The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-20
HONOR MURDERED GRANDDUKE
SOLEMN SERVICES IN THE
CHAPEL OF CHUDOFFM MONASTERY
Grief OF the Victims widow Touches All
Horror OF sergius's Fate Made Plain
During the Ceremony-Liberai News
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Special Cable Despatch to THI SUN.
Moscow, Feb. I9.-Throughout yesterday
and to-day services were conducted with
all the solemn pomp OF the Orthodox Greek
Rite in the ancient church of tho Chudof
Monastery. where the cofined fragments
Of the body of Grand Duke Sergius lie.
The church is very small and consequently
1t was impossible for the officials to attend
in body. They attended the successive
services in small groups.
The catafalque occupied the centre OF
the square building midway between two
huge lustres wearing thousand candles,
while at the head and foot were huge silver
candelabra. At a desk at the head Of the
coffin priests read the service for the deador
the Gospels uninterruptedly day and night.
Military guards were standing round tho
catafalque, and the remainder OF the area
was filed with an array Of variously uni
formed officials, Grape bedimming their
gold lace, epauets and orders.
Many court ladies' uttired in tho deepest
mourning were present, adding touch OF
sombreness to the scene, which, even apart
from the officers uniforms, would have
been almost brilliant from the silver-gilt
mitres and cloth of gold vestments OF the
Bishops and priests and the gorgeous deco
rations Of the church.
/ At the service the widowed Grand
Duchess attended she knelt throughout.
She was dressed in the deepest mourning
and wore tho red ribbon of the Order OF
| St Anne. By her side were the two chill
! dren of Grand Duke Paul, Of whom Grand
| Duke Sergius was guardian Those who
are accustomed TO seeing the Grand
| Duchess could barely recognize the ma estio
beauty after the ravages caused by
overwhelming grief Several persons who
had seen her within the past week were
heard TO whisper in awe stricken tones;
is that really the Grand Duchessf'
Many court ladies were seen weeping Bit
terly, all feeling that even the terrible
things hidden under the cloth OF the silver
pail could hardly strike 80 deep chord. OK
sorrow as that one glimpse OF the beauti-
full face, which for more than dozen years
| has been TO all classes in Moscow the sym
boil OF everything gracious and 'queenly
Imperial funeral customs require that
the body be dressed in full uniform and no
displayed in an open coffin, with the hands
| clasped on the breast so as to support an
ikon Of the deceaseds favorite saint After
the service everybody approaches the bier
and kisses the brow, hands and ikon.
To-day despite the awful circumstances
an attempt was made 10 observe the GUS
tom. but it was painful mockery. With
In the open coffin was bundle OF frag-
ments wrapped in white cloth so as to
present some semblance of the form of
man Of full height, but so complete was
the dispersal of the body that the gre
parcel barely measured four feet.
Where the face should have be en- is a
holy image covering shapeless bundle
lying on a pillow. Below appeared mill
tary uniform, with rich gold epaulets
and heavy aigulets tho uniform of tho
KIeT Regiment Where the hands should
have crossed there was again little bundle
OF something soft TO support an ikon OF
st. Nicholas.
At the conclusion OF a magnificent choral
service, sung by one OF the finest choirs
in the world, the Grand Duchess was the
first to rise and salute the dead Bending
over the coffin she kissed the ikon and silver
cross. Then followed Grand Duke Paul's
little children and Grand Duke Constantine.
who afterward led the widow away. Sub
seqIently all present gave the traditional
salute.
The most touching OF all the arrange
ments in honor Of the dead were a simple
little cross of lilies Of the valley, resting
upon the RAIL- and a dainty length OF Brus-
sells lace, the shape and quality OF which
show Enthusiastically that 1t was meant
originally TO cover a cherished cradle, but
which is now used by the same feminine
instinct to hide the grim evidence OF the
awful tragedy. No woman present missed
that home touch, and there were many
mostened eyes among the men.
LONDON Feb. 20.-The st. Petersburg
correspondent OF the Telegraph ascribes
to an eyewitness the following description
Of the scene, when amid the brilliant court
at Tsarskoe-Selo, while the Gar was bid
ding farewell TO Prince Leopold of Prussia.
Gen. Hesse brought the news Of the assassi-
nation Of Grand Duke Sergius.
As soon as his Majesty realized what had
! happened the effect was whitening The
blood fed from his cheeks and he bowed his
head toward his breast, For some mo-
ments he said nothing. Then be remarked:
But how can that be? Everything IL so
quiet. The strikes are ceasing and the
excitement subsiding. Whatever do they
want2'
The correspondent says that Grand
Duke Vladimir has been terribly affected.
His health which was far from satisfactory
before, has been shattered by the shock
He ia now confined to his room. When he
has sufficiently recovered he will go abroad
10 reouperate. His condition is described
as serious. though not dangerous.
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