Funeral of the Queen.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 4 February 1901, Page 4

Funeral of the Queen.

Immense Floral Tribute.

[by —COPYRIGHT ]

(per press association.)

London, February 1. Tbe King privately intimated, tbat tbe clvango in the Crown will not affect the Queen’s old friends and dependents nor the ladies and gentlemen in straitened means occupying apartments by Koyal favor,

The wealth of floral tributes at Windsor is unprecedented. It is estimated that they cost £50,000. Mauritius sent a broken column of violets. Trinity House a white floral model of Eddystonc lighthouse, inscribed “Lead, kindly light!” 183 flower girls of London sent a wreath. Three children who presented a basket of flowers to the Queen on behalf of 52,000 children at Phcenix Park on the occasion of her visit to Ireland, sent a floral anchor six feet long.

A grand English service will be held to-morrow at Berne, the Cathedral of which has been lent for the occasion, the President and authorities attending in state,

The ragged boys in Dublin noticing a newspaper bill displayed on the ground, bought a penny bunch of and placed them over the word “ Queen.”

The Funeral Procession. London, February 2. It was Queen’s weather yesterday with unbroken sunshine.

There was a soul-stirring spectacle at Cowes and the Solent. Scores of thousands lined in the headlands of the Island, at Southsea Common and points of vantage in Portsmouth Harbour, and on the piers. The commoners with their wives and others invited travelled by four special trains to Southampton, the ocean liners Scot and Dunnegan Castle conveying them to the Solent. 3,soo*troops with arms reversed and bowed heads lined the streets from Trinity Pier to the Queen’s Gate, Osborne. There wore dense crowds of onlookers, After the Dean of Winchester had concluded the service at the chapel at halfpast twelve, the blue jackets acting with the Highlanders, who were the Queen’s personal servants, as bearers of the coffin, conveyed it to the khaki-colored gun carriage, which was drawn by six_ dark bay horses driven and led by artillerymen, the muzzle of the gun projecting under the platform pall, with silk edge, gold lace, and embroidered Royal Arms, at the comers of which the drooping Royal Standard partially draped was placed. At the head of the cushion with great state was the crown (not a small one) flashing with diamonds seen in the chapel. The cushion at the foot bore a sceptre and two orbs. Three mounted grooms in scarlet and detachments of military preceded the cortege.

The Queen’s equerries and aides-de-camp walked on either side of the coffin. Behind came Admiral Sir C. Seymour, Vice-Admiral Sir John Fullerton, then the Eoyal mourners walking three abreast, King Edward in the centre, the Kaiser on the right, and the Prince of Connaught on the left. The King and the Kaiser was attired in the uniforms of British Admirals, the Prince of Connaught in his military uniform. All wore the riband, star and garter. After the next two lines of Princes, according to their degree of relationship, brilliant alike in colour and decorations, walked (dressed entirely in black with long veils) Queen Alexandra, Princess Christian and Louise, also Beatrice Duchess of York, the younger Princesses, the ladies in waiting, followed by members of the household, the Kaiser’s suite, Eoyal servants, tenants and Mayors. The Queen’s company of Grenadiers escorted the procession. At the moment of starting two of the Queen’s pipers went ahead of the coffin and played “The Lament of the Blacli Watch.” Presently the pipers changed the wailing tune to “ The Flowers of the Forest.” On reaching the Queen’s Gate and ejdlring the road the pipers were silent. The massed bands, which, with forty muffled drums preceding them in the procession, played alternately Chopin's and Beethoven’s funeral marches.

The descent of the hill of Cowes was made amid the roll of the drums, while 3,500 troops' presented arms until the cortege passed, - ‘ — : —"

the church hells rang the knell, the heads of the spectators throughout were bared, and the women and children curtseyed. The women and men were moved to tears. Arrival at the Pier. On arrival at the pier the petty officers of the Alberta boro the coffin aboard through tie escort of Grenadiers amid muffled drums. As the coffin was placed in the pavilion on the quarter-deck, the King, the Kaiser, and others following, surrounding the coffin, took a last lingering look. Alexandra wept. Their Majesties the Princesses, except the Duchess of York, who returned to her husband’s bedside, proceeded to the Pinnacles by the Victoria Albert. Admiral Fullerton is in command. On Board the Alberta.

The Alberta started for Portsmouth at 3 o’clock, the massed bands on the pier playing “ Saints of God,” the Queen’s favorite hymn. The Hohonzollern and Osborne followed. At brief intervals eight destroyers in a two columns line escorted the Alberta four on either bow, the King’s flags at the masthead, the Victoria Albert alone symbolising the continuous sovereignty.

