THE LATE QUEEN.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 31, 6 February 1901, Page 2

THE LATE QUEEN.

SENSATIONAL INCIDENT AT THE FUNERAL. PLUNGING HORSES. KING AND KAISER IN DANGER. A DUKE SNUBBED.. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Received 7.55 p.m., Feb. 5. London, Feb. 4. Tlie incident which occurred at Windsor during the funeral of the late Queen is shown by fuller information to have been a sensational affair. The horse that was on the off-side, nearest the gun-carriage, suddenly became restive. The driver, an experienced man, was unable to control the horse. It kicked furiously, and eventually caught its hind legs in the pole bar, The animal was thrown te its knees. The traces were twice smashed. The whole team of horses were removed. Then another horse, ridden by a stan-dard-bearer, was startled by the boonNof the minute guns at Windsor Park. The animal plunged furiously close to the King and Kaiser. Two officers of the German suite rushed forward ard seized the bridle, averting further danger. The Duke of Orleans arrived at Brussels, intending to attend the funeral, but King Edward and the Kaiser intimated that they did not desire his presence in England. King Leopold objected to the Duke of Orleans’ presence in Brussels, and he left there immediately. Fine weather permitted the mourners to walk from Windsor to Frogmore via the Sovereign’s Drive and Long Walk. King Edward, the Kaiser, the Kings of Portugal and Belgium, the Grand Duke Michael, members of the Royal Family, and most of the foreign princes participated in the walk. Her Majesty Queen Alexandra and all the princesses were dressed in deepest black and were heavily veiled, the Queen leading Prince Edward. Thousands of spectators were present until the cortege entered Frogmore grounds. At Winchester the Dean of Windsor officiated, and the choir of St. George’s Chapel rendered the music. The scene was one not to bo forgotten for solemnity and pathos. THE CLOSING SCENE. SILENT, MOTIONLESS ONLOOKERS. EARTH FROM HOLY LAND. THE LITTLE PRINCE IN'SAILOR COSTUME. “ SLEEP THY LAST SLEEP 1” By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Received Feb. 6, 12.17 a.ni. London, Feb. 5. Detachments of the Life Guards and Grenadier Guards watched the coffin since Saturday. The Royalties attended the service held early in the morning, The bands at three in the afternoon played Chopin’s funeral march as the coffin on a gun-carriage, drawn by eight horses, moved away. The mourners slowly crossed the Castle quadrangle, emerging in a few minutes at . the George IV. Gateway. Meanwhile the Sebastopol Bell in the Round Tower tolled.

The artillery in the Park fired a final salute.

Black masses of silent, motionless onlookers behind the lines of dismounted Guardsmen, in scarlet cloaks and white plumes, lined the route, reverently uncovered. The fact that the mourners walked from the Castle to Frogmore added simplicity to the impressiveness of the spectacle. One of its most touching features was the little Prince Edward in sailor’s costume.

At half-past three tho private drive to Frogmore Mausoleum was entered, and the coffin disappeared from public view. Guardsmen acted as bearers. The last offices of the dead were strictly private. At the words in the burial service, “ Wo commit her body to the ground,” Lord Edward William Pelham Clinton, Master of the Queen’s Household, dropped thrice on the coffin some earth taken from above the Garden of Gethsemane on the occasion of the Kaiser’s late visit to the Holy Land. The choir sang “Sleep Thy Last Sleep.” There was no procession. On returning the mourners drove to Windsor Castle. THE KING’S MESSAGE. A GREAT INHERITANCE. LOYALTY OF THE COLONIES. [By Telegraph—Press Association.] Wellington, last night. The following message was received to--night by His Excellency the Governor from the King : “To my people beyond the seas : The Countless messages of loyal sympathy which I have received from every part of my dominions over the seas testify to the universal grief in which the whole Empire now mourns my beloved mother. “In the welfare and prosperity of her subjects throughout Greater Britain the Queen ever evinced a heartfelt interest. She saw with thankfulness the steady progress which, under a wide extension of self-government, they had made during her reign. She warmly appreciated their unfailing loyalty to her throne and person, and was proud to think of those who had so nobly fought and died for the Empire’s cause in South Africa.

“ I have already declared that it will be my constant endeavor to follow tho great example which has been bequeathed to me. In these endeavors I shall have a confident trust in the devotion and sympathy of the people and of their several representative Assemblies throughout my vast colonial dominions.

“ With such loyal support I will, with God’s blessing, solemnly work for the promotion of the common welfare and security of the great Empire over which I have now been called to reign. “ Signed—

“ Edward R. and E.I. “Windsor Castle, 4th February.”

LORD RANFURLY’S ANSWER, AN APPROPRIATE REPLY." By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, last night. Lord Ranfurly’s reply to tho King was as follows: “ New Zealanders desire to humbly thank His Majesty for his gracious message, and to assure him that, come weal or woe, they will ever be ready to prove by action their (rue loyalty to His Majesty and the Empire to which they are proud to belong."