The Montana plaindealer. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1906-1911, 1906-06-08
The ROYAL WEDDING
king OF SPAIN Webs PRINCESS
Ina OF ENGLAND.
An Assassin's Bomb Mas Thrown at
Royal Carriaae-Bride and Groom
Escape-16 Attendants Killed and
Many lnJured-suII Fight Part Of
Entertainment for King ana Queen.

The tragic event and the narrow
margin By which King Alfonso and the
new queen Of Spain escaped death in
Madrid has caused the Drilliancy of the
royal wedding to be temporarily for
gotten, although it was to have inau'
gurated a period Of Unprecedented fes-
~tivities. Some Of the welding fea.
lures, however, were SUCH as to fix
themselves indelibly upon the minds of
the spectators.
One Of the prettiest sights was
Prince Alfonso, the actual heir to the
throne, who accompanied the king. The
little orphan son Of the princess of AS
turias was clad in white silk knicker-
bockers and reached only to the kings
waist.
King Alfonso reached the altar long
before Princess Victoria.
As the ceremony closed King Al
fonso embraced his bride and her
mother. This glimpse of domestic ten
derness, as well as the democratic
touch given by the presence of many
poor people in the galleries, who were
there by the kings request, made the
scene effective.
The public rejoicings over the mar
riage of King Alfonso and Princess
Victoria had a terribly dramatic sequel
at 2:30 o'clock in the afternoon as a
bomb thrown from an upper window
exploded with deadly effect near the
coach occupied by the king and queen.
PrOvidentially King Alfonso and Queen
Victoria escaped when an electric wire
DETECTED the bomb, but at least 16 per-
sons, most of them belonging to the
personal and military escorts, we're
killed. Many others were injured.
The royal bullfght Saturday after
noon was the climax of the spectacular
magniicence attendant on the mar
riage of King Alfonso.
For the time being Madrid forgot the
horrors of the attempt on the lives of
the royal couple and reveled in the
brilliancy of this national pastime. 1t
was feared that the event would give
another opportunity for outbreaks, but
everything passed off auspiciously,
King Alfonso and Queen Victoria be-
ing continuously the recipients Of en-
thusiastic popular ovations.
Within the structure presented a
wonderful scene of vibrating color. The
arena was carpeted with flowers, which
a sharp wind carried about in eddies
until the ring was cleared for the COM
bat. Around the circle, rising tier on
tier, were $4,000 persons, all in gala
costumes, with the royal box dominat-
ing the spectacle.
At 4 o'clock King Alfonso and Queen
Victoria entered their box and looked
out on the shouting multitude. The
king wore a military uniform, while
the queen was attired in white lace,
with roses in her white mantiIla. Much
sympathy was felt for the young queen
in undergoing this ordeal.
The bullfght itself was a d~isappoint-
ment to the Spaniards, and some of its
usual bloodcurdling features were
omitted, probably as a concession to :
the queen. She viewed the CORY spec
tacle without the least evidence of {
emotion. One maddened bull literally
a horse to pieces under the rail- |
ing of the royal box, from which Vic I
toria looked down without shrinking. g
Eight bulls were dispatched, four by I
mounted on horseback, who n
chosen from the first families of
Spain, with the duke of Medina Coeli. +
duke Of Alba and the MARQUIS of e
Fobar as their patrons.