River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-09-05
CAR VENTURES TO
ENTER HIS CAPITAL
ATTENDS CONSIDERATION OF ME-
MORTAL TO GRANDFATHER.
CITY FULL OF SOLDIERS
Brilliant Scene in Church Erected on
the Spot Where Alexander
Was Killed by Nj
hlists.

st. Petersburg, Sept. 2.-For the Sec
ond time since RED Sunday (Janu-
airy %, 1900 Emperor Nicholas Sun
day entered the capital to attend the
conservation of church to his grand
father, Alexander H., who was assas-
sinated in March, 1881, on the spot
where the edifce was raised.
The date Of the trip, coinciding with
the conspiracy trial just closed here,
plainly was designed to raise the 10y
atty Of the army and the people. 1t
was a complete success and no unto
ward incident occurred.
The police neglected no precaution
to insure the safety of the emperor,
and even went so far as to thoroughly
search the city and inspect the pass
ports of suspicious individuals. Gen
darmes were stationed in every win
dow facing the route over which the
imperial procession passed, and own
ers of houses were forbidden to open
windows under pain of heavy fine.
Bridge and river traffic was entirely
suspended, the banks of the Neva
were lined with marine guards and
torpedo boats patrolled the river.
No Statutes Are Fired.
The imperial party arrived from Pc
terhof unannounced, not single sa-
lutte being fired during their whole
stay. The emperor and his party dis
embarked from yacht at the adj
miralty and entered an unconspicuous
launch, landing at the Grand Duke
Constantine's palace. Thence they
| proceeded the remainder of the way
to the memorial church in carriages.
Though the church faces the Nevsky
prospect, it is conveniently reached
from the Neva across the Mars field
drill ground, where new road,
flanked by rows of flags, had been
made for their majesties.
After two months of daily rains the
sky cleared and the sun shone upon
the brilliant scene of nearly a hun
dred detachments of troops with wide
ly varying uniforms stationed along
the line of march. The emperor's ar
rival was announced by cheers from
the troops, the public looking on in
differently. The big churchyard,
where the imperial party arrived, at
the hour set for the function, was pic
turesquely bordered by platoons of
cuirassiers, grenadiers and dragons
in multi-colored uniforms, waving
plumes, busbecs and silver breast
plates.
Splendid Scene in Church.
After walking around the church
and saluting the guards, the emperor
entered the edifice at the south door.
The scene inside was one of great
splendor An abundance of light,
streaming through the lofty windows,
| illuminated the four immense mosaic
columns around which were grouped
1000 representatives of the ruling
classes. The emperor and the en-
press occupied the so-called patri-
archs place at the right of the altar,
where they were visible only from the
diplomatic loge. A score of grand
| dukes and duchesses encircled the i'm
| perial pair, and further back were
| courtiers, court danes, provincial gov
errors and preponderant majority of
army officers.
|
| ter to attend the ceremonies, all of the
others being abroad. Mr.. Riddle, the
| American ambassador, and Sir Arthur
Nicolson, the British ambassador, and
the civic element were conspicuously
absent, though millions of rubles were
| subscribed to the church fund by peas
ants and others who were not invited.
The three walls of the church were
lined with files of palace grenadiers,
and the entrances were guarded by
veterans of the Russo-Turkish war.
Empress Seems Sad.
The emperor seemed to be in excel
lent spirits, but the empress had the
same careworn, sad look which has
often been remarked. The emperor
wore a simple preobrajensky uniform
with a dark blue tunic and trousers.
Across his shoulders was the blue
sash of ST. Andrew The empress was
gowned in white silk and wore a white
ostrich feather hat and string of
diamonds. She also wore the sash of
st. Andrew. Both their majesties re-
NAMED standing throughout the en-
tire ceremony, which lasted three and
quarter hours, the empress slightly
leaning on her parasol.
Part OF the ceremony consisted of
a solemn procession with the cross
and banners, in which the emperor
and his suite followed the clergy
around outside the church, repeating
an especial liturgy. After the cere-
mony the imperial party left for a
cruise in the Gulf of Finland.