New-York tribune., 1909-05-02
THE TRIBUNE'S FOREIGN NEWS.
KUANG-HSU'S BURIAL
Body of Chinese Emperor Starts for
Westeyn TOmbs.

Peking. May 1.-The body of Kuang Hsu. the
Emperor of China, who died in Pektng last
November to-day began its long journey to its
last resting place in the Western tombs. eighty
miles away. The ceremony was one of unusual
impressiveness. II was witnessed by a large
number of foreigners, including the members Of
the diplomatic corps and the members Of the
several missions sent to Peking by foreign gov
ernments expressly to represent them at the
final obseques
The Empress Dowager will not be buried until
the fall In the mean time, her body will remain
in Pekng.
The procession started from the precincts Of
the Forbidden City at il o'clock in the morning
The march to the tombs will take four days and
the entire route is to be over the great highway
especially constructed for the passage Of the
imperial coffin. The coffin is massive and heavy
The inside is lined with cypress wood; then
comes a covering of catalpa wood, which in turn
is encased in rhinocerOs hide. while the whole
is covered with a stout shield made from the
hide of the water buffalo.
There were 12S catafalque bearers and it took
the pageant which was two miles long, two
hours and half TO get clear Of the Forbidden
city. The route for the first four miles was
lined with Chinese officials and guarded by
Chinese troops The special ENJOYS TO the
funeral and the members OF the diplomatic
corps witnessed the procession from point
within the imperial city. The only part or the
pageant that, passed before them, however was
the catafalque section, which Included the
Prince Regent and the other imperial mourners.
The foreign representatives numbered in all
25O persons but at the express wish of the
Regent two thousand other foreigners were per-
mitted to see the procession go by. The other
foreigners occupied positions outside the i'm
perial city.
Prince Sadnaru Fushimi, cousin Of the En-
peror OF Japan, represented the Japanese gov
ernment. He occupied a special position next
to the Prince Regent and close to the catafalque'
and he was escorted by Prince Ching presi-
dent Of the Board of Foreign Affairs. The
United States was represented by W. W. Rock
hill the American Minister and Great Britain
by Sir John Jordan, the British Minister. The
special ENJOYS were escorted to their positions
by Grand Councillor Chang Chi-Tung and
number Of the imperial princes. The Regent
accompanied the body far as the city gates,
whence he returned to the palace
The members Of the diplomatic corps were
received in the imperial city under the auspices
of the Foreign Board Following the departure
of the pageant Prince Ching, on behalf OF the
government expressed his pleasure at meeting
so many foreigners. and said he desired through
the press to express the qualification OF the
government at the presence OF 50 many
strangers,
The widow of the late Emperor will travel 10
the tomb by rail- leaving here May 3.
The imperial tpmbs will not be completed for
two years. and the actual nterment of the re
mains of kuang- Hsu will have To be deferred
for this length Of time. The tomb Will cost, when
completed. considerably over $loo"oo"-