The Oskaloosa herald., 1901-02-07
EN- ROUTE TOLONDON
Remains of the Queen Are Borne
from Osborne House.

London, Feb. 2.-Half a million Of the
late Queen Victoria's devoted subjects
lining the shores OF the Solent Friday
witnessed majestic and awe-inspiring
pageant and babe last farewell to
their beloved ruler, happy In the cir
cumstances of her death. sovereign of
the greatest naval power in the world,
and fortunate in the manner Of her OBJ
sequies.
Fridays ceremony was fitting trib-
ute from nation owning Nelson for its
hero to its dead monarch. All who
were witnesses of the function testify
to the profound emotion il inspired
and agree that the spectacle could not
have been surpassed for splendor and
solemn effect. The dominant note in
the whole scene was its grand simplici-
ty, and. so far as human utterance was
concerned, its silence. The sad process
sion glided along in beautiful order and
precision, as though moved by some
hidden power. No incident of any kind
occurred to mar its stately beauty.
There was no accident of any sort
ashore or afoat. The weather was ira
ditional queens weather" The
"queen Of the seas" was carried across
the waters to the accompaniment of
minute guns and military music--a pic
ture which will live in history.
Land Ceremony at Cowes.
| The ceremony, consisting in bring
ing the coffin from Osborne house to
the pier at Cowes, was scarcely less
interesting than the naval function.
At noon the gorgeous trappings of
the Chappelle Ardente, were dis
turbed Over the coffin was thrown
the coronation robe worn by the girl
queen. On this were placed the royal
regalia, wand, scepter and crown,
which were scarcely ever used by the
queen in her lifetime. Dummy
regalia will be buried with her at
Frogmore.
/ At 1:45 p. m. sailors from the Vic
toria and Alberta raised the precious
burden and bore it from the house.
This duty was to have fallen to the
Highlanders, but at the rehearsal
/ they were so awkward that it was
decided that the sailors should per-
! form the task. Outside the royal
residence Grenadier guards were
drawn up in brilliant line. With a
sharp click they presented arms, for
the last time, in honor of their dead
queen. The pipers led the process
sion, making the woods ring with a
weird refrain. Behind them came the
royal family. At the gate the mill
tary portion of the parade stood
ready, glittering medley of uni
forms. Down hill the procession
slowly wound its way.
/ Royalty i'm Grief.
King Edwards features were scared
and bore the marks of grief. But in all
that assemblage there will ever stand
out one face-that of the German en-
peror. Its tanned, almost olive con-
tours were turned fercely towards the
sun and his mustache-brushed upper
lip enhanced the firmness of his chin.
1t was apparent that the emperor was
undergoing a mental strain, for his
face twitched nervously. Every inch
king" was the manner in which the
German emperor was referred to.
| Hardly was there time to recognize
the individuality of these personages,
including the tawny-bearded Prince
Henry of Prussia and the clean-cut face
Of the duke of Connaught, before the
most truly pathetic sight of the day
came In view. 1t was a simple little
band in black, for all the world like the
sisters OF some religious order mourn
| II a. - 81 49,. rla,- he
had passed away. None was distin-
guishab.e from the Others They all
wore plain black dresses with long
Grape vei.s. and they followed meekly
and with downcast heads. Yet the first
was the queen of England, and with her
was the woman who, If she lives, will
also hold the proud title, and behind
them walked the woman to whom every
knee in England, however noble, is
bowed in courtesy. Immediately be-
hind the queen and the princesses
came the heads of the household in
strange, gaudy uniforms seldom seen
in pubic. There have been more mag
nificent pageants than the escorting
of the body of Queen Victoria from the
house where she died to the royal
yacht, but never has there been wit.
messed in recent world history pro-
cession more remarkable in its comb.
nation of pomp and splendor,with grief
and humility.
Roadway Lined with Troops.
The roadway from the gate to the
pier was lined with troops in close or
der. The troops remained in position
until the minute guns from the feet
commenced to fire.
| Thousands stood bareheaded and
watched the strange sight with loyal
humility and grief.
/ At last the pier was reached and the
body was reverently placed on board
the royal yacht Alberta by seamen OF
the royal yachts.
The Great Fleet.
The feet stretched from Portsmouth
TO Cowes, the turrets Of Osborne
standing above the purple hills,
Abreast were the battleships Benbow
and Collingwood. There were 10 Brit.
ish battleships, IL cruisers and eight
gunboats, not even the full strength OF
the channel squadron. Eight naval am
bassedors of friendly powers were
ranged along the Portsmouth end
while gunboafs and steamers with Of
! fetal spectators formed the remainder
were an imposing sight, with their nni-
form decorations, coal black hulls,
with line of red just above the water,
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