Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-21
KING PETER CROWNED
Formally Iuaugu rated Sow
ereign of Servia
AT BELGRADE TODAY
NO UNTOWARD INCIDENT oC-
OURS TO MAR CEREMONY.
IL
Solemn Ritual of Greek Church-Per-
feet Order Among Populace
Foreign Representatives.

BELGRADE, Servia, September 21.-Peter
Karageorgovitch was crowned King of
Servia today. There were no hostile demon
strations and no attempt to carry out the
numerous threats against the new king s
life. In the solemn ritual of the Greek
Church and in the elaborate state procession
which preceded and followed the corona
ton the tragedy of Servia's previous ruler
found no echo. Amid the thunder of the
saluting guns from the royal palace and
the garrison King Alexander's murder was
at least outwardly forgotten.
Brilliant Procession.
Here and in every garrison town of Servia
the dawn of day was marked by a salute of
twenty-one guns. and before the sun was
well up King Peter, on horseback, rode
out from the palace. The brilliant pro-
cesson then started for the cathedral
through the troop-lined streets. Behind the
soldiers were packed dense crowds, who, in
spite of the rainy weather, stood patiently
awaiting to see the king. The royal
heralds, cavalry and life guards {the heralds
bearing the royal standards) and carriages
with the Montenegran and Servian prin-
cesses, preceded the monarch. Beside King
Peter rode his two sons, George and Alex
ander. The cathedral was reached shortly
after O'Clock. There the representativ
of the foreign powers, the cabinet ministers
anu OlUeTS naU ALREADY Deen waiting for
some time.
AS King Peter entered the metropolitan
consecrated him and more artillery salutes
were fired The king took up his position
under a canopy and the metropolitan. as
sisted by many bishops and other clergy
commenced the solemn service, the choir
singing. Thank Thee, Our Lord After
the prayer the premier and other ministers
handed the crown and regalia to King Peter
He kissed the crown placed it on his head
and robed himself in the royal garments
An artillery salute of 101 guns then an
nounced to the people of Belgrade that
King Peter had been crowned.
Exercises Occupied Three Hours.
1t was nearly three hours before the
service was concluded and the ritual of
the church complied with. King Peter af-
terward signed the coronation document
which was witnessed by the metropolitan
the premier, the cabinet ministers and the
other heads of state. Wearing the crown
on his head and fully robed the king left
the cathedral, remounted his horse and
rode through the crowded streets to the
palace There, In the grand festal hall
Alng Peter received the congratulations of
.he diplomatic corps and others, assembled
the royal throne and once more took the
scepfer and orb in his hands. The cere-
mony or rendering homage was then per-
formed.
King Peter offered the American minister
Mr.. Jackson. the Karageorge star. which
he presented to all the other ministers as a
souvenir of the coronation. AS Mr. Jack
son was unable to accept the star. his
majesty will present him with his photo
graph and autograph.
Frantic Cheering.
The return journey from the cathedral to
the palace was marked by frantic cheering.
There had been a general fear that some
thing might happen to mar the ceremony,
and when the people saw King Peter
crowned and riding safely back their relief
found enthusiastic expression
Though all the early morning was cloudy.
when the king entered the cathedral the
sun came out, but his standards were ac-
cidentally dropped in the mud.
In the festal hall the Italian minister
greeted King Peter in the name of the triple
alliance, while the Russian minister, who
in spite of reports to the contrary, was
present, and the Roumanian and Greek
ministers handed his iesty personal let
ters from their sovereigns. The clergy then
passed before the throne and bowed to the
king, who showed no signs of fatigue.
When the king sat down on the throne
he took off the crown, which weighs four
kilos, but put 1t on again as the members
of the Skupshtna and of various corpora
tfons passed the throne in long procession,
though he was obliged now and again to
lift his heavy crown and rest his head
partial amnesty decree has been pro-
mulgated and the general feeling is one of
jubilation.