The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-22
The Royal Procession From
Buckingham to Westminster
Wends Its Way Through a
ThrOng Of Cheering People.
TOMMY ATKINS is OUT.
Sixty Thousand of the Empires
Picked Men in Line.
Every Uniform Known to the
Army Is ON View.
TOMMY ATKINS is OUT.

London. June "a drab sky aud
smart showers early this morning
though they dimmed the freshness of
the lavish decorations, could not dull
the enthusiasm of the multitude which
for months had been planning to make
the 22nd of June a red letter day in
their lives Hundreds of thousands of
Americans, Germans, F'renchmen and
natives of all lands from China to
Peru Joined the hustling throug and
yielded themselves up with magniii-
cent enthusiasm to the coronation
glamOr.
The weather was about the only
thing that had not been prearranged
with exactness and it was the one
thing likely to mar or make supreme
" glorious the day that was to give
Britain new king. Fair weather had
been promised and when John Bull
looked from his window uDon leaden
skies this morning he experienced a
pang of disappointment, but this did
not dampen his spirits to a noticeable
degree. Later his stOlid optimism was
rewarded. for. as the royal coacn
bearing King George and Queen Mary
10 Westminster Abbey for their
crowning emerged from the yard at
buckingham palace, the clouds gave
way and the sun burst through in all
its glory permitting what might have
come a spectacle of splendor.
After the early morning rush of en-
fhusiasts mainly Of the humber classes
and great numbers Of ticket holders
eager to secure places of vantage
from which to witness the royal pro-
cession before the expected crowds ar
rived on the scene, there was some
falling off observed and as late as
O'Clock when the front gates at Buck
ingham palace were closed, there was
little difficulty in moving freely at any
point between the palace and West
minister Abbey. Thence forward the
crowds rapidly increased and by the
time the troops began to take up their
positions along the line of the pro-
cessional route at 1915 o'clock. there
were dense masses of spectators at
every point.
Break Through Police Lines.
The pressure became so intense at
Charine Cross and at White Hall that
the police Gordon was broken by the
surging people. With the aid of the
troops, however, the authorities soon
regained control.
The military bands were playing in
Mall, Waterloo place, Trafalgar square,
White Hail. Hyde Park corner, Par
lament square and other central
places. Gaily attired people taking
their places on the stands formed a
brilliant and lively scene, somewhat
1narred to be sure by showers which
began to fall.
General Kitchener, who was in com
mand Of the troops, and $4,000 po-
lice. hurried here and there and was
everywhere cheered. It was a great
day for Tommy Atkins Sixty thou
sand of the empires picked men lined
the professional route and as they
swung along to their assigned places
with a cock sure stride they wrunE
cheer from every spectator who had a
cheer in him. There were mounted
~
their glistening breastplates and wav-
ing plumes; mounted and unmounted
artillery, infantry in every uniform
known to the British army. Here and
there a group of the ever popular blue
jackets and scattered along the route
colonial troops in their workmen-like
Khaki, white and colored troops from
north. south, east and west along with
veterans from Chelsea hospital and
other homes for men wiz have fought
Britain's wars, though the latter were
not required to stand.
Entertained by the bands, the sight
of the troops and the scurrying about
OF officials, the crowds were well en-
gagged and before they realized it the
professions from Buckingham palace
to Westminster Abbey were getting
under way. There were three process
sions, one for the royal guests. an
other for the prince Of Wales and
members Of the royal family other
than the king and queen, AMI the I'M
perial procession.
The First Procession.
The first was made up of fourteen
dress carriages occupied by the royal
guests and the distinguished court Of
dcials and officers attached to their
staffs. The carriages were drawn by
pairs of the famous bay and black
horses from the royal stables, driven
by royal coachmen and attended by
footmen in scarlet lver.es. Trump
eters and an escort of the royal horse
guards preceded the royal guests, few
OF whom were recognized by the
crowds. The spectators, however, were
quick TO pick out John Hays Ham
mond, special ambassador from the
United states, the ENJOYS from France
and Germany and the crown princes.
Each of these was given a round of
cheers and there was a spontaneous
clapping Of hands. light rain was
falling and the carriages were closed,
but their occupants could be distin-
guished through the windows
Immediately following was the sec
ond procession, with members of the
British royal family Including the
Prince Of Wales and the Princess
Mary and their younger brothers.