The Detroit times., 1910-05-31
PEOPLE WAIT 10
HOURS TO SEE BODY
Some sidelights on Funeral Of Late
King Edward for Which Several
Millions Gathered.

LONDON May 30.-A magnificent
.ortege accompanied King Edward 10
westminster hall, where he was TO lie
Ia state. The flower of the BRUSH
army walked i'm front OF the comm. All
ais relatives and half the royalties OF
Europe followed. Millions OF people
lined the route. The archbishop OF
Canterbury conducted solemn ser
vice In the hall. The members OF the
two houses Of parliament and the mold
srs OF all the distinguished names III
England were present. Inc service
ended and all fled out. King EDWARD
was left for his people TO take last
look
The coffin rested on a raised cata-
Galque draped in purple Wrapped
around II we're the royal standard ana
the union jack intertwined. On top
lay the crown, the scepter and the oro
the emblems OF monarchy. Day and
night the coffin was guarded pS
solemn watchers. They were compos'
ed OF members of the corps OF gentle-
men-at-arms, officers OF the First lie
guards--the leading British cavalry
regimeut--yeomen OF the guard, and
by Indian orderlies drawn from the
Ghurka regiments. Around the CONN
these watchers stood, resting on their
swords, and without the movement
Of muscle. :,
For over ten hours people from all
parts Of Engiand-drawn up in cue
several miles long-had been waiting
Tor the doors OF the hall to open. The
hour at last came around and they
filed in past the CONN, six abreast, at
the rate OF 10000 an hour.
Westminster hall has seen many
strange, many impressive scenes.
From the time that VIM. Rufus com
menced to build 1t right up to the
present day it has been almost an
embodiment of English history. On
the spot where lay the body OF King
Edward. VIM. Wallace, the hero OF
Scotland, was tried and condemned.
Lord Stanford and Charles l. both
went from the hall TO their deaths.
Warren Hastings stood seven-year
trial there and finally secured an ac-
quittaI. And right down TO 40 years
ago as the place for the holding OF
the law courts, every important trial
in England took place there For
centuries II was the scene OF the
coronation of England's kings. They
found IL the most fitting place TO cele-
bTate their festivals and give their
banquets, But yet, throughout eight
centuries the hall has never seen a
sight so impressive as that of the peo-
pie OF England filing through to pay
their last homage to the king who had
captured their imagination and their
affections.
oil fRhN
The rain poured down in deluge,
but they paid no heed. Drenched and
cold. nearly all without anything to
ear. men and women waiting for day
light to appear. Many OF them cover
ed their shoulders with newspapers
as protection against the streaming
torrents OF rain. but II was OF little
avail.
Despite all no one moved In fact,
as the night went on the line increas-
ed more rapidly than ever. People in
carriages drove up and took their
places at the end OF the line. Trades
mems carts filed with men, women
and children followed them. Work
mems trains and tramways poured
out thousands into the streets.
The crowd was thoroughly cos
mopolitan. Jews and Gentiles, In
dams, Japanese and African natives,
Germans, Frenchmen and Italians-all
were equally anxious to see the last
of the dead king.
Clergymen, business men, clerks,
soldiers and boy scouts rolled up as
ii became deylight When the doors
opened at 6 a. m. $4,000 persons were
waiting to pass In the doors.
Down the hall they passed until
they came to the Enclosure. Then the
gentlemen.at-arms and the yeomen OF
the guard, watching over the body.
took their eye. Then they saw In the
dim gray Hight the shell with huge
cruci1x at its head and the royal In
sigma on top. Around stood the
huge candelabra used in the obsequies
OF the duke of Wellington and Queen
Victoria
When they realized that they were
at last in the presence of the dead
sovereign, men gave a military salute,
women In many cases made the sign
OF the cross, The eyes OF all were
wet Only a moment were they given
I'm which to look. Then the surging
crowd behind bore them on. And thus,
for three days, the people OF Great
Britain passed by and saw the last
OF the king they almost worshiped.