Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1901-02-03
VICTORIA'S REMAINS
RESTING AT WINDSOR
The Interment to Take Place
On Monday.
MAGNIFICENT OBsEQUIEs

!
splendor, Both Military and Civil,
Mark the Progress OF the Funeral
Procession Through London.
LONDON, Feb with every circum-
stance of splendid pomp beftting the
obsequies of SO mighty and well beloved
monarch, all that is mortal of Queen
Victoria has been borne through the
streets of the capital and started to.
wards the ancient fortress place of the
sovereigns of England. The solemn
magnificence of yesterdays opening
phase of these last rites was duly main
tanned. Perhaps the stately grandeur
Of today's sorrowful pageant through
the swarming streets of London, with
hundreds of thousands of mourners
forming black border to the route,
will never be surpassed.
There was an absence of that black
ceremonial generally connected with the
final progress to the grave Today the
coffin was drawn by cream colored
horses. The pail was white and the
uniforms of the troops aud the gold
trappings of the foreign sovereigns,
princes and representatives, forming a
glittering medley, gave brilliant color
ing to the scene. The chief mourner
himself, with his field marshal's uni
form, even though this was partially
hidden by his overcOat, surrounded by
his corps, helped to leaven the symbols
OF mourning marking the route.
A Memorable Spectacle.
Never in English history has a SOW
erelgn been borne to the grave attended
by SO many distinguished mourners.
The gathering of crowned heads sur
passed those who rode in the jubilee
procession. All the officers of state
participated. The display of the naval
and military forces reached the great
total of 80, 900 men.
The firing of minute guns and the
tolling of bells at quarter past ii an
nounced TO the countless multitudes
who had been crowding London's muddy
streets since daylight that the funeral
procession with the body of Queen Vic
torla had begun its passage through the
capital
The people fought for hours for
glimpse of the coffin and the kings and
others followed it. They saw a long
procession of soldiers, a passing show
of dazzling regalia, with a hundred
royalties crowding after, and then dis
persed, while all the church chimes of
the city and the dirges were played.
Brilliant and Impressive.
The scene at the Victoria station from
early morning was most brilliant and
impressive. For the days ceremony
the station was transformed into an i'm
mense reception hall All trains were
stopped before 8 O'Clock, and the long
platforms were covered with purple
cloth. On another platform, facing
that at which the queens train was to
arrive, guards of honor, composed of
bluejackets and grenadier guards, were
drawn up. The broad roadway sepa-
rating the two was swept clean and
sanded, and number of little purple
covered platforms, from which members
OF the royal party were expected to
mount their horses, were placed at in
tervals at the side and center.
Europe has seen grander royal fu-
nerals than the queens and had more
gorgeous spectacle in the celebration of
her so years of reign, but no episode in
the Victorian era will live so deeply inn
pressed on the memories of those who
witnessed it or participated in the cere-
monies.
The day was sombre, wet and chilly
as are most of London's winter days.
The cloudy sky added to the gloom of
the whole city.
Dazzling Martial Scenes.
At 10 o'clock an army of grooms with
the horses arrived, and thenceforward
distinguished British naval and mill.
tary officers and foreign royalties, in
dazzling uniforms, came in quick sue
cession. The lord chamberlain and his
officials, bareheaded, with their white
wands of Office, received the most dis
tinguished personages and conducted
them to little pavilion erected OH the
platform. The station by that time re-
sembled the scene at levee The com.
manderi in chief of the forces, Field
Marshal Earl Roberts, on a beautiful
spirited brown mare, carrying his field
marshaPs baton, at this juncture trotted
into the station and became the center
of interest. Then came the carriages of
the queen and the princesses. The
horses were ridden by postillions in
scarlet jackets, with only narrow band
OF crepe on their arms as badge of the
great change The carrirges We're closed
A4l heads were uncovered as the
saloon carriage bearing the remains
stopped exactly opposite the guncar-
riage and King Edward, Queen Alex
andra, Emperor William and others
ahghted
Then the bearer party advanced to the
saloon carriage, and with his hand at
the salute and standing a little in adj
vance of the others, King Edward
watched the painfully slow removal of
the coffin to the guncarriage 1t was
finally accomplished and the pail and
the regalia of the British crown were
placed on the coffin. The king and the
Others with him then mounted and the
procession started.