Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-18
Has Letter Claiming Promise of Marriage
from Infanta Maria Teresa.
ARRESTED IN ATTEMPTING TO REACH KING
Wants Alfonso to Aocsde to the Betrothal,
but Guards Seize Him.
CORONATION SCENE BRILLIANT AFFAIR
beautiful weather Favors the Royal
Fetes-Populace is Enthusiastic
in It's PIaudIts for the
Youthful RuIer.

his majority by King Alfonso today were
attended by an incident which, while in
significant in itself. for the moment cre-
ated considerable excitement among those
who witnessed 1t and in the Chamber OF
Deputies, where the story first arrived in
a more sensational form than the facts war
ranted.
1t appears that Just as the royal coach
emerged from the Plaza de Armas into the
square in front of the palace, amid the
sound Of cannon, a young man among the
sight-seers behind the Gordon suddenly
pushed through the ranks Of soldiers and
police and rushed toward the door Of the
chariot, with his hat in one hand and hold
ing outstretched in the other a paper.
Before he reached the door the state lack
eys and equerries hurried to the scene and
quickly overpowered him, though not be-
fore the disturber had received a severe
mauling.
The prisoner was taken TO the guard
room Of the palace, where he was interro-
gated. The letter he had in his hand
proved to be an address to the king stat
ing that Infanta Maria Teresa, who was
with the king in the royal coach, had
promised him her hand and begging the
king as the brother of the infanta to ac-
cede to the marriage The prisoner was
carefully searched and it was found that
he carried no weapon. His remarks re-
garding the 1nfanta Maria Teresa left no
doubt as to his mental condition.
Becomes King in Fact.
King Alfonso attained his majority to-
day and became king in fact as we'll as in
name, having reached the age-16-pre-
scribed by the constitution.
Beautiful weather favored this, the CEN
trail day of the feteS. At an early hour all
the bands of music Of the troops composing
the garrison marched through the principal
streets playing lively marches to the royal
palace, where they performed beneath the
| windows Of the kings apartments.
! The royal procession was formed on the
Plaza de Armas In front of the palace
shortly before p. m. and proceeded to the
Chamber Of Deputies, where In the presence
of the senators and deputies the king took
| the oath to uphold the constitution.
The procession was a spectacle of mag
| nificence. Grooms on horseback opened the
march. They were followed by four buglers
| and cymbal players from the royal stables.
whose horses were led by grooms on foot;
| four mace bearers on four horses with
| oriental trappings, led Ey hand; two OF the
| kings riding horses, two Of the queen re-
gents riding horses, ready saddled, led by
grooms, and six other royal horses, covered
| with handsome velvet cloths of red. blue,
green and yellow, embroidered with srmor-
ial bearings in gold and silver.
Quaint and Historic SpIendor.
Then came twelve OF the principal out
riders, who directly preceded a line Of
quaint, historical coaches emblazoned with
| armorial bearings and embellished with
| massive gilt ornamentation. The coach
men and footmen wore brilliant Louis XIV
liveries and the trappings Of the horses
| were OF the most gorgeous description. The
| first vehicle, bronze .colored, drawn by four
black horses, was occupied by four masters
| alarms. AfteI 1t came the so-called
Paris" coach, occupied by the court cham
berlains, and twelve state chariots belong
ing to grandees of Spain. In them were
seated palace functionaries OF high office.
The next carriage, having six sable horses
attached to it, was occupied by the Infantas
Isabella and Eulalie.
A detachment Of horse guards separated
the carriages from a very pretty tortoise
she'll coach, In which were seated the
prince and princess of the Asturias, the
brother n-law and sister OF the king.
The entire body OF this vehicle was
veneered a dark, tortoise shell color except
/
story OF Solomon. 1t was drawn by six
chestnut horses. The tortolse-shelI car
riage was followed by a mahogany coach
called the coach Of respect" which was
| not occupied. This vehicle always directly
precedes the royal chariot, to meet an
emergency or in case of a breakdown. To
1t were harnessed eight chestnut horses
driven by four Outriders.
Led by Royal BOdyEuard
A detachment of the royal bodyguard
rode in front Of the massively gilded char
lot termed the Royal Crown" having gilt
allegorical figures standing out in relief
from the panels and whose roof was sur
mounted by a heavy, gilded crown. The
gold-plated, moulded lamps Of this car
riage were especially striking. being inset
| with imitation jewels. The hammer cloth,
a wonderful piece OF embroidery, is valued
at $4,000 The king and the queen re-
gent were seated side by side in the royal
coach and were accompanied by Infanta
| Maria Teresa, youngest sister of his mai
esty. 1t was drawn by eight fine speckled
grays, in dark red harness. Immense white
ostrich plumes waved from the heads OF
these horses.
The ofneers Of the kings military house
hold and three squadrons Of the royal body
guard closed the parade.
The procession. which emerged from the
courtyard Of the palace, amid the booming
Of cannon, proceeded at a walking pace
through the streets. gay with flags and
bunting. and beneath festoons OF ever
greens. which at some parts of the route
formed veritable vaults Of foliage and
flowers, to the Chamber Of Deputies, be-
fore the steps OF which had been erected
a purple canopy.
Receive Their MaJesties.
A delegation consisting OF twelve senators
and twelve deputies received their majes-
ties at the steps. and, preceded by the
mace bearers. they were conducted through
the ante chambers. nlled with courtiers and
others who were unable 10 hnd accommo-
dation in the chamber itself
The king. queen regent and the prince
dContinued on Ninth PaRel