THE LATE MR. O’HIGGINS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3666, 16 July 1927, Page 4

THE LATE MR. O’HIGGINS

EMOTIONAL SCENES.

London, July 13

Dublin was a hushed city on the occasion of Mr. O’Higgins’s funeral. Similar scenes have not been witnessed since Collins was buried. All business was suspended.

The body was taken last night from the Mansion House to St. Andrew’s Church, in the vicinity of which vast crowds had gathered in the early morning. Many laboured under intense emotion, while solemn Mass for the dead was celebrated. It was a most impressive service.

Crowds lined the route to Glass Nevin Cemetery. Thousands were marshalled in procession ready to take their places immediately the coffin was placed on the gun caniage It is estimated that 500,000 watched the funeral, men and women weeping openly. Half a million mourners with bowed heads watched the gun carriage, draped with the Free State Hag, bear the body of the late Mi. O’Higgins to the grave. There were two miles of drawn blinds. Fashionable women knelt in the muddy streets, praying beside the poorest as the cortege, which was a mile long, passed by. Scores fainted. Three hundred black-cassocked priests chanted the Requiem at St. Andrew’s Cathedral. Arbishop Byrne was the celebrant. The crowded congregation included the ma jority of the Irish Bishops, members of' the Dail, Mr. Healy (Gov-ernor-General), and Mr. Cpsgrave (President). Requiem Mass was celebrated at Westminster 'Cathedral, at winch Mr. Winston Churchill, Sir Austen Chamberlain, Sir Arthur Balfoui, and Mr. L. S. Amery attended.