Omaha daily bee., 1911-12-03
CREMATION OF SLAMS KING
Ceremonies Finish for the Prosres-
sive Old Sport, ChuIaIOnE-
korn.

An American observer OF the funeral
or the late ruler of Siam, King Chula-
longkorn, at Pangkolt gives many inter-
esting details of the strange ceremonies
In the st. Louis Post-Dispatch. The king
died last October and since then the body
has been lying in state in a magnificent
golden urn, incrusted with diamonds. sur
rounded by all the insignia of rank. in
the Dust Maha Prasaht or palace temple.
Representatives of every nation have
gone with offerings Of flowers and paid
their respects TO his memory, each ac-
curding to It's own mourning customs.
Tho Chinese soiemniy offered a roasted
pig gally trimmed with artificial flowers,
They also had a large collection of ninia-
ture paper houses, soldiers, motor cars
and all the other valued things of this
world, sent up in fireworks the instant
the funeral pyre was lighted.
one day our whole American commun-
ity went to the palace, placed by the
golden urn a handsome floral tribute and
we're received In audience by the new
king
During the "ly ing in state" the public
was freely admitted into the presence OF
this magnificent array Of royal splendor.
Thousands OF the common people availed
themselves OF the opportunity, each
carrying a wax taper an incense stick
and few flowers, and were received by
officials appointed for the purpose Tho
tender, loving manner in which these
offerings were presented and received
showed the devotion of all classes TO
their late king.
Preparations for the cremation were
carried on day aid night The I1hra
Meru, large central building. square in
shape and 40 feet to the tip of the spire.
was erected IN which tc creulate the
body. -Four smaller square buildings
flanked the corners and the whole was
surrounded by beautiful pavillons. The
handsomest was for the king and queen
mother, and the others for officials and
lower ranks OF society. Red and blue
cloth, gilt paper and tinsel OF all coIors,
with curtains Of cloth Of gold, made a
picture of rarest color and beauty and
grace.
The most conspicuous features of the
procession were the two gilded chariots.
These were boat-shaped, richly carved, =
gilded and thicluy set with iridescent in
OF the chariot rose graceful pyramid,
and high up at the summit was a little
pavilion. There. on the cloth OF gold, sat
the great nigh priest OF Buddhism, a
brother OF his late majesty. The second,
or funeral chariot, was larger and moro
magnificent in design. and there, under
graceful pavilion. or cloth of gold.
rested the magnificent golden funeral
urn. resplendent in precious jewels gilt
tering in the late afternoon sunshine.
Immediately behind the chariot walked
the young king, alone.
The cost Of the pyre, with all the sur
rounding payilions erected for priests and
spectators, assumes astounding proper
tlons. Only now material may be used.
Cloths OF gold and silver, precious stones,
expensive decorations OF glass, porcelain
and ivory, and innumerable wreaths OF
the finest flowers made the pyre maEni-
ficent in the extreme.
After the body Of the king had beeu
taken in great pomp to tho pyre, the in
hRbitants gathered there TO enjoy the
theaters, puppet-shows. shadow plays,
displays Of fireworks and other amuse-
ments supplied free.
body OF the dead king was transferred
from a golden urn, in which It had been
preserved, to a vessel Of copper This
was placed on a pile OF fragrant gold
tipped sticks OF wood arranged in the
center OF the pyre. A quick-burning fuse
or train Of glmpowder was laid from the
pyre 20 the pavilion occupied by the
reigning king, and just as the sun dis
appeared he lighted the fuse with holy
fire from the temple.
All the spectators favored with places
inside the inner circle then went to the
pyre. lighted candles and placed them in
the fire. Attendants constantly fousht
the flames to prevent their spreading ana
the whole structure. When
the cremation was over the ashes OF the
king were put into the golden urn again
and turned over 20 the royal family. The
ashes OF the fire were collected in spot
less muslin, placed on a golden cloth,
taken in a procession of state barges sew
eral miles down the river and there cast
into the water with great ceremony.