Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-02-08
QUEEN MOTHER
BURIED while
SPAIN MOURNS
Great Throng Views
Last Rites; King AL
fonso, Her Son, Is
AT

MADRID, Feb. S.--lP-While all
Madrid mourned, the body Of Queen
Mother Maria Christina Of Spain,
who died Wednesday, was Inferred
today in a tomb close 10 that of her
husband, Alfonso XII, in the monas-
terry OF the historic Escorial.
While the ceremony was in prog
ress flags with mourning bands
were hoisted on all public buildings
and volleys Of artillery were fired.
From early morning great crowds
had assembled about the royal pal
ace and along streets leading to the
station from which the body was
sent to the Escorial.
King Alfonso Present
Only the palace personnel and
Sher officials made up the main
funeral cortege which was thanked
by officers in full uniform. At the
railroad station Premier Primo de
Rivera, with members Of his gov
eminent and the diplomatic corps
stood by while the coffin was placed
upon the train.
King Alfonso. son OF the Queen
Mother, and Queen Victoria, took
part In the ceremony throughout.
Upon arriving at the door OF the
41G0AAGA TIE UGUV Was taken lEOU
the funeral coach by hereditary roy
al huntsmen Of Espinoza who de-
livered IL 70 the esquires Of Casa Y
Voca. 1t was carried by Spanish
Rrandees to the platform in the ba-
silica where Augustine fathers took
charge Of il.
Coffins Sealed
The two collins. one of mahogany
and one Of lead in which the body
reposed, were sealed. A response
was sung as the escort entered the
basilica. Then the coffin was placed
upon the catafalsue and a mass vas
sung.
Afterwards the escort passed On
to the Pantheon OF the Kings where
the receiving vault was opened by
the Augustine Fathers. the Duke Of
Sotomayor and the minister of JUS
tice. The body was placed within
the vault.
A series of political events in her
country, Austria, which threw
certain responsibilities and interna-
tional duties upon her, caused Maria
Christina, queen dowager of Spain,
to come out of a life of s~eclusion
upon which she entered and eventu-
ally resulted in her marriage to King
Alfonso XII of Spain. IL vas her
intention, il was said, to take the full
vows of a nun, wehn international
and political events interviewed and
made il incumbent upon her to leave
the convent.
The married life OF the royal cou-
pie continued for only six years, be-
ing terminated by the death Of King
-- VII A~L-. o. 1GkE III
young queen was confronted by a
serious situation because Of dissen-
sions in Spain and trouble in the
dependencies. then located in the
Atlantic and Pacific. Still more
serious, however, in the eyes Of the
Spanish people, was the fact that
there was no male heir 20 the throne.
This apprehension was removed with
the birth Of the present ruler, King
Alfonso XIII, on May IL. 1856. six
months after the death OF his father.
Ruled For Son
Upon the death OF her husband,
Maria Christina assumed the regency
of Spain and ruled the country until
May, 1902, when her son reached the
legal z at which he could be en-
trusted with the rule Of the mon
archy and assembled the throne. Dur
ing the regency the queen was aid
ed by Antonio Canovas del Castillo
and Praxedes Mateo Sagasta. conser-
vative and liberal prime ministers,
respectively. The 16 years OF the
regency was marked by almost con-
tinual internal troubles in Spain and
disturbances and revolutions in the
colonial possessions. Papal protec-
tion was promised 10 the queen and