The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-08-01
Impressive Services Over
the Body of Murdered
Won PIehWe.
Widow Faints and the
Emperor HaStenS to
Her Assistance.

ST. PETERSBURG, July SIN. Won
Plehwe, the Minister Of the Interior
who was assassinated on Thursday
morning last, was buried to-day, and
in every city and hamlet of this vast
empire church bells were tolled and
masses and prayers said for the repose
of the soul Of the murdered Minister.
The services here, which were ac-
cCrding to the rites Of the orthodox
church, were of an impressive and iru-
posing character. At IL o'clock this
morning high mass was said In the
sta tely chapel adjoining the Ministry
of the Interior. Emperor Nicholas and
the Dowager Empress stood with the
broken-hearted widow and the children
Of the Minister at the foot Of a great
mound of flowers, on which rested the
casket. To the right, on gold-embro:d-
cred cushions, before a mass Of wreaths
banked to the ceiling, were ranged the
decorations which had been won by the
statesman during his notable career.
To the left were the metropolitan Of
st. Petersburg and the officiating bish-
ops and priests, in their gold-emblaz-
oned vestmentS. A screen of flowers
concealed the famous imperial choir.
BEREAVED WIDOW FAINTS.
The entire assemblage was in full
uniform and on the arm of each one
present was a badge of mourning. All
held lighted tapers throughout the
service, and the air was heavy with
the perfume of flowers and incense
from the censors.
At the most solemn moment, when
all knelt and many were affected by
tears, the widow was overcome and
tainted. The Emperor came to her as
sistance and she was carried out by
gentle hands.
The Emperor was visibly moved, and
upon the conclusion of the mass he fol-
lowed the casket, which was taken
upon the shoulders of the Ministers
and borne down the broad marble
staircase to the street. There the
funeral procession was formed and the
body was placed in a great white open
hearse drawn by six coal black horses,
which were blanketed from their ears
to their tails in SOmber trappings.
A black CARRIED groom stood at each
bride and in advance went sixteen SIM
ilarly clad lantern bearers. Behind the
hearse walked the members Of the
Minister'S family and then came long
and distinguished body of mourners, it
being the Russian custom to follow the
dead to the grave on foot. The En-
but as the Novodevicky monastery,
where the burial took place, was more
than five miles away, and also because
of the condition of the Empress, his
Majesty soon entered his carriage and
returned to the Peterhof Palace.
FLOWER LADEN CHARIOTS.
At the end of the procession came
| four white chariots filled with the floral
offerings. The cortege proceeded slowly
| through the avenues and streets, pre-
ceded by a squad of mounted police
and passed within sight Of the place
where the tragedy occurred.
| The sidewalks along the route were
crowded, but lines of police kept the
streets clear to the curb. AS the body
passed every head was uncovered and
thousands crossed themselves.
| The monastery stands on a plain
| beyond the Narva gates and at these
gates fully $4,000 persons were gath
cred After the burial service In the
church the body was inferred in the
adjoining cemetery, where repose the
remains of many of Russia's greatest
men, and at a point within stones
throw of the grave of Sipiaguine, who
was .Plehwe's predecessor and who also
| fell by the hand of an assassin less
! than two years ago.