Evening star., 1934-02-22
CONF FUSION MARKS
ALBERT'S FUNERAL
Mourners at Palace Break
Police Lines to Add to
Drama of Rites.
Continued From First Page.)

'NollbAhdNu ukNsf
beariry Albert's personal colors i'm
mediately preceded the gun carriage.
On each side walked pallbearers.
Sons March Behind Body.
A murmur of sadness ran through
the crowd at sight of the Kings favor
ite charger-the saddle empty, f1eld
boots reversed in the stirrups-im-
mediately following the coffin caisson.
Crown Prince Leopold. his younger
brother. Charles, and their brother
in-law, Prince 'Umberto of Italy,
walked close behind the familiar
charger.
Guns doomed at one-minute inter-
vals
The detonations crashed with dole
full regularity INTO what otherwise
was a nearly dead silence, marked
only by the metallic clinking of the
horses brides and an occasional sob.
There were many along the route
who cried openly-mourners who had
remained in the streets throughout
the night to hold points of vantage.
They had brought food with them.
settling down stolidly in the vicinity
of the royal palace behind the rows
of fences reared along the way.
The cathedral bell tolled as the
gun carriage approached.
A brief command rang out. Men
of military mien stepped smartly
forward. They took up the coffin. 1t
was borne slowly inside the edifice
between rows of regimental stand
ards.
Archbishop Leads Rites.
The funeral service was one of
solemn grandeur. The Archbishop of
Malines, wearing white mitre. read
prayers. The pontifical mass was
sung by the choir of Malines.
The ceremonies at ST. Gudule end
ed, a group of petty officers carried
the coffin down the stairs. They
placed it upon the gun carriage.
Headed by detachments of cavalry
and artillery. with a band playing a
solemn march. the procession moved
again-thiS time toward the final
destination.
The long cortege included men,
high court, Senators and Deputies,
clergymen and war veterans
Behind the Kings sons came Presi-
dent Albert Lebrun of France. the
Prince of Wales. King Boris III of
Bulgaria, King Christian Of Denmark,
King Prajadhipok Of Siam, Crown
Prince Gustaf Adolf, heir to the
Swedish throne: Crown Prince Olaf
of Norway. Prince Consort Henry of
Holland Prince Consort Felix of Lux
emburg, Prince Nicholas of Rumania
and Prince Carl of Sweden, father
Of Crown Princess Astrid.
United States Ambassador In Line.
Directly behind these Kings and
princes came the foreign diplomats.
including Ambassador Morris of the
United States. the provincial gov
ernors and representatives of learned
societies and other civilian bodies.
Amid salvo of l0l guns. the tolling
Of hundreds of bells and the clatter
Of escorting cavalry. the coffin was
brought up the narrow, winding
streets on the caisson to the main
entrance to the massive old gothic
SdlAit0l al VI 81 SuOult.
The three front gates. as we'll as
side entrances to the great edifice.
were draped in black and silver. with
the Kings coat-of-arms emblazoned
upon each.
A dense crowd 200 yards deep was
jammed behind wooden barriers and
on balconies and windows en- route
to each entrance to the cathedral.
Waiting at the entrance at the nave
OF the cathedral, the cardinal and the
Archbishop of Malines, with the papal
nuncio, preceded the coffin to the
high catafalque draped with the ma
tional colors.
A triple row of candelabra were
ranged around the catafalque. Five
rows of candle pyramids Illuminated
the altar.
In the upper choir. to the right and
left, were the thrones of the royal
family. Here. for the first time. the
pold III tomorrow, took the seat Of
his father.
Close to the throne were grouped
foreign Kings and princes.
After the benediction the national
anthem was played by the band OF
the LIST Grenadiers.
Body Taken TO Laeken.
When the services were ended the
coffin was conveyed back to the en-
trance gates and the procession moved
Slowly over the 2-mile route for the
private burial at Laeken. passing in
front of the Tomb of the Unknown
Soldier.
Princes and Kings, who followed
the body on foot to the cathedral, rode
to Laeken in carriages.
Groups of veterans, many in worn
and faded uniforms. some sobbing
stood with heads bowed along both
sides of the streets to the site of the
royal castle
In front of the little church al
Laeken foreign military detachments
paraded. followed by Belgian soldiers
with flags flying and bands playing
There was last benediction in the
family crypt.
Schools, shops and places of busi-
ness generally were closed as Belgium
paid its last tribute to her King.
Throng Sets Record.
Brussels was thronged with peas
ants and laborers from all sections
of the nation. A so per cent reduc-
tion in railroad fares for war veterans
and groups of 25 or more and week
end rates to all other passengers re-
suited in perhaps the greatest influx
of visitors the city ever had.
Thousands of French were here, too
| in a demonstration of the close rela-
tionShip between the two nations
President Lebrun and Premier CASTOR
Doumergue. who had been here once
before earlier in the week, supplic
with other French political and mill
tary leaders the largest foreign dele
CATION of the day.
! With the Prince of Wales from,