The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1914-05-29
AN IMPOSING CEREMONY HELD
OVER BODY OF EMPRESS.
elimination of Daily Series Since
Her Official Death. Funeral Car
Drawn by White Oxen.

uar Official Death. Funeral Car
Drawn by White Oxen.
TOKIO.-A million torches and
lanterns illuminated Toxic last night
whom the body of the Empress Dow
aver Haruko was borne through the
s+raats in a beautiful funeral car
drawn bv white oxen. There had been
M pageant of such solemn grandeur
here since the funeral of Emperor
Nutsuhito. year and a half ago.
Practically the entire American
colony viewed the procession from
various points of vantage. 1t is rule
that no Japanese subjects may look
down upon a royal parsonage from
elevated points, whether the royalties
he dead or alive. In strict observ-
ance Of this, every door and window
above Tie first floors along the
funeral route was closed and dark.
End of Services.
The ceremonies were the culmina-
ton of series of services held daily
since the official death of the en-
press dowager on April Il. Her &C
tual death occurred two days earlier
at Numadzu, but tradition prescribes
that no member of the imperial fam
ilv can die outside the capital, so the
body of the empress was conveyed to
the Aoyama palace in a closed pri-
vate carriage. At the palace she of
ciallv' died few hours later.
In the six weeks since then, a spe-
cial temple was eretced on the. Yoyogi
military field, southwest of the city,
where the main funeral service was
held. In the morning the service of
installation of the spirit was per
formed with great ceremony. The
emperor, the empress, princes and
princesses of the blood were present
to pray before the shrine.
BY noon crowds, augmented by
thousands 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
imperial coffin was placed in the flu
neral car at O-alayma palace, anw the
procession formed with a large mill
tary force at its head. Amid dull
yellow and white banners and torches
came the funeral commissioners, &C
companied by their secretaries and
court servants dressed in ancient
robes. Interspersed were men bear
ing evergreen trees.
NOiseIess COrtege.
The advance of the cortege was-al-
most noiseIess, the streets having
been covered with a thick layer Of
sand. The funeral flutes were heard
as the funeral car itself approached.
1t was led by Baron Hatano, minister
of the imperial household, a striking
figure in white, whose way was en-
blazoned by torches.
Three white oxen in reserve plod-
ded ahead of the two which were
yoked to the funeral car. The car
was of cubic form, with its interior
exquisitely Iacquered, partly in black
and partly in chestnut. Bamboo
blinds hung from the square open
ings, and brass curtains from the
side The oxen were covered with
a rare white cloth and their horns
were wound with material Of the
same texture. The people bowed and
wept as the imperial hearse ad-
vanced
Later came hundreds of priests
and bearers of the court gongs and
the tambours and of many .colored
streamers and banners. The princes
of the blood, each with his retinue,
holders Of high imperial orders, lords
in waiting, members of the diet and
several regiments of military and
bodies of marines swelled the line
A sacred gateway marked the en-
trance to the temple ground. The
and empress had already ar
rived and were seated on a throne
near the principal shrine, while the
diplomatic corps, including George
w. Guthrie, the American ambassa-
dor, had also taken their places in a
reserved section.
Watch Fires Ablaze.
Standing watch fires, in imitation
of those used in the imperial court
yards in ancient days, made up Of
pine fagots, were abIaze in various
parts of the temple in iron baskets
set on tripods.
When the funeral car had been
drawn up before the chief shrine the
dirge was chanted and food offerings
were given. Other offerings included
gold brocade, damasks, silks and silk
thread, all placed in box made of
willow branches.
The emperor paid his homage by