Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-09-22
KING PETER
CROWNED

BELGRADE, Sept 21-King Peter
|. of Servia. the successor of the as
sassinated King Alexander, was
crowned today. the event being at
tended with much pomp and cere.
mony. The coronation took place in
the cathedral in the presence of the
officials OF state members OF the leg.
islative assembly. church dignitaries.
military officers and deputations from
all parts Of the kingdom. The courts
of Europe were unrepresented except
by their diplomatic representatives In
Belgrade.
The day was ushered In with a sa-
lutte of l01 guns free from the Bel.
grade fortress. Crowds early began to
assemble on the streets and by noon
when the royal procession started
from the palace for the cathedral, the
thoroughfares and public squares were
densely thronged. The route was lin
ed by several thousand troops. The
royal procession was q spectacle OF
considerable magnifcence 1t consist.
ed of various state officials. band
and squadron Of the guard. preced.
ing the kings carriage, while the
crown prince, the royal family and a
squadron Of cavalry followed. The re.
ception met with by the procession
was on the whole lukewarm on the
part Of the immense crowds, compos-
ed chiefly of people who had gathered
to witness the pageant out of curios-
ity. There were some cheers from peo-
Pile in the streets and windows and
hats were waved, but many men did
not even uncover their heads.
AS the procession neared the cath.
edral .Iere was another salute OF 101
guns and the same time the bells of
all the churches in the city were rung
At the entrance OF the cathedral the
king was met by the archbishop and
accompanying clergy and escorted to
the altar as the choir sung the "Blag-
oslaven," or blessed be the Nlme OF
the Lord" Then the archbishop gave
the king cross and Bible. after which
Peter mounted the steps Of the throne
and sat upon It, A lesson from the
Bible describing the amounting OF Saul
was read, when the archbishop sprink-
led the crown with holy water. Then
calling him the president Of parlia.
ment and the commander of the army
the archbishop placed the crown on
the kings head. the president and the
general assisting and placing their
hands on the crown. This was to sig
Nifty that Peter was crowned by the
three estates OF the realm--the church
the parliament and the army.
The king afterward signed the his.
tory Of the crown, which was handed
to the minister of education. to be
The king, having returned to the pal.
ace to receive congratulations. the
crown was carried, with a military es
cort, to the palace and placed on the
throne.
In the state ballroom of the new
palace. King Peter received an ad
dress Of congratulation from the mem
bers OF the skuptschina. General Sava
Grinteh. the premier. spoke on be
half OF the cabinet officials, and there
were other congratulations from va
rious bodies, During the entire cere
monies. both at the cathedral and al
the levee which followed. the king
maintained his usual grave and
gloomy demeanor. The representa-
tives Of Russia and Austria were the
only foreign diplomats who took any
prominent part in the ceremonies oi
the day.
The firing Of guns, waving OF fags
and throwing Of flowers along the
route Of the royal procession made
the reception Of the king seem enthu
siastic to the ordinary onlookeT. bIi
to the man behind the scenes II ap
peared more like a cleverly managed
stage performance There are many
people. in fact, who declare that the
enthusiasm shown was forced. ant
that but for the mounted oficers who
circulated among the crowds command
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