The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-01-26
A LAST LUOK TAKEN.
Queen Victoria's Coffin Final.
ly Closed.
BRIEF FUNERAL SERVICE Al OSBORNE
A Martial Air PervRdes All the Pro-
cecdinEs-Nnvnl and Military Dis
play to he the Greatest
Spectacle Ever Seen.

COWES, Isle of Wight, Jan. 26.-With
pathos and socmnity such as seldom
mark the passing from daylight into the
darkness of the coffin the royal family
yesterday took their last loving look at
the features of the dead queen, About 10
o'clock in the morning the shell was
brought into the bedroom, where were
waiting King Edward. Emperor William,
The Duke Of ConEaught Sir James Reid
and the royal ladies. The latter having
retired, Sir James Reid with rcvercnt
hands. assisted by three trusted house.
hold servants and in the presence of the
king. the emperor and the duke. removed
the body from the bed to the coffin.
In death i, was lovclier than in the clos
ing days Of life. Not Il trace of the raw
ages of disease was visible. The servants
having retired, Queen Alexandra, the
princessrs and the children were called,
and with lingering steps and sti1ed sobs
they passed slowly before this white
rabed and peaceful figure. At the foot,
never moving, stood the king. and when
the mourning crowd had passed there re-
maincd only the son and grandson of the
dead. Emperor William wcpt even more
bitterly than the royal ladies'. Finally he
also retired, and the king was left alone.
Sir james Reid, bcckoning to the serv
ants with the coffin lid, asked the kings
instructions.
For few seconds the king stood
speechless. stricken with emotion at the
last farewell Then he said quickly:
''Cose it finally. 1t must not be opened
again.
Thus the remains Of England'S greatest
ruler were forever closed from human
view. Revcrcntly the coffin was borne ill.,
to the dining room. Officers and men
from the royal yachts took their stand
around the coffin, over which the king
queen and kaiser gently laid the robes of
n 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 Whip
bingham, who read Il portion of the fun
eral service in the presence OF the royal
family. Emperor William covered his
face with his hands. and the grief of
Princess Beatrice was pitifu, After the
bcncdiction each placed n wreath upon
the coffin, and then all retired.
i lie queen y Will nus llpl ''t'u 't'NhN''
According to present arrangements 1t VIII
not be Opcned until after the funeral, the
details being unknown to the royal FAM
ly. There is no truth in the statement
that King Edward and Emperor William
knclt by the bedside of the queen and
swore to preserve peace.
According TO Il rumor circulating AT
Osborne King Edward desires himself
to be styled his imperial majesty i'll or
der to emphasize the fact that he is en-
pcrur us well as king.
Today the local volunteers and the
forces in the vicinity will pass through
the chapelle aldente. After these will
pass the correspondents OF the leading
papers Of the world.
A very remarkable feature of all the
proceedings is the intense martial air
which pervades them. The naval parade
off Spithcad is to be the greatest II pos
sible the world ever saw. and the milf
tary arrangements at Windsor will
eclipse anything of the kind ever at
tempted.
Grenndicrs are mounting their silent
guard over tie coffin with guns reversed.
arms crossed and heads bent. The 81
lence Is unbroken save by an occasional
shuttle from the soldiers in changing
thrir unpDsy poSiIiDu.