Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-29
Magnificent Spectacle in Honor
of Accession of Edward as
Emperor of India
a PROCESSION OF ELEPHANTS
Hundreds of the Huge Animals, Be-
decked With Gold Cloth and Chains
Of Jewels, in the Paseant--Many Dis
tinsuished Guests Present to Partiei-
pate in the Ceremonies.

Delhi, India, Dec. 29.-Viceroy Lord
Curzon, OF Kedleston. made his state
entry today in the capital of the Mon
gEls. This constitutional official OPEN
Ing OF the Durbar is held to celebrate
the accession Of King Edward as en-
peror of India.
It was splendid pageant, probably
unparalleled in its magnificence. AT
the head of the elephant procession
rode Lord and Lady Curzon on the
state Grand Tusker" twelve feet high.
the largest elephant in India. Their
howdah was decked with gold and sill
yer and the elephant itself was almost
hidden beneath the gold-worked saddle
cloth. Surrounding them were footmen
IN scarlet and gold liveries and bearing
massive silver slaves. The duke of
Connaught. who represented King Ed
ward. and the duchess of Connaught
followed. Their elephant was equally
gorgeously eaparisoned. Then, in order
OF precedence, carne the nizam of Hy-
drabad, the naahajarah of Travancore
and other ruling chiefs, seventy in all,
their huge elephants forming line a
mile in length. This glittering process
sion started from the railroad station
preceded by the Dragon Guards and
artillery and yiceroy's escort and by
heralds and trumpeters. The route was
entirely lined by British and native
troops. From a saluting battery, posted
at the fort commanding the Lahore
gate. guns thundered out the royal sa-
lutte as the yiceroy passed.
The cortege passed in front of the line
OF 150 elephants carrying brilliantly
dressed retainers of the ruling chiefs.
The colossal beasts all saluted by trum-
peting and throwing their trunks into
the air, presenting a truly imposing
sight. Afterward they fell into line be-
hind the official procession. Huge
crowds of onlookers witnessed the spec
ssacie-
Down the main tharoughfare moved
the cortege thru lines of saluting SOL
6iers and excited, surging, salaaming
throngs of natives; thru the ancient
city with the balconies and house tops
teeming with life and thru the Moree
gate into the open park beyond. There,
after q four-mile march, the elephants
os the viceroy and the duke of Con-
naught were handled side by side, and
the pageant was concluded with the
great princes filing by, their elephants
trumpeting salute. The viceroy was
in state uniform, Lady Curzon was
dressed in grey, the duke of Connaught
had on field marshaPs uniform and
the duchess of Connaught was attired
IN blue. They received a fiattering well
come at all points.
The heraids, pursuivants and trump
eters who followed the escort and i'm
mediately preceded the vice regal pro-
cessIon were CONSPICUOUS by the splend-
or OF their attire. They were followed
by q newly constituted imperial cadet
corps comprising thirty maharajarahs.
Excitement was at fever heat as the
first elephants with gold and silver
howdahs OF the staff officers came In
view and commenced to circle around
the mosque. The finest elephants In
Asia passed In front of the great Juma
Musjid. the steps of which We're
fhrDnged with distinguished person
ages, Including the viceroy's American
and British guests, and delegates from
colonies of other parts of the empire,
the enormous animals shuff1ed slowly
BY, many massive howdahs of quaint
and rich design being surmounted by
naaHniflcient canopies OF gold embroid-
cred and bejewelled tapestry. The
bodies OF the animals were almost hid
den bytheirtrappings ofcrimson, purple,
and gold. Bands of gold encircled their
tusks, golden bracelets were son their
s ankles. gold and silver bells were hang
Ing from their neck chains and their
heads were painted and decorated in
every conceivable color. The Mahouts
were clad in the brightest attire as were
the attendant spearmen who marches
by the elephants heads. In the rear OF
the procession rode General LORD
Kitchener. the commander-in-chief in
the Indias, surrounded by brilliant
etan and followed by the head of the
province with escorts of Indian cavalry
and tribal leaders from beyond the bor-
der line.
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