The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-15
REQUIEM MASS FOR THE
REPOSE Of THE SOULS OF
HAEAROFF AND HIS MEN
Gar Is Present and Consoles the
Widow of the Russian
Naval Hero.
SCENES IN THE CHURCH
Incidents Connected with the Life
and Death of the Admiral
Condolences.

ST. PETERSBURG, April IA requiem
mass for the repose OF the souls OF Vice
Admiral Makaroff and the other officers and
the men of the Petropavlovsk was cele-
brated at noon to-day in the Admiralty
Church here. The scene was touching IN
the extreme Outside 10000 people. among
whom were many relatives of the sailors
lost, stood with barred heads and streaming
eyes while the service was in progress. In
side the beautiful white marble church. its
walls hung with militant ikons, were as
sembled the Emperor and the imperial
family high officers of the army and navy,
and the entire diplomatic corps, all in full
uniform, and also many widows and fam
lilies of the officers drowned The galleries
were crowded with Russian bluejackets.
The widow of Vice Admiral Makarof en-
tered on the arm of the Grand Duke Con-
stantine, followed by her son and daughter,
and took place beside the imperial party.
Every one present wore a band of crepe.
The Emperor, who wore the uniform OF a
captain in the navy, entered last and alone.
The grief felt by him was written on his
face. The Empress was not present.
Just before the services began the
Dowager Empress embraced Admiral Maxi
arof's widow, who sank on her knees al-
most at the feet of her Majesty and re-
manned there until the end of the service.
The beautiful ceremonial of the orthodox
church left no dry eye in the building. The
Emperor and all others present held lighted
tapers.i
When the rector prayed for "Stepan and
all the warriors who died for their country"
to the soft intoning of the choir singing
Christ Is Risen He Has Overcome Death
the Emperor fell on his knees. IN an instant
all were kneeling and sobbing, the sobs be-
ing drowned by the music of the choir
The Grand Duchess Vladimir mother of the
wounded Grand Duke Cyril, broke down
completely.
When the services were finished the EN-
peroi personally raised the stricken widow
and kissed her hand. Then for several
minutes he spoke to her consolingly, also
shaking hands with her daughter and son.
An editorial in the Russ may be taken
as voicing the national feeling over the Port
Arthur disaster.
Let u.s. it reads, remain calm. 1t is a
black day, but we have been struck by blind
fate. not by the enemy
The people sat up all of last night wait
ing for further details of the catastrophe
and news OF the result of Rear Admiral
Prince Ouktomsky's encounter with the
Japanese fleet and this morning hurried
out In raging storm to scan the bulletin
Emperor himself directed that every word
of news should be published. The meager-
ness of the kilograms is attributed to the
confusion due to the death of Vice Adj
miral Makaroff
The Associated Press is informed that
Chairman Doubasoff, OF the technical board
OF the Admiralty, is more likely to succeed
Vice Admiral Makaroff than Rear Admiral
Rojestvensky. Doubasoff is one of the
heroes of the Russo-Turkish war, and with
Makaroff helped TO blow up the Turkish
fleet in the Black sea-
1t transpires that the first person to hear
OF Makaroff's death was his widow. who
received private telegram. She was on
her way to st. Petersburg to see the adj
mlraIs brother, an officer of the guards
When the Emperors aid-de-camp reached
her residence at Peterhof with the mes
sage from his Majesty breaking the news
and condoling with her. The admiral's
brother returned with her to Peterhof She
was SO Frustrated with grief that she took
to her bed 1t is reported by those who
went to see the widow that they found the
whole town talking of nothing, else but the
loss of their beloved Stepan Osipovich. the
patronymic of Makaroff. The admirals
house was silent and darkened and the
eyes OF the sailor orderly at the door were
The late Vice Admiral Makaroff left. in
addition to daughter Lille, who Ii
| eighteen years Old, and Is known as the
| belle of Cronstadt an eleven-year-old son
| to whom he frequently wrote and tele
graphed. His last message was dated
| April 10. and conveyed his Easter greeting
The deceased admiral added that he was
| passing Easter evening on board a gunboa
stationed at the mouth of the harbor.
| The Novoe Vremya this morning repro
| duces a lecture delivered by Admira
Makarof in 1904 on the subject Of the Vic
| toria and Camperdown catastrophe IN
which he pointed out the inherent weakness
| OF battleships and their liability to turn
turtle, even when their watertight com
| partments are closed, because their armo
| and guns make them top-heavy.
| After the official bulletins had been issue,
this afternoon there was talk of the posi-
bihty of the destruction of the Petro
| pavlovsk having been caused by a sub
| marine boat but this received little con
| sideration in official circles.
| Four candidates are now mentioned L
succeed Admiral Makaroff-Vice Admira
| Skrydlof Chairman Doubasoff of tn
| technical board of the Admiralty, Rea
Admiral Rojestvensky and Vice Admira
| Choukunin