A MOURNING MULTITUDE.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13168, 29 January 1936, Page 5

A MOURNING MULTITUDE.

SECOND EDITION

TREMENDOUS CROWDS. POLICE DIFFICULTIES. (Received 10.30 a.m.) United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON. January 28. From th*.- roof of St. George’s hospital. Hyde Park Comer, the mourning multitude was stretching as far as the eye could see along Picadilly. Hyde Park formed a sombre hackground for the cortege. Princess Margaret Rose, a sad-faced little figure in grey, watched from the purple draped balcony of her father’ home the sorrowful procession. She stood immobile for a whole hour except the moment when the gun carriage passed when she curtsied. All reverently removed their hats when they beard the moving strains ol Chopin's Funeral March and thereafter the silence was broken only by the dull tbud of inarching feet. The sun shone in full winter glory and the wet surface of the road gleamed like a mirror making a shining path for the bel o veil mon a rch. POLICE EXHORT CROWD < Received 10.-15 p.m. LONDON. January 28. Hyde Park presented an amazing spectacle as far back over the grass a mass of people stood shoulder to shoulder. Again and again the police announced through megaphones that all vantage points were full and appealed to the j>eople to seek other positions. The croud got out of control at the Marble Arch and th« police cordon was once broken and was reinforced by a Tanks Corps. The mounted troops again failed t«> withstand the pressure ot the col los sal gathering. An unbroken stream of people Tainted or crushed were conveyed to the first-aid stations. All was disorder at 10.45 a.m. when the procession began to move forward and the police broadcast repeated appeals to those in the rear of the crowd to stop the pressure and to remember that those in front were liable to serious and perhaps fatal injury. The Guards or Honour along the route were forced into a ragged line but all displayed good liumour in a most trying situation. A wonderful change fiom. disorder to order occurred just before the leader* of the procession arrived The police exhorted the crowds to remember the solemn nature of the occasion and this appeal had an immediate effect and the pressure slackened and the troops were able to reform line and obey the appropriate commands as the procession drew near.

As it was the foremost sections of the procession had barely room to pass yet the magnificent escorts did not falter. Slick a great ma«* of people liad probably not l*ei<»re been compressed jo an area of a few hundred yards. Looking from a height at this part of the route the scene will be ever memorable. A greater part ol the cortege could be seen slowly winding its way through the entire length of the Park between an unbroken mass ot people and the lilies of bare trees. Well may the Navy he proud oi th* detachment pulling the gun carriage, the rhythm and smoothness of their movements bong perfection. AT PADDINGTON STATION (Received 11 a.m.) LONDON. Jauuari N-o further incidents marked the progress oi tin procession to Paddington at which it arrived late delaying the start of the Royal Train u > 38 min ites The vast an h oi the station was draped with purple and gnat wreaths of laurels and Flanders Poppies surmounted it while long purple banners edged in white lined the approach load. The red carpet stietching across the Royal Platform w-a-s used at the funeral of Edward \ II 26 years ago. Ihe noise and hustle of the station solemnly hushed and instead ol the hurrviug throngs oi travellers an unceasing essiou oi iniiV rnied dm i and

veiled women walked slowlv to tin special trains for W riNor. The Roya! Train consisted of the same nine coa< hiwhicl brought the King's body from. Sandringham Oil each headlamp of the engine was a model ol the Imperial Crown and a draped shield hearing the Royal Coat. of Aims was placed on either side of the gleaming boiler. Princess Elizabeth, who arrived * . rly. walked to :h« platform and peeped* around to catch a glimpse of Th t . train. She was a wistful little figure in black with a black beret.