Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-12-14
George V. of England Becomes
Emperor of India.
MAKES DELHI CAPITAL CITY
100000 Persons, Represe nting 300 Mil
lion Subjects, Cheer Gorgeous Dur
bar Ceremony-PIaeue Suffer.
ing Apparently Forgotten.

Delhi, India, Dec 13.-Tn the pres
ence Of 100000 persons, representing
some 30G,GC0,0C0 subjects, $50 native
rulers knelt in homage to the head of
the alien house of Hanover and SAKE
Coburg, and midas vessalage to Great
Britain was again formally proclaimed
to the world
Amid scenes of barbaric pomp and
magnficence, unequaled in the history
of India, in the great arena where
Queen Victoria was proclaimed en-
press by Viceroy Lord Lytton IN 1877,
and where King Edward was pro-
claimed by Niceroy Lord CurZon in
1903, King George V.-the first reign.
ing sovereign to visit the far east
announced his own succession to the
imperial throne.
So pleased was King George with
his reception here that he announced
the removal of the capital of India
from Calcutta to Delhi
The fact that every week more than
5000 natives are dying from plague,
that hundreds of thousands are on the
verge of starvation, and that the spirit
of sedton abroad in the land is re-
pressed only by England's strong dis
play of force was apparently forgot
ten for the moment.
The booming of an imperial salute
announced the approach of the en-
peror and empress. The royal carriage
drawn by four magnificent horses was
almost hidden from view by the gayly
caparisoned escort
Carriage after carriage with mem
bers Of the suite followed the imperial
pair The guard presented arms and
the bands burst into the royal anthem
The combined professions proceeded
slowly to the great central tent where
their majesties stood to receive hom-
age and congratulations OF the govern
ors. ruling princes and other repre-
sentative of British India,
When this gorgeously uniformed
line had filed past the imperial and
vice-regal parties appeared before the
theater. When they took their seats
on the crimson dais the strains of the
national anthem were heard and the
people arose as one person and stood
in profound silence.
1t was a pretty group around the
four thrones of the emperor, the EN-,
the back of which the imperial and
vice-regal staffs and the imperial cadet
corps, and scions of princely families.
formed in rank.
The first formal act of the ceremony
was performed by the foreign secre-
tary, who advanced to the dais and
asked p omission of the emperor to
open the 1urbar At his signal long
roll from the drums and a thrilling
call from the bueles were sounded,
followed by a triumphant peal of
music from the bands Then a note
from the heralds' silver trumpets rang
over the plain.
Then Brigadier General Payton, ap-
pointed Delhi herald of arms extra
ordinary" for the occasion, stepped
forward in all his glory of heraldic
tabard and trappings and amid dead
silence read the kings imperial proc
lamation At the conclusion of his
task he swung lis plumed hat in the
air and called To- cheers for the king.
emperor, a demand which was readily
complied with by the complaisant as
semblage, and while the troops came
to the royal salute, the lions ana
leopards of England royal stan
dard-was unfurled and the artillery
fired salute of 101 guns.
The king then read a short speech,
which was promptly translated into
Hindustani by an alert interpreter.
and after another fanfare the native
rulers advanced to render homage
Preceded by Niceroy Lord Harding. the
Nizam of Haiderbad as premier Mo
hammedan power of India, advanced
first to take the oath of allegiance, and
then in succession came the rulers of
the great feudatory states of Bardoa,
Mysore, Kashmir. Patiala, Jaipur,
Travancore, Benares and many more.
The Geakwar of Baroda was the
center of attention, in the first group,
and European heholders gasped with
amazement at the amount of jewels he
wore Reliable estimates of the value
of the gems sported by this powerful
Mahratta chieftain placed the figure at
81 900 600
Then after more fanfares the king
and queen made their way to the
ra{eod nlatfOrm within view IF tina
vast throng assembled in the outet
amphitheater Here the royal couple
stood Harvard to receive the cheers of
their native subjects, Amid more
booming of artillery. the procession
back to the camp was formed, and the
great durbar was over.