The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, January 23, 1901, Page 1

OLUME LXXXIX. SAN FBANCiSCO, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1901. PRICE FIVE CENTS. HE SOEEN A E TUILERIES ON EARM OF NAPOLECSN I85S THE OUEEN LEAVING VICTORIA’S SREENHITHE FOR GERMANY.TRG> EIGN ENDS AND EDWARD VII IS KING Peacefully and Without Pain the Royal In- valid at Osborne Relinquishes Her Hold Upon Life. OWES, Isle of Wight, Jan. 23.—Queen Victoria is dead, and Edward VII reigns. The greatest event in the memory of this generation, the most stupendous change in existing conditions that could possibly be imagined, took place quietly, almost gently, upon the eve of the anniversary of the death of the Queen’s father, the Duke of Kent. ; The end of this career, never equaled by any woman in the world's history, came in a simply furnished room in Osborne House. This most respected of women, living or dead, lay in a great four-posted bed and made a shrunken atom whose aged face and figure were a cruel mockery of the fair girl who in 1837 began to rule over England. Around her were gathered almost every descendant of her line. Well within view of her dying eyes there hung a portrait of the Prince Consort. It was he who designed the room and every part of the castle. In scarcely audible words the white-haired Bishop of Winchester prayed beside her as he had often prayed with his sovereign, for he was her chaplain at Windsor. ~ With bowed heads the imperious ruler of the German empire and the man who is now King of Eng- land, the woman who has succeeded to the title of Queen, the Princes and Princesses and those of less than royal designation, listened to the Bishop’s prayer. . Six o'clock passed. The Bishop continued his intercession. One of the younger children asked a question in shrill, childish treble and was immediately silenced. The women of this royal family sobbed faintly and the men shuffled uneasily. At exactly half-past 6 Sir James Reid held up his Bead and the people then knew that England had lost her Queen. The Bishop pronounced the benediction. The Queen passed away quite peacefully. who mourning went to their rooms. She suffered no pain. Those were now A few minutes later the inevitable element of materialism stepped into this pathetic chapter of international history, for the court ladies went busily to werk order- ing their mourning from