of the spectators expected an
imposing catafalque and the coffin
was almost past before they recog-
nized it's presence by removing their
hats. 1t was a pathetically small OBJ
long block concealed beneath a rich
'palf Of white satin. on the corners OF
which cleaned the royal arms. Across
the pail the royal standard was draped
and a large crown OF gold. encrusted
with jewels, rested at the head OF the
coffin, which was at the end Of the
gun carriage. just over the gun. On
the foot OF the coffin were two smaller
crowns with a gold. jeweled sceprre ly-
ing between them. The eight horses
which drew the gun-carriage were al
most concealed beneath their rich har-
nesses. A large bow of purple was at
tached to the coffin This was the only
symbol OF mourning.
Around the coffin walked the stall
non-commissioned Off
GERS Of the guards and houshold cav
airy, and on either side were the
queens equerries. lords-in-waiting and
physicians. All the uniforms were cov-
cred with long. dark cloaks.
The spectacle was 50 quickly past
that the spectators hardly realized it
or had time to bare their heads. or
comprehend the details when a group