The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-01-02
CONCOURSE CHEERED
EDWARDS PROCLAMATION AS EN-
PEROR OF INDIA.
SCENE OF GREAT SPLENDoR
WAS THAT OF THE DURBAR'S sU-
PREME ANNOUNCEMENT.

Enormous Masses of People Gath
cred Near Delhi for the Ceremony.
In the Amphithenter in the Center
of the Plain the Announcements. of
Edwards Accession Was Made and
the Imperial Message Was Read.
Allegiance to the New Ruler Was
Then sworn.
Delhi, India, Jan. Items of thous-
ands of people from the city of Delhi
and from villages far and near began
gathering at daybreak this morning
on the great plain outside the city.
They waited there patiently for the
supreme announcement of the durbar,
that King Edward was Emperor of In
dia.
Soon the great plain was filed with
crowding masses of people and the
brightly colored clothing of the vast
throng covered the space with gor-
geous hues. The crowd on the plain
was composed largely of the common
people, but among 1t could be seen the
retainers of the various rajahs who
had assembled for the function.
The attention of all was fixed upon
the white amphitheater in the center of
the plain, where the announcement was
to be made. The amphitheater was
adorned with gilded cupolas and sur
rounded by batteries, squadrons and
battalions of the Indian army. Beyond
the amphitheater in the distance could
be seen great numbers of elephants,
camels and horses. So vast was the
multitude that the troops appeared as
mere splashes of color.
The arrival at the amphitheater of
! the Viceroy of Indian. Lord Curzon of
Kedleston, the princes and other dig
nitaries was one of the brilliant cpl
sodes of the day. The princes were clad
in silks and adorned with jewels, and
| their horses and carriages were brill
liant with trappings of gold.
scene within the Arena.
The spectacle within the arena was
most striking and gorgeous. The Pa
than chiefs and the sirdars were re-
| splendant in brilliant raiment. Soldiers
civilians and visitors from far distant
countries were included among those
within the amphitheater Upon the
entrance of the veterans of the Indian
| mutiny there was tremendous epthuu
siasm and as-the arrivals. marched to
their places the bands played national
| airs.
The carriage of the Duke of Con-
naught, who represents King Edward,
was escorted by detachment of cava1-
| ry, and as the Duke and Duchess were
| driven around the arena the assem-
| blage gave them an enthusiastic well
come. Amid the acclamations of the
| people the Duke took his seat at the
| left of the throne. while the Duchess
| proceeded to a place behind the throne.
When the great amphitheater was
| filled and the hour for the announce
ment drew near, the multitude within
| and without awaited expectantly the
| first ac1Mof the proclamation cere+
mony. Then the approach of the Vice.
roy was heralded. Preceded by mem
bers of his bodyguard. clad in white,
blue and gold, Lord Curzon appeared
at the entrance of the arena in his
carriage. The positions wore uni
forms of scarlet and gold, and the
carriage was drawn by four bay
houses. The Viceroy was escorted by
Sir Pertab FINCH.
Alighting from his carriage, Lord
Curzon mounted the stairs to the
throne, which were decorated with
golden lions and around which were
placed massive Silv4' footstOols. The
throne itself was surmounted by a
canopy of white and gold. When the
Viceroy reached the throne, the ma
tional anthem was played and a salute
of twenty-one guns was fired. When
the spectators had resumed their seats
after the anthem, there was flourish
of trumpets from the Eeralds, and Mai.
Maxwell, at the command of the Vice.
roy, read the proclamation opening the
durbar The royal standard was then
raised on high, and the imperial sa-
Lutte was fired. The massed bands
marched by, playing, bonfires were
started by the troops outside, and II
was announced that King Edward was
Emperor of India.
CurSon Addressed Them.
There was another flourish OF trtim-
pets, and Lord Curzon arose and stood
for a moment impassiVe Then in
impressive tones he delivered a speech
and read the message from King Ed
ward. In his address the viceroy am
nounced the coronation of the King
He extoled the loyal Indian people
and prophesied prosperity for the In
dian Empire. He said also that II had
been decided not 10 exact interest for
three years on all loans made or guar
anteed by the government of India to
the native states in connection with
the recent famine. The Viceroy an
nounced also the abolition OF the In
dian staff corps which has long been
an army sinecure.
In the Kings message, which was
then read by Lord Curzon, his majes-
ty said that the Prince and Princess
of Wales would shortly visit India
He regretted his absence from the
durbar and sent his greetings to his
Ltndian people, In conclusion King
Edward said:
Il renew the assurances of my re-
gard for the liberties of the Indian
people: of my respect for their dignities
and rights of my interest in their adj
vancement and of my devotion to their
welfare. These are the supreme aims
and objects of my rule, which under
the blessing of Almighty God, will lead
to the increasing prosperity of my In
dian empire and TO the greater hap
piness of it's people,"
Cheers for Edward.
As the viceroy finished reading the
Kings words, the assembled people
broke into cheers for the King and En-
peror The cheering was taken up by
the multitude outside the amphitheater
and was long sustained.
Then followed the presentation Of In
dian princes to the viceroy and the
Duke of Connaught, and political Of
hcers paid homage to the sovereign.
This ended the ceremony and the roy
a corfega left fhn arana f01fouad hxr