The guardship Australia opened the salute, -which was taken up by the Eodney and 60 other British and foreign warships all manned, the bands on deck playing funeral music. The minute guns momentarily breaking the strains of Beethoven and Chopin’s marches, while the yellow wreaths of smoke drifting down the line presented a vapour full of sunlight and many strange shapes and strange hues.

Passing the Alexandra, Camperdown, Rodney, Benbow, and nine others on the port side, the Alberta entered the double line of warships and the salute was continued on either side. When the flotilla neared Portsmouth the fleet ceased, but the minute guns were continued by the ships in harbor and the forts. The harbor was entered a few minutes before five, the destroyers moving in a jerky, dubitant march, looked a weird-like escort as the sun sank. Lying in Harbor. At the King’s wish the flags remain at half-mast till sunse on Monday. The coffin could be plainly seen throughout. The crossing draperies were drawn aside, The canopy was formed of Imperial ruby velvet lined wilh pure white silk. ’ The dais was covered with ruby velvet, which bore the coffin lying athwart ship. On either side were two wwamids bearing red cushions, crowns, a combination of two hues in subdued red

relieved by gold of cue crowns white lining produced a rich and solemn effect. The corners were occupied by floral anchors from the four naval commands —one of lilies, of the valley, another of n£ V n * u hlies, the third of white azaleas, and_ tbe -h arum lilies, '- bice earnatt -ns. .. _ aup=, . t camellias. _ a. cable of each anchor consisted of violets. Seen at a distance the colors suggested red, white, and blue. Among the naval Aides was _ Captain Hedworth Lambton, of Ladysmith fame. The coffin remained aboard the Alberta, which took up her moorings for the night. The naval pageant was a masterpieceof organisation—majestic, and a splendid moving spectacle. The Colonial Office announces that the representatives at the interment include the Australian Agents-General and the Countess Ranfurly.

Through the City.

London, February 3.

Visiting Kings who lodged at Buckingham Palace arrived at the Victoria Station before 11 o’clock. The King of Portugal was specially popular. The King and Queen received upwards , of 60 Royalists and foreign representatives in a magnificent pavilion erected on a platform. The procession, which had been previously organised, stretched over a distance of a mile. It started from the station at 11 30 am. Its composition represented all sections of the Army with arms reversed. 100 members each of the Volunteers and Yeomanry and 200 Colonials, including 45 officers, their brawny aun-burnt figures and khaki dress contrasting with the cloaked British soldiers and Indian and West African detachments handsomely uniformed. The procession reached Paddington Sta. tion at one o’clock, Twenty non-com-missioned officers, Guards and Household Cavalry placed the coffin in the saloon car draped in purple and white cloth. The engine was draped in purple with wreaths of white immortelles in front. Special trains had previously conveyed to Windsor the Ambassadors and members of the Ministry, the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs of London, Agents-General of the various Colonies, the Earl of Carrington, Countess Ranfurly, the leading members of the Opposition and members of tho House of Commons. At Windsor. The funeral train reached Windsor at 2 o’clock, A party of the First Grenadier Guards bore the coffin to the gun carriage drawn by eight artillery horses. Tho horses attached to the gun carriage bearing the coffin, cold with long waiting, refused to start. The drivers were afraid to coerce them lest they should overturn the coffin and regalia. The King was terribly distressed. The Naval Guard of Honor came to the rescue. Utilising the refractory horses’ traces as a rope, they after a quarter of an hour’s delay slowly drew the gun carriage to St George’s Chapel, This was one of tho most striking incidents of the day. The guns fired a salute of 81 and the service terminated about 4 o’clock with Beethoven’s march. Night Guard on the Alberta. After the Alberta had berthed at the Clarence yard adjoining the covered way in connection with the private railway station, the night guard of 100 marines took charge of the picket boats and patrolled around, barring all approach. A dozen naval officers and naval aides watched throughout the night, a sentry with reversed arms standing at the head and foot of the coffin.

On the way to London.

London, February 2,

The weather today was in striking contrast to ihat which favoured yesterday’s ceremony. Torrents of rain and heavy wind prevailed as the Royalties followed the coffin.

