A Reuters report carried by The Freeman’s Journal captures the shock and sadness in Sarajevo following the murders of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife:
BOSNIAN CRIME
ROYAL REMAINS REMOVED FROM SARAJEVO
Sarajevo, Tuesday
The bodies of the Archduke and his consort after being embalmed yesterday morning were ceremoniously blessed by Archbishop Stadler, and then officially identified. The coffins were then closed, locked and sealed, and placed in the first floor of the Konak where they rested on a catafalque, surrounded by foliage, plants and candles. The sombre decorated room was filled with wreaths. During the afternoon continuous streams of officers and civilians came to pray.
At six o’clock the coffins were again blessed, and the soldiers on duty before the Konak attended prayer, while a military band played the national anthem. The coffins were then carried by non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the 84th Regiment to the hearse, and as the procession to the strains of the dead march moved off, a salute of twenty-one guns was fired from the yellow Bastion on the Apjpel quay and in Franz Joseph Park. Great crowds had assembled, and every head was bared as the cortege passed.
At half-past seven the procession arrived at the station, and the coffins were placed in a funeral coach, the battalions massed outside the station, firing volleys...
Crowds pray on the scene of the murder
Striking scenes were witnessed this afternoon during the loyal demonstrations in honour of the Austrian Imperial family organised by the Croatian and Moslem youth of the town. Long processions, carrying black flags and portraits of the Emperor, and the Archduke and his consort, made their way through the streets, and were joined by large crowds. Enthusiastic patriotic speeches were made, and at the spot where the murders took place crowds knelt down and prayed for the life of the Emperor and for the souls of the late Archduke and his wife.
Later on, unfortunately, anti Servian demonstrations caused the troops to enter the town and martial law to be proclaimed. The crowds, however, quietly dispersed.
Two bombs were thrown during the day, but no damage was done, and only one person was slightly injured. The instigators of the assassination plot have not yet been discovered, but it is suspected that the criminals had accomplices. The town at present is perfectly quiet.
Callous attitude of the murderer
Both Gabrinovic, who threw the bomb which missed the Archduke and Duchess, and Prinzip, who fired the fatal shots, adopt a very cynical attitude, and do not show the least remorse. On the contrary, they rejoice at the success of their attempt. They refuse to answer most questions, but do not deny that they received the bombs from Belgrade, ostensibly from two comitadjis. They also now acknowledge that they acted in consort, and had agreed, if one of the men failed, that the other was to continue their work.
According to a report from the Nevesinjre, the President of the Servian Radical Opposition group in the Bosnian Diet, M. Athanasia Sola, has been arrested while he was inciting the people there.
Anti-Servian demonstrations are reported from Mosyar and Zubanja.
The Freeman’s Journal, July 1st, 1914
