The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1903-01-02
EDWARD BECOMES EMPEROR.
Occasion Of His Accession to Throne Of
India Made Gala Day.

Delhi, India, Jan. 1.-The viceroy,
Lord Curzon, of Keddleston, made
his state entry into the capital of the
Mogus yesterday. This constituted
the official opening Of the Durbar,
held to celebrate the accession of
King Edward as Emperor of India.
1t 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," 12 feet high,
the largest elephant In India. Their
howdah was decked with gold and
silver, and the elephant itself was al
most hidden beneath gold-worked
saddle cloth. Surrounding them were
footmen In scarlet and gold liveries
and bearing massive silver slaves.
The Duke of Connaught, who rep
resented King Edward, and the Ouch
ess of Connaught followed. Their
elephant was equally gorgeously ca
prisoned. Then, In order of prece-
denee, came the Nizam of Hydera-
bad, the Maharajah of Travanscore
and other ruling chiefs, 20 in all,
their huge elephants forming line a
quarter of a mile in length.
The glittering procession started
from the railroad station preceded
by dragoon guards and artillery, the
Voceroy's escort, and by heralds and
trumpeters. The route was entirely
lined by British and native troops.
From the saluting battery, posted at
the fort commanding the Lahore
Gate, guns thundered out a royal sa-
lutte as the Viceroy passed with the
heralds and trumpeters sounding at
intervals spirited fanfares.
The cortege passed in front of a
line of $50 elephants carrying the
brilliantly dressed retainers Of the
ruling chiefs. The colossal beasts all
saluted by trumpeting and throwing
their trunks in the air, presenting a
truly imposing sight, and afterwards
fell in line behind the official process
sion. Huge crowds of onlookers wit
messed the spectacle, which, 1t is as
serted, has never been surpassed in
magnifcence, even In this country of
Oriental splendor.
The heralds and trumpeters who
followed the escort and Immediately |
preceded thes Viceroy, were conspicu-
Gus by che splendor of their attire. |
They were followed by the newly con-
stituted Imperial Cadet Corps, com
prising 80 Maharajahs. The excite |
ment was at fever heat as the first |
elephant, with gold and silver bow. |
dahs Of the staff officers, came in
view, and commenced to circle around |
the mosque. The first elephants In |
Asia passed in front of the great |
Jumma Musjid, the steps of which |
we're thronged with distinguished I
personages, including the Vjceroys, |
American and British guests, and the
delegates from the colonies and from |
other parts of the Empire.
The enormous animals shufied |
slowly by. many of the massive how
dahs of quaint and rich design be- |
ing surmounted by magnificent can
opies of gold embroidered and bejew-
eled tapestry The bodies of the an
imals were almost hidden by theirI
Of crimson, purple and gold. |
Bands of gold encircled their tusks,
golden bracelets were on their ankles, |
gold and silver belts were hanging |
from their neck chains, and their |
heads were painted and decorated in
every conceivable color The ma |
houts were clad in the brightest at |
tire, as were the attendant spearmen, |
who marched by the elephants sides. |
In the rear of the procession rode |
General Lord Kitchener, the Com
of india, surrounded
by a brilliant staff. and followed by
the heads of provinces, with escorts
of Indian cavalry and tribal leaders
from beyond the border line. Down |
the main street moved the cortege |
through lines of saluting soldiers and |
excited, surging salaaming throngs of
natives: through the ancient city
with the balconies and housetops
teeming with life and through the |
Moree Gate into the open park be-
yond. There, after four-mile march,
the elephants of the Viceroy and the
Duke of Connaught halted side by
side. and the pageant was concluded
with the great Princes filing by,
their elephants trumpeting a salute.
The Viceroy was in state uniform,
Lady Curzon was dressed in gray. |
the Duke of Connaught had on
Field Marshal's uniform, and the
Duchess of Connaught was attired in
hlne They received a fattering wei.