New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-25
Million Torches Light Way
to Imperial Funeral
Place Near Toxic.
EMPEROR ENTHRONED
IN MILITARY FIELD
Pays Last Homage by Reading
Address-CulminatiOn of Six
Weeks of Daily Services.

lanterns illuminated Toxic tonight wheh
the body Of the Empress Dowager Haruko
was borne through tine streets in beauti-
full funeral car drawn by white oxen.
There had been no pageant or such
solemn grandeur here since the funeral OF
Emperor Mutsuhito a year and haif
ago.
| Practically the entire American colony
viewed the procession from various points
Of vantage IL is a rule that no Japanese
subjects may look down upon a royal
parsonage from elevated points, whether
the royalties be dead OF alive. In strict
observance of this every door ana WIN
dow above the first floors along the funerai
route was closed and dark.
The ceremonies tonight were the cul-
mination Of a series Of services held daily
since the official death Of the Empress
| Dowager on April II. Her actual dealh
occurred two days earlier at Nuinad%u'
but tradition prescribes that no memper ol
the imperial family can die OUTSIDE inc
ca ptal so the body of the Empress was
conveyed to Toxic and driven smarti! 10
the Aoyama Palace in closed private
carriage At the palace she "ofllciaH!
died few hours later.
In the six weeks since then special
temple was erected on the Yoyosi military
field, southwest of the city. where the
main funeral service was held. In the
morning the service Of installation OF the
spirit" was performed with great cere-
mony. The Emperor, the Empress, princes
and princesses Of the blood were present
TO pray before the shrine.
BY noon crowds, augmented by thou-
sands from the country. filled the streets
The people stood for hours waiting for the
cortege. At dusk. when the illumination
Of the route had been completed the I'M
perial coffin was placed in the funeral car
at Aoyama Palace, and the procession
formed, with a large military forec at i's
head. Amid dull yellow and White pa"-
pers and torches came the funeral COM
n,issioners. accompanied by their secre-
taries. and court servants dresSeu III
/ ancient robes. Interspersed were me"
bearing evergreen trees.
The advance Of the cortess, was almost
roiseless. the streets having been covered
r,i,h a thick LAYER of sand. The funerai
flutes were heard as the funeral car i'seii
anproached. II was led by Baron Hatdio'
minister OF the imperial househoid'
striking figure in white, whose way was
/ emblazoned by torches
/ Three white oxen In reserve piouusu
ahead OF the two which were yoked 10
| the funeral car. The car was or cuoio
| form. with its interior eNquislteN
Iaonuered. partly in black and partly IT
| chestnut. Bamboo blinds hung from 'he
/ square openings and brass curtains ron
the side. The oxen were covered VII"
n rare white cloth and their horns were
wound with material of the same texture
The people bowed and wept as the I'M
peral hearse advanced.
Later came hundreds OF priests and
hearers OF the court songs and tambouis
/ and OF many colorcd streamers ana pan
rers The princes OF the blood each
with his retinue. holders Of high imperial
| orders, lords-in waiting. members OF inc
Diet and several regiments OF military
/ ard bodies Of marines swelled the Inc
| \ sacred gateway marked the entrance
TO the temple ground. The Emperor ana
Empress had already arrived and were
seated on a throne near the principal
shrine. while the diplomatic corps, IN
Guiding George w. Guthrie, the Ameri-
| can Ambassador, had also taken their
! places in reserved section.
Standing watch fires, in imitation OF
those used in the imperial court yards
in ancient days. made up Of pine fasSots'
were ablaze in various parts or the
temple in iron baskets set on tripods
When the funeral car had keen draw n
I'D before the chief shrine the dirSe was
chanted and food offerings were given.
Other offerings included gold brocade,
damasks. silks and silk thread, all placed
in n box made Of willow branches.
Tie Emperor paid his homage b. read
ing an address. Tie was followed by
others representing the court and the
empire. These over. the cErteins were
drawn before the shrine and the imperial
coffin was borne TO special train con-
yeying il IA Momoyama, near KJoto, 70
be laid away i'm a plot OF land near the
mausoleum OF the Emperor Mutsuhito.
AT the departure, cannon Numbered from
Sh;narava Bay. several miles away, and
a vast body OF mourners bowed their
last reverences.
The President OF the United states sent
a silver wreath and there were floral
/ tributes from the heads Of many other
/ nations.
In commemoration an imperial or
dinance was issued committing the pun
ishnent OF many persons serving terms
/ OF imprisonment.