Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-02-01
PAGEANTRY OF DEATH
Impressive Ceremony Attending Re-
moval Of Victoria's Remains.
BODY NOW ON ROYAL YACHT
VIII Be Taken Ashore Tomorrow
at Portsmouth.
THE TRIP FROM COVE

mOurnIui display or naval pDmp ana power
the body of Queen Victoria was borne this
afternoon from it's quiet resting place in
Osborne House to Portsmouth, the head
quarters of England's navy. The half hum
dred red fighting ships that this afternoon
fired their broadsides and minute guns were
inferior in strength to the force gathered in
the same waters for the jubilee celebra-
ton, but the lack of formidableness was
fully atoned for by the solemnity of this
fleet in mourning.
Over the still waters. between the roll of
the six-pounders, came the strains of Cho-
pins and Beethoven's funeral marches The
crews, accustomed to cheer with the hearth
ness which belongs only to ''jackies,' stood
silently along the decks, and the flags
which usually float defantly in the breeze
dropped half way down the haIyards.
The most powerful fleet England could
gather on short notice lay inert and silent
save for the mournful strains of the bands
and the wOeful sound of guns that be-
tOkened neither peace nor war, but death.
Past these and past the HOhenZollern, the
huge though cumbersome Camperdown, the
Rodney ard the Bcnbow, on through the
line of British battle ships, all as powerful
ON paper as the Oregon or Kentucky: still
ON. till Japan's Hatsuse, the biggest war
ship in the world, was left astern and the
German Baden was beam to beam with the
Majestic Vice Admiral Sir Harry Holds
worth Rawsons splendid flagship. of the
channel squadron, the naval funeral pro-
Cession slowly steamed. Ahead We're eight
destv0yers and seldom have these speedy
craft drawn their long black hulls so slug
lsIshly through the water.
Pageant Moves slowly.
Padding leisurely after them was the
royal yacht Alberta half screened by the
awning on the poop, the royal coffin placed
on crimson dais, the curtains of which
were drawn back and tied to four poles.
leaving free To view the magnificent casket
and robes.
Sometimes abeam. sometimes ahead, was
the Trinity House yacht Irene, watching
the course. while in the wake of the coffin
came the royal yacht Victoria and Albert,
With King Edward and Queen Alexandra
and the English royal family: the royal
yacht Osborne, with other royal personages;
the imperial yacht Hohenzollern. with En-
peror William, the Duke and Duchess of
ConnaU Ught and others; the admiralty yacht
Erchantress and Trinity House yacht
with officials on board.
The main squadron of battle ships and
cruisers were moored two and half cables
apart, in one line, extending from Cowes to
S1ithead.
The channel feet. under the command
of Vice Admiral Sir Harry Holdsworth
RawSon, formed the eastern portion and
the reserve fleet. under Rear Admiral Sir
Gerard Henry Noel, formed the western
portion.
The foreign war vessels were moored
southwest of the British ships, in the order
of their arrival. and alongside of them were
mCored eight British gunboats. the Ante
lope. Cleaner. Skipjack. Leda, Rattlesnake,
Alert. Circe and SpeedWel
After leaving Trinity pier, the Alberta
with her attendant escort. steamed along
the deep channel between the coast of the
Isle of Wight and the single line of bat
tie ships and cruisers.
ships in the Main Line.
The main line was as follows beginning
at Cowes:
The Alexandra. Camperdown, Rodney,
Benbow. Colingwood, Colossus, Sans
Pareil, Nile, Howe, Meampus, Severn Gal
atea, Bellona, Pactolus. Pelorus, Diana,
Conqueror, Arrogant Minerva, Niobe, Hero,
Hood. Trafalgar, Resolution, Jupiter. Han
nibal, Mars, Prince George and Majestic.
Minute guns were fired by all the ships
in the Solent and at Cowes, commencing
when the Alberta left the pier.
Each ship ceased firing Immediately af-
ter the tail of the procession had passed
her.
After the procession had passed the Ma
jestic, the forts and ships in Portsmouth
harbor commenced firing minute guns, and
continued firing until the Alberta was
alongside the wharf.
No standards were displayed and en-
signs and union jacks were at half-mast.
On the approach OF the procession the
ships manned and the guards and
bands were paraded.
The officers were in fun dress and the
men I'm No rig and straw hats. The
guards presented arms as the Alberta pass
cd each ship and then rested on their arms
reversed until the procession had passed
A detachment OF marines and the ad-
mraTs band was on board Nelson's old
flagship, the Victory. in Portsmouth har-
bor All the sea front and dockyards
Were manned by marines and sailors, while
Barrow Island was manned by boys from
the training ship st. Vincent and men from
the guunery ship Excellent
Body to Pc Taken Ashore Tomorrow.
When the Majestic was left astern the
Alberta was moored for the night. To-
morrow the body will be taken ashore at
Portsmouth and thence conveyed to Lon
don and Windsor for the.last tributes to
the great queen. The land ceremony con-
sisting in bringing the coffin from Osborne
House TO the pier at CoweS, was scarcely
less in:-.esting than the naval function
At noon the gorgeous trappings of the
Chappelle Ardente We're disturbed. over
the coffin was thrown the coronation robe
worn by the girl queen. On this was placed
the royal regalia wand, sceptre and crown,
which were scarcely ever used by the queen
in her lifetime Dummy regaiia Will be
buried with her at FrogmOre.
Cowes was astir at dawn and quickly be-
came alive with visitors. Every stand,
window and roof whence the procession
could be viewed was rapidly filed up,
tators was soon impossible. Long before
the hour for the funeral the hilly York
avenue leading from Osborne was q pic
turesdue sight. From the castle moat to
the pier troops stood with elbows touching.
Behind them were thousands of men,
men ard children. The road was lined
with poles with shields of black and silver
upon them bearing the royal monogram
surrounded with flags. Stands for specta-
tors dotted the route. lnnumerable cam
eras were posted at advantageous spots.
Hawkers were busy disposing OF black
bordered in memoria cards and other
souvenirs Equerries, aid-de-camps mount
ed grooms and messengers dashed hither
and thither. seeing that everything was in
readiness. The guard around Osborne
house most rigid. and besides the po-
lice long, thin line of red merged into
the green AMI brown woods clustering
around the royal residence. The queens
guard was drawn up in double rank before
the. queens entrance. with heads bowed
over their reversed arms. as in the death
chamber.
Body Borne From Osborne House.
At 80 p m. the bars Of the main door Of
Osborne House ereaked and the petty OFF,
GERS Of the royal yacht Victoria and AL