The Eighth Tribe, 1976 (3. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1976-04-01 / 4. szám
April, 1976 THE EIGHTH TRIBE Page 3 REMEMBERING THE DEATH OF LOUIS KOSSUTH, MARCH 20, 1894 TURIN, ITALY Translated by Dr. György Bistey from a book written by Zoltán Vass The funeral rites for Kossuth commence on the 28th of March, 1894, in Turin. In the casket Kossuth’s head rests on Hungarian soil presented by the delegates of Monok. His heart is covered by a fragment of Rákóczi’s burial cloth. Hungarian hands are busily working on his white silk shroud with green laurels, displaying the Kossuth family’s coat of arms. Representatives and delegates are arriving from the Parliament, from the capital city Budapest, from other cities and countries, college students and private citizens arrive, about 2500 strong. On the streets of Turin Hungarian can be heard for days. The Turinians welcome the visitors witli great compassion, and on the 28th of March, 1894, hundreds of thousands join them in the funeral procession. Italy, with abundant compassion, and the city of Turin, with magnificent solemnity, turn over the remains to the Hungarians. The representative of the King of Italy, the Prime Minister, members of the Italian Parliament, generals of the army and officials of numerous Italian cities express their deep sorrow and grief by the catafalque, where the sentiments of the Italians and Hungarians become united in remembrance for the century’s outstanding champion of freedom. The surviving red-shirted heroes of Garibaldi are also present. The bullet-riddled flags of previous battles and banners of various labor forces are bowed, one by one, as they proceed by the casket. No son of a foreign country has ever been mourned in Italy as deeply as Kossuth. The pain of his loss permeates the entire civilized world. The Congress in Washington, where Kossuth w'as introduced to the law makers of the United States in 1851, upon receiving news of his death, expresses its deep sorrow and sympathy on March 23rd. Immediately after the stately ceremonies in Turin, the Hungarian delegation departs at 4:30 P.M., via special trains, in order to meet the train with Kossuth's remains at the Hungarian border. The train departs from Turin at 9:00 P.M. The caskets of Mrs. Kossuth and Vilma Kossuth are Kossuth’s Farewell to Hungary placed in separate wagons. Also on board are the two sons of Kossuth, reporters, Doctor Basso, and Kossuth’s faithful servant, Giorgio. The mass media, the Hungarian and Austrian newspapers are continually reporting every detail to their readers. Franz Joseph also reads the news and sends a personal telegram to Wekerle: I read in the paper that the remains of Kossuth are returned through Fiume. I hope that this inconsiderateness, in view of the fact that the Sovereign couple is staying in Abbázia, is preventable... Wekerle, having no alternative, designates a new' route for the convoy. During the night of March 28 and the following morning the train draped in black traverses the Italian countryside. The railroad stations along the route are also curtained in black. The train is met at each stop by thousands of Italians, led by the mayor of their town, bringing wreaths and wishing a last farewell. From noon on and through the night the procession moves through Austrian territory. Here only gendarmes are waiting; the public is not allowed to enter the stations. Csákfornya is the first Hungarian stop on the morning of March 29th at 6:00 P.M. People from nearby villages are gathering, and a new delegation arrives from Budapest. After a 30 minute stop over, some ten thousand people say silent farewells as the train moves on.
