The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-05-29
A NATIONAL FUNERAL
MARKED HONOR ACCORDED LATE
BRITISH DIPLOMAT.
SERVICES HELD AT ST. JOHNS
WE'RE SIMILAR TO THOSE IN HON.
OR OF VICTORIA.

The President and Cabinet and All
Departments of the Government
Represented Together With the
Numerous Diplomatic COrps-An
EscOrt of 1000 Soldiers and Mn
riues-Magni6cept Floral Tributes
FILLED the ChnnceI-Remains Now
Rest in Rock Creek Cemetery-Wili
Later BE Conveyed to England
Aboard United states Warship.
Washington, May 2s.-The remains
of the late Lord Pauncefote, British
ambassador to Washington were to-
day accorded a national funeral. Ev-
erv department of the national gov
eminent, including President Roosevelt
and cabinet was represented, and the
numerous diplomatic body, of which
for so many years the late Lord
Pauncefote was dean, was present.
The presence of a thousand men in
arms was the visible sign of military
participation in the funeral.
Soon after 10 o'clock this morning
the sound of marching feet and the
slow notes of funeral music gave no
tice of the approach of the funeral
escort.
With little delay the casket was lift
ed upon the shoulders of six brawny
marines and as many engineers and
borne to the hearse. Bishops Mackay-
Smith and Satterlee, who were to Off
ciate at the church, were already seat
ed in their carriage, the mourners and
the honorary pail bearers and the
members of the British embassy took
their places in the line of carriages,
the signal was given, and at slow
pace the procession started towards st.
Johns Church. the soldiers and ma
rines falling in the line of march as
the column moved along.
When the head of the procession ar
rived at the church it halted and the
remains, again raised on the shoulders
of the enlisted men, were tenderly car
ried into the small church.
similar to That of Queen.
The services at st. Johns Church
We're very similar to those which mark
ed the memorial service held at that
church in honor of the late Queen Vic
toria. The large choir of forty men
and boys took part in the service at
Lady Pauncefote's request, and the
three hymns sung in the body of the
service were also of her personal Sc
lection.
The entire chancel was filled with
magnificent floral tributes, vast
wreaths of the rarest orchids and lilies
Of the valley among which the tribute
of the diplomatic corps was particular
ly noticeable, and a design in scarlet
immorteles setting out the cross of St.
George, which was sent by the local
and national representatives. of the
Sons and Daughters of ST. George. On
the casket, which was draped with a
timeworn Union Jack, lay a spray of
magnificent Lilies of the Valley and
orchids, the personal token of King Ed
ward VII, and just beside it rested a
cushion of royal purple plush upon
which glttered the many orders which
had been bestowed upon the deceased
diplomatist.
Taps" Sounded in Church.
After the benediction there followed
an unusual and what was perhaps the
most touching feature of the service.
Through the church there f1oated the
soft strains of taps" played by a
bugler stationed at the side entrance
the soldiers last tribute to the dead
Then the choristers took up the
strains of abide With Me-" as the
occasional.
At the express wish of the family
the escort from the church to the
cemetery was limited to a single
squadron of United States cavalry.
So with the mourners in their car
riages and the officiating clergymen
and few of the embassy staff, the
remains were taken directly to Rock
Creek Cemetery, where they were
placed in the receiving vault, there to
remain until such time as they should
be conveyed on United States war
ship across the broad Atlantic to the
ancestral home of the late Lord
Pauncefote of Preston.