The Savannah morning news., 1904-08-01
MOURNERS HELD
LIGHTED TAPERS
FUNERAL OF M. Won PLEHVE.
AIR WAS HEAVY WITH PERFUME
OF FLOWERS, AND INCENSE.

Of' E'A4OM tIhSs AND INNEASE.
In Every City and Hamlet in Mich
OIns' Vnst Empire Church Bells
TOIIed, and Masses and Prayers
Were Snid-Much POmp and Cere-
mOny at the FneraI-WhiIe Au-
dience KneIt and Wept Won
PIehve's Widow Was Overcome
and Tainted.
St Petersburg, July 31.-M. Won
Plehve. the Minister of the Interior
who was assassinated Thursday morn
ing last, was buried to-day, and in ev-
cry city and hamlet of this vast en-
pire church bells were tolled and
masses and prayer said. for the repose
of the soul of the murdered minister.
The services here, which We're ac-
cording to the rites of the orthodox
church, We're impressive and imposing.
At IL O'Clock this morning high mass
was said in the stately chapel adjoin-
ing the ministry of the interior EN-
peror Nicholas and the Dowager En-
press SlOOu Win lue bipheH uedIteu
widow. and the children of the minis
ter, at the foot of d great mound of
flowers on which rested the casket.
To the right on sold embroidered
cushions before "a mass of wreaths
banked to the ceiling, were ranged the
decorations which had been won by
the staseman during his notable ca
reer. To the left We're the Metropolitan
of st. Petersburg and the officiating
bishops and priests in their gold en-
flowers concealed the famous imperial
boys choir.
Imperial Family Present.
Among those present were other
members of the imperial family, the
foreign representatives, including
Spencer Eddy, charge d'affaires of the
American embassy; ministers of the
empire, generals, admirals, mobiles, gov
ernors of distant provinces, like those
Of Astrakhan and Irkutsk-in fact, all
high otticialdom, not even emitting
Genghis Khan, a lineal descendant of
the Napoleon of Asia who is now a
major general in the Russian service.
The entire assemblage wore fun uni
FORM and on the arm of each one pres
ent was badge of mourning. All
held lighted tapere 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 to
tears, the widow was overcome and
tainted. The Emperor came to her as
sistance, and she was carried out by
gentle hands.
Emperor Visfbly Moved.
The Emperor was vlsibly moved, and
on 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 stair
case to the street.
There the funeral procession was
formed and the body was placed in
great white hearse, drawn by six coal
black horses. which were blanketed
from their ears 70 their tails in sombre
trappings.
A black garbed groom stood at each
bride and in advance went sixteen
similarly clad lantern bearers. Behind
the hesfse walked the members of the
Minister'S family, and then came
long and distinguished body of mourn
~ p IL UClfB tlit iAuSSAdll CUSTOM 10 lOl-
low the dead to the grave on foot
Emperor Himself walked.
The Emperor himself walked a short
distance, but as the Novodevichy mon
astery, where the burial took place
was over FIVE miles away, and also
because of the condition OF the En-
press, His Majesty soon entered his
carriage and returned to the Peterhof
palace.
At the end of the procession came
four white chariots filed with the
floral offerings. The cortege proceed
ed slowly through the avenues and
streets, preceded by a squad of mount
ed 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 curbs. 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 gathered
Where Interment Took Place.
After a burial service in the church
the body was inferred in the adjoining
cemetery, whore repose the remains
Of many of Russia's greatest men. and
at a point within a stones throw OF
the grave Of NJ. Sipiaguine. who was
NJ Won Plehve's predecessor, and who
also fell by the hand of an assassin
less than two years ago.
The murderer Of NJ. Won Plehve has
been removed from the hospital to the
Wyborgsky prison. The police know
the alias under which he Travelled. but
say that they are not yet satisfied re-
garding bis identity, and decline 10
reveal the alias on the ground that IL
might defeat the ends Of justice.
Police Knew of N Plot.
There is no longer any doubt that
the police for some time have had
knowledge of the existence of a plot
by a band Of International anarchists
In Paris and Vienna The leading con-
spirator il is said. was man whom
the Russian government tried TO extra
dite from Paris last fall. Some Of these
conspirators arrived here a week ago.
and the police thought that all Of them
had been taken into custody.
The far reaching character Of the
machinery of the Ministry Of the Inte-
rior, and the urgent necessity for deal
ing with many pending matters. render
IL imperative that the Emperor select
a successor to NJ. Won Plehve ifnme-
diately and il is considered certain
that he will do so this week
Influences hostile 10 NJ. Witte. pres
ident Of the council Of ministers, I'm
spite Of his acknowledged great abn-
ity, and the general belief that he Is
the man for the position, seem to rem