Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-02-04
SOMBRE YET GRAND.
Continued from page ~
the symbols of mourning marking the

the symbols of mourning marking tn,
route.
Never in English history has Il SOY
erelGh peen borne to the grave attend
ed by so many distinguished mourners
Inc gathering of crowned heads sur
! passed that which rode i'm the jubilct
procession All the great officers 81
state participated. The display of The
naval and military forces reached IN,
great total of 81, 900 men,
The firing of minute guns and III.
tolling of bells at 1l.15 announced to tn
countless multitudes who had beer
crowding Londons muddy streets sine,
daylight that the funeral procession
with the body of Queen Victoria had
begun it; passage through the Capital
The people fought for hours for q
glimpse of the coffin and the King and
others following it. They saw long
procession of soldiers. a passing SHOW
of dazzling reGala. with a hundred
royalties croWdng after, and then dis
pcrscd, while all the church chime
of the city, We're ringing and muflled
dirgeS We're played.
Europe has seen grander royal funcv-
gorgeous spectacle in the celebration
of her 60 years of reign. but no episode
in the Victorian era will live 50 deeply
impressed on the memories of those VIII.
witnessed it or participated in the
ceremonies.
The day was sombre, wet and chilly,
as are most of LondonS winter days.
The cloudy sky added to the gloom of
the whole city.
The scene at Victoria station, from
early morning. was most brilliant ANA
impressive. For Saturdays ceremony
the station was transformed into an inn
mensc reception hall. All trains were
stopped before and the long plat
forms were covered with purple cloth.
ON another platform. facing that at
which the Queens train was to arrive,
guards of honor. composed of blue
jackets and Grenadier Guards. were
drawn up. The broad roadway sepa-
rating the two ways was swept clean
and Sanded and a number of little pur-
pie covered platforms, from which
members of the royal family were en-
pccted to mount their horses. were
placed at intervals at the side and
center.
At 10 o'clock an army Of grooms. with
the horses, arrived, and thenceforwarl
distinguished British naval and mill
tary officers ana foreign royalties, in
dazzling uniforms, came in quick SUI
cusSion The lord chamberlain ana his
officials barcheadcd. with their white
wandS of office, received the most dis
tiaguished personages and conducted
them to a little pavilion erected on the
platform.
The whole station by that time re-
sembling the scene at Il levee.
The communicated chief Of the forces.
Field Marshal Earl Roberts on a
beautiful. spirited brown mare, carry
ing his field marShals baton. at this
juncture trotted into the station and
became the center of interest. He was
soon followed by the earl marshal. thu
Duke of Norfolk. and many of the most
distinguished British officers. Then
came carriages for the Queen and the
Processes They we've the state car
riages used on the occasion Of the late
Queens Jubilee with beautiful. sol
mounted harnesses ANA trappings. The
horses were ridden by Positions in
scarlet Jackets. with only 4 narrow
band Of Grape on their arms. as mark
of the great change. The carriage
were closed.
Following tho carriages ANA prcccdc !
by an officer came an object at which cN-
cry officer in the animated thr'nE III
stinctivcly 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 t!gn, HanoVerian CrcIm-cOlorcd
horses which also drew the late QucC
on the occasion Of tho jubilee. We're used.
Saturday. The gold harnesses, scarlet Il
coated Positions and scarlet and gold
covered croomS who hold each Of tn
horses bY the bride. We're all the same.
Only the little gun carriage, instead 81
the gittcring Glass-and- gold coach
marked the change. The gun 'arriaS".
with the exception Of its rubber tires AMI
il platform over the gun for tho coffin Ia
rest anon. was equipped US for field NJ"
Il was nearly II O'Clock when. a minute
ahead of time, the train steamed into tie
station.
An heads were uncovered as tn saloon
carriage bearing tho QIoon's remains
stopped cractly opposite the gun rarria e
ana kinc Edward. Queen Alexandra, En-
peror William and others aliShted. Then
the bearer party advanced TO the saloon
lite ana standing y little in advance oi
the others. King Edward watched thc
painfully slow removal! of the coffin M
the gun carriage. It was finally accom-
plished and the pail ana the regalia ~
the British crown We're placed on III
coffin.
The King ana tie others with Him th"a
mounted and the procession started.
The procession. apart from the gun car
, riage bearing the coffin ana the ro%i
| family and official mourncrS about it,
dietary and the commercial bodies wcr,
not represented. Royalty. the army ans
the navy monopoized the Pageant. Three
! thousand soldiers and sailors, pick q
| companies representing all branches 81
| the service. cavalry, artillery, infantry
| yeomanry. militia. volunteers and Colo
malls. formed the advance escort. They
| marched slowly and without music. Mos
| of the uniforms were covered with darE
ovcrcOatS and the STANDARDS W re draper
| with black. the officers wearing lands %
| marched in columns Of four. with rifles
reversed. They were half an hour il
| passing. Then came Field Marshal Ear
| Roberts and his staff. and. after them
> four masscd bands playing funert
! marches. Three hundred musicians an
nounCed the coming of the body of tho
! Queen. There WAS a long array of Court
! officials. unucr the leadership of the Duk,
of Norfolk the earl marshall. all attire
! quantity and brilliantly. bearing maccs oi
wandS. most of them elderly men who fol
years had served the royal lady for WHOM
! they We're performing the last offices.
! Most of the spectators expected an i'm
! posing cdtafalaue, and the coffin was al
"a no 10 ,rf.G