The Bismarck tribune., 1925-11-27
QUEEN MOTHER
ALEXANDRA IS
LAID AT REST
Winter Covers Casket With
Flcecy Blanket As 1t Is
Taken to tho Abbey
NATION IN MOURNING
Body Will BE Buried in Pri.
yate Royal Chapel at
Windsor Tomorrow

LondOn, NOV. 27.-AJ-Wlnter,
reaching out an icy hand, laid q tri-
butte on the bier Of the gentle Alex
andra, England's queen mother, to-
day. covering her casket with fleecy
blanket Of snow as it was trundled
on a gun carriage from the chapel
royal in st. James palace to West
minister Abbey. where the simplest
of funeral services was held.
Thus the sea kings daughter de-
parted from the capital of her adopt
ed empire as she had entered it. for
the snow was also falling On that dis
tant day, 62 years ago, when she came
from Denmark to be the bride of Ed
ward VII.
Close behind the caskct. walking
along with bowed head, came her son,
the King Of England, mutfled in a
. great coat and wearing the plumed
hat Of field marshal.
Abreast behind this solitary figure
came the monarchs Of Belgium, Nor
way and Denmark, and back Of them
the Prince Of Wales and his brothers.
and the crown princes of Rumania,
Sweden, Denmark. Norway and Bel
gium. with Lord Laccllcs and other
mobiles who have married into the
royal family.
In Dress Uniforms
Under gray coats these royal fig
urcs wore the dress uniforms of the
ranks they hold either in the army
or navy of Great Britain. but of the
uniforms only the gold braided hats
relieved the austerc shades Of the
suneral procession. There was but a
single other spot Of color AleXan-
dra's own royal standard, with which
the casket was drapcd.
At the boom of Il gun marking |
o'clock. the caskct was brought from
the chapel royal and placed on the
sane gun carriage used ut the fun
erals of Queen Victoria and Edward
VII. The equerries of her majesty
took their places on the carriage and
at word of command the escorting
companies of guards fell into step;
King George emerged from the palace
md the procession began it's measur-
ed march through the Mall, Trafal-
gar Square. and White Hall.
Handkerchiefs found the eyes of
many and sobs were heard in the
ranks OF the thousands who had
waited for hours in the cold and wet
for among them were some who had
seen Alexandra pass up and down the
same streets under clearer skies and
in happier circumstances.
Placed On Catafaique
The soft. slow music, to the cadence
of which the procession moved, was
stopped as the gun carriage reached
the entrance Of the abbey, and the
coffin was carried into the darkened
building on the broad shoulders OF
eight guardsmen who placed it upon
Il catafalque, before the high altar.
In the abbey waiting the arrival OF
the procession was Queen Mary
dressed in deep black, her face Gov.
cred with a heavy veil, and around
her were the queens of Spain, Nor.
way and Belgium, Princess Mary, the
Duchess of York and several scores
Of relatives. The queen and her par
ty had driven directly from the pal
ace, arriving more than half an hour
SScfore the funeral procession.
Queen Mary visibly Affected
Queen Mary was visibly affected
throughout the service. She raiseC
her handkerchief to her eyes wher
the caskct was brought into the alb.
hey and several times found 1t i'm.
possible to continue in the singing OF
the hymns.
The Archbishop Of Canterbury read
the service, the lessons and the col.
lcct. before which the hymns were
sung. A short blessing, as the whole
congregation knelt. followed the last
hymn and the quiet funeral rites
were ended with "God Save the King
The king left his place, followed
by the queen and other royalties, to
the strains of Chopin's funeral
march, and after their withdrawal
the congregation departed silently
leaving the caskct on the catafalque
':aIone before the altar Of the great
church. AS the building was emptied
the sun suddenly shone forth, its
rays streaming through the windows
and playing over the bier.
Many Pay Tribute
At p. M. the doors Of the Abbey
were again opened and a long pro
cession began of those of the gen
eral public desirous of paying tribute
to the dead queen for the last time.
The coffin, after remaining in the
abbey all of tonight, will be carried
tomorrow morning to Windsor fol
burial in the private royal chapel.