Passing between the line of Admirals and Commanders of the battleships, which onk part in Friday’s naval pageant, high mil tary officers, the local clergy, mayors, ecclesiastical officials, Lord Roberts, and other personages were present. Minute guns were fired and muffled bells rang as the funeral march proceeded. The coffin was placed in a draped saloon. A. carriage was attached to the engine bearing emblems. The mourning train starting at 9 o'clock preceded by a pilot engine, reached Victoria station without incident at 11, steaming into the station amid a solemn hush. All present uncovered. The minute bells, warning the Metropolis of the dead Queen’s arrival, London exhibited remarkable manifestations of grief and sympathy. From the earliest dawn all the streets leading to the line of route were filled with a silent crowd in deep mourning, hundreds of thousands from the suburbs pouring into the city. The morning broke cold and gloomy, though without rain until the procession was over. ' All the shops and hotels were closed. The solemnity and dignity of the occasion were universally observed.

The behaviour was most decorous, chough lamp-posts, railings, trees, and houses were used by thousands, says nothing, owing to the vastness of the crowd. Nevertheless, the great crowds were orderly and respectful except for a few ugly rushes at the marble arch, 38,000 troops and volunteers lined the route early. 1000 police and many ambulances were in attendance treating cases of faintings, hysteria and a few accidents which occurred. The dominant note of the decorations was the varying shades of purple, relieved by festoons of white silk, bunches of violets, laurel wreaths, and the lampposts in a part of Piccadilly wrapped in purple draperies edged with gold had a beautiful appearance, being especially lavish in the vicinity of St James’s Palace. Royal Grief and Sympathy. At 830 the King and Kaiser in the uniforms of British Field Marshals, the Queen and some of the Eoyal Princes and Princesses proceeded in pinnaces from the yachts where they had slept to the Alberta, and grouped themselyea around the coffin, The Vicar of Portia conducted a short service. Eight petty officers from the Boyal yachts carried the coffin to the train, the vicar of Portsea preceding. The crown, the globe, the standard and some wreaths were carried before the coffin.

The Victoria railway station presented an imposing appearance. Hundreds of brilliant uniforms of every nationality were there.

A Single Cheer to Roberta.

The demeanour of the crowd in London was one of silent sympathy. The only cheer was when Lord Roberts first appeared before the procession started. The German army deputation of noncommissioned officers and men rode in the rear of the funeral procession, and a multirude gathered. The Hyde Park gates closed at ten. The best view was obtained at Piccadilly. Simultaneous with the service in St. George’s Chapel, funeral services were held at nearly every church in the United Kingdom. During the funeral several of the English railways ceased running for half-an-hour. The coffin was carried in an elevated position, enabling most of the spectators to see it. The procession was cinematographed. A solemn restraint hushed the multitude, and was deeply impressive. Even the poorest wore mourning.

Sydney February 3,

Yesterday was generally observed as a day of mourning, and memorial services were held in all towns. The Governor and Minister for Defence attended the State service in the Exhibition Buildings, the choir of 2000 voices being most im pressive.

Hobart, February 3.

Business was suspended yesterday. Memorial aervices were held in all the churches. The heads of- Government attended the Cathedral.

Mourning day in Australia.

Sydney, February,

To-day was a close holiday. The city was thronged with thousands of people in mourning costume. Great congregations assembled at the various churches, where special services were held. The state memorial service was held at St Andrew’s Cathedral. Lord Hopetoun, Hon Mr Barton, Hon MrSeddon, the Admiral and the leading dignitaries were present. Tbc Archbishop delivered an address. The funeral anthem, written by Sir John Goss for the funeral of the Duke of Wellington, was sung in Queen’s Square, where the general public manifested its sorrow. The square was densely packed all the afternoon. Lord Hopetoun, Hon Mr Barton and Hon Mr Seddon and many officials were present.

Lord Hopetoun placed a wreath amongst many thousands already reposing at the foot of the statue.

4000 children sang sacred selections. The bands also played funeral marches, Hound the statue were the colours ol the various nationalities with bands oi crape across each flag.

The statue of the Prince Consort, facing the Queen’s, was garlanded with white flowers.

The bells were tolling mournfully a: day.

Mourning Day in New Zealand Wellington, February 3.

The Governor, as his Majesty’s representative, desires to express his thanks to all those who joined in a special funeral service on Saturday last, the day of the funeral of our beloved Queen. On behalf of the people of New Zealand he has informed His Majesty the King of the solemn service held and of the intense reverence shown by the whole community from all parts of the colony. The Governor has received messages expressive of the universal sorrow, showing how widespread and far reaching was the affection of the people for their sovereign. No previous monarch has over been so dear to her people as Her Majesty, whoso many quality will for ever enshrine her memory in all hearts. The Governor feels confident that the remembrance of the last fortnight in New Zealand, with all its sad associations, will for ever live in the history of the colony and the hearts of its people.—- Ranfubly.