Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-11-17

CROWDS THRONG
PLACE OF DEAD

Yesterday evening being the last
night when the public could visit
Kawaiahao church, as the doors close
at six this evening to prepare for
the removal OF the queens body to
the throne room, the church was
filled with visitors by O'Clock, and
a great crowd gathered in the
grounds and thronged the church
stems in a fruitless endeavor to pass
inside. Special music had been an
nounced for the evening, and it was
to wait for this music that those who
had been admitted remained IN their
seats, leaving the Unidentified visitors
who could not find shelter In the
yestibule and under the caves TO
stand in the rain or go home, as they
chose Many of them chose to 90
home, among the number being two
full classes of Hawaiian girls from
the Kamehameha schools.
Brig. Cen John p. Wiser, COM
manding the Hawaiian department,
was a special visitor to the church
last night, accompanied by several
members of his staff, the party being
placed by the ushers in special seats
near the front of the church. Capt.
Morimoto, of the Japanese navy, was
a visitor earlier in the day, when he
placed a beautiful wreath near the
foot of the bier. Several OF the
schools yesterday also sent special
offerings of flowers, beside wreaths
placed by the procession of high
school, normal and eighth grade stu
dents in the morning.
A detachment of cadets from the
Honolulu Military Academy, accom-
panied by the commissioned officers
from the school. went In body to-
lay their respects yesterday morn
ing. as did also several hundred stu.
dents from the st. Louis College for
boys. Kamehameha cadets, who Wis
tied the church in body Wednes.I
day. have been represented by spe
cial guard of honor during the hours
OF Mrs. A. P. Taylor's watch from
4 to 6 every day.
Soloists last night for the special
music were Miss Bernice Kahana-
moku. contralto, Mrs. Charles Hall,
soprano, and Senior Joaquin s. Wan
rell. baritone. Senior WanreE sang
"Aria di Chiesa Pieta Signore. The
Hawaiian quintette also gave several
songs.
The rain was not unexpected by
the Hawaiians. Many of them have
been watching and waiting for II
since the queens death last Sunday,
for it is believed by them that the
rain comes as token that the royal
dead has found favor in the heavens,
and that a place has been prepared
for the earthly ruler among the seats
of the blessed. Groups Of Hawa1ians
in the churchyard have been talking
about the expected rain all this week
This tradition about the rain upon
the dead, however, is by no means
confined to the Hawaiian race.
Blessed the dead that the rain
falleth on" is saying as old as the
English language.
Sometime this evening, probably
about O'Clock, the steel casket In
which rests the body of the queen
will be removed to the throne room
where it will be placed in the beau
tiful koa casket that has been made
for it. This casket Is now completed,
and will be on view at the Honolulu
planning Mill, 655 Fort street, from
o'clock until 4 this afternoon.
The throne room will be closed
throughout the entire evening and
night, except to the watchers and |
those whose duties require their pres.
ence with the dead.