Welsh Newspapers

Search 15 million Welsh newspaper articles

Hide Articles List

8 articles on this Page

TI - LONDON'S SORROW, i -I

DEPARTURE FROM OSBORNE. I

ARRIVAL AT LONDON. I

THE SCENE AT WINDSOR.I

News
Cite
Share

THE SCENE AT WINDSOR. I SAILORS AND THE GUN CARRIAGE. I At Faddington the body was again entrained, and, upon reaching Windsor, the procession was once more marshalled. Just as the head of the cortege had moved forward, a hitch occurred, which, in the light of what it led to, must not be called unfortunate. The artillery horses made a start, but it was only a step or two. One of them refused to budge further, and became quite un- manageable, threatening to overturn the limber, and even endanger the coffin. The moment was a disquieting one. Everyone was nonplussed, when the Navy once more came to the assistance of the Royal Artillery. Someone-it is said Capt. Lambton—suggested that the sailors should take the piace of the horses. The King commanded that this should be done. The sailors piled their arms while the horses were unharnessed and taken I away. The traces and rear drag ropes were hastily patched together by the seamen, who ex- hibited again their remarkable readiness of re- source. Pieces of rope were furnished from the station stores, and in rough fashion the men were able to harness themselves to the gun carriage. The band, which had begun to play but had stopped, resumed, and slowly the funeral pro- cession moved out into the street. The delay had been considerable. It was half-past two before the roll of the muffled drums sounding, for the second time, the prelude to Chopin's beautiful music, gave warning that the procession was once again moving. The procession at Windsor differed from that in London, inasmuch as all were on foot. Most of the cloaks wer- open and shewed the rich uniforms underneath, crossed with ribbons and adorned with stars and medals. When the sailors dragging their burden came out of the station exit, it is no exaggeration to say that the spectators held their breath in surprise. No one, except those who had been about the platform, knew of the cause of their appearance engaged in such an honoured task, and it was whispered about that the innova- tion was a splendid idea. Had the horses been there, they would have been accepted as quite natural, but now with these wiry sailors dressed in blue with straw hats, and no glitter of personal adornment on their simple uniform, it was uni- versally felt that nothing finer could have been done to gratify the Navy and the nation. The daughter of a long line of sea Kings, herself a lover of the sea, was being taken to her tomb by the men of her own Royal Navy. The sight was one which moved men and women alike to tears. Following behind came the King, the Emperor, and the other Royal mourners. Amid a silence broken only by the loud report of the minute guns fired in the Long Walk, the procession passed along the crowded ways. Entering the Castle grounds at the Home Park gates, it went slowly on through the crowds of awe-struck children to the George IV. Gateway, diagonally across the quadrangle, and round by the Norman Keep of the Castle. As it progressed, one could hear at intervals the strains of the bands, dying away and then coming clearer as the streets were left and the Castle entered. ThA picture it made as it advanced from behind the Cloister end of the Chapel can only be sug- gested. There was a solemn beauty, a simplicity in it which was majestic. The King looked care- worn and grieved. The Emperor walked with soldierly erectness, glancing only now and then at the various troops as he passed. King Leopold leaned heavily nearly all the way on a strong walking-stick. The escort had formed up in front of the guard-room, the roof of which was crowded, and the gun-carriage went on to the steps of the church, where the non-commissioned officers removed the coffin and carried it within. The sailors moved the carriage away, and then Emperor, and Kings, and Princes followed the bearers up the wide flight, with its load of mag- nificent wreaths, and into the Chapel. The ser- vice was conducted by the Archbishop- of Canter- bury and the Bishop of Winchester. The service itself was impressive in its simple beauty, and for those who could not hear the spoken words the music was an eloquent expression of feeling. The following is the official programme:-The Sen- tences (Croft). Psalm xc. (Felton). The Lesson. "Man that is born" (S. S. Wesley), "Thou knowest, Lord" (Purcell); these two, though part of the Service, are really anthems. "The Lord's Prayer" (Gounod), "How blest are they" (Tschaikowsky), between the two Collects after Lord's Prayer. "How blest are they whom Thou hast chosen, and taken unto Thee, 0 Lord. Their memorial is from generation to generation: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!" After Garter's Proclamation. Anthem, "Blest are the departed" ((Spohr). Funeral March (Beethoven). Memorable and imposing was the form in which Norroy King of Arms, as Deputy to Garter Prin- cipal King of Arms, standing at the foot of the coffin, proclaimed the style of her late Majesty as follows -Thus it hath pleased Almightv God to take out of this transitory life unto His Divine mercy the late Most High, Most Mighty, and Most Excellent Monarch Victoria, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Queen, Defender of the Faith, Em- press of India, and Sovereign of the Most Noble I Order of the Garter. Let us humbly beseech Almighty God to bless with long life, health and honour, and all worldly happiness, the Most High, Most Mighty, and Most Excellent Monarch our Sovereign Lord Edward, now, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India, and Sovereign of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. God save the King." In every heart there was an echo of thought that almost sprang to speech—"God save the King." And so the solemnity was at an end. The King, who had borne himself throughout with calm courage and self-restraint, motioned to the German Emperor at his side. With the Duke of Connaught, they passed on the north side of the hearse in the direc- tion of the Albert Chapel. There, above the spot where lie the ashes of her ancestor King Henry VIII., of Jane Seymour his wife, and of King Charles I., remained for a little while all that was mortal of the great and good Victoria. Later on the Albert Chapel was to be the halting place.

ITHE WORLD'S LAMENT.

ISUNDAY AT WINDSOR.

I INCIDENTS OF SATURDAY. I

CHESTER'S SORROW.