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

the streets picturesquely. Sand was
scattered along the route to prevent
the possibility of slipping.
The court yard of the castle was filled
with privileged spectators. Exquisite
wreaths were placed outside the chapel
walls and almost covered the steps, up
which the coffin was brought. Inside,
people in gorgeous uniforms and in
deep black were taking UP their places.
age wearing h dress of the George
III period, with big lace ruffes, bright
red coats and white breeches and stock
ings, filtered here and there.
st. Georges chapel was a magnificent
sight and divided attention with the
officials and college Of heralds, gor-
geous in quaint nantes, tabards and
insignia, and h medieval looking yeo
men of the guard, carrying their hal
herds at slope.
One well-dressed woman fell down in
the street and was picked up dead, the
excitement having killed her before she
had had the opportunity to see the pa
geant.
At the time for the arrival of the fu-
neral train approached the vicinity of
the station was occupied by a brilliant
gathering Of diplomats, privy coun-
cillors n military and naval officers
In uniforms of endless variety. Lord
Salisbury was there with the cabinet
ministers, and Mr.. Choate was there
with the ambassadors, Lord Dufferin,
Lord Rosebery n other distinguished
MN by scores including his ~highnesS
the thakore of Morvi, resplendant in
silk, with gold and jeweled ornaments.
A gun carriage, similar to the one
used in London, was drawn up and as
2 o'clock struck, the tolling bells an
nounced the approach of the funeral
train, the engineer of which had it's
front decked with a magnificent white
wreath, tied with purple steamers,
with the imperial and royal monogram
in the center. Immediately after it's
arrival Queen Alexandria and the prin-
cesses drove off to the chapel, in closed
carriages. AS the coffin was lifted by
g~renadiers the diplomats and officers
stood at the salute.
Hardly had the coffin reached the
gun carriage when a dramatic incident
occurred. The order had just been
given to start, the muff1ed drums roll
ed, and h strains of Chopin's funeral
march had begun n the head of the
procession had actually moved Off
when it was found impossible to in
duce the artillery horses to move.
They had grown cold from long wait
ing in the biting wind, became FESTIVE,
and narrowly missed overturning the
gun carriage. The king looked terribly
distressed and the marshal of the pro-
NNDoDAOA 'eo AAOAA pb-oCo N1lCIt IIC Ilh-
val guard of honor came to the rescue.
The order pile arms, rang out, and
n clean shaver, smart-looking handy
men doube-quicked to the front and
evoked the admiration of all by the
speed with which they removed the
refractory horses improvised ropes out
OF the traces and started the gun car
riage with it's precious burden towards
the chapel.
The incident occurred at the spot
where Roddick MacLean shot at the
queen in 1882.
The refractory horses only delayed
h procession fifteen minutes, as by
then, 80 blue jackets had harnessed
themselves to the gun carriage and the
procession moved in at a sluggish pace.
The coffin, with the same insignia
surmounting it as in London, was fol-
lowed by an escort of life guards, then
came the officials of the heralds college,
Lord Roberts, with the headquarters
staff; Populations from the Prussian
regiments. etc.
King Edward, Emperor William and
duke of Connaught, followed the bier
closely. After them walked the princes,
foreign representatives, and yeoman
of the guard, with the military escort
bringing up the e a
The start of the cortege vas signal
lied by minute salutes fired by guns
fO1N~N OA NANS AOAS "oAh. nllSll "SI
continued until eighty-one shots had
been fired. one for each completed year
| of the dead queens age.
SERVICE IN THE CHAPEL.
Without further incident the process
sion moved into the long walk, thence
up the sovereign drive to the grand
quadrangle, where it passed beneath
the dead queens favorite rooms and
thus on to ST. Georges chapel.
IN THE CHAPEL
The chapel choir, the archbishop, the
bishops and other clergy met the pro-
ceSsion at the west door,. From the or
gan loft midway of the ave and the
chance came the strains of Mendels-
sohn's march from Songs Without
Words. The strains of the organ
died away and the choir commenced
singing softly the sentences for the
dead. The solemn cortege proceeded
up the nave, which was thronged with
the highest and noblest women of Eng
land. Lord, Thou Hast Been Our Ref
uge," to Felton'S setting, was next sung
by the choir, which had now taken its
place in the tranSept to the right OF
the altar.
The coffin rested upon a catafalque
placed at the steps of the altar. The
cross over the communion table was
covered with white flower and the re.
redoS behind was almost concealed
with spreys of fern dotted with lilies
The bishop of Winchester read thu
lesson from the Corinthians XIV. Mar
that is born of woman was chante(
by the choir to Wesley's music, follow
ed by Thou Knowest, Lord, The Sc
crets Of Our Hearts," The lee O
Windsor read Il Heard A Voice." ant
the choir sang the Lords prayer to tn
music composed especially for the deat
queen by Gounod. Once more tn
strains of the choir welled up through
the ancient chapel with the singing o
How Blessed Are They Die" b.
Tiehaikowsky. The archbishop o
Canterbury read the collect and, witt
quavering voice, pronounced the bene
diction. There was & solemn pauS
while all heads bowed. A few sobS wer
heard and the choir hen broke the OPP
pressive stiffness with the sweet har
mony of the Dresden Amen
An impressive feature was the king
alarms procurement of the title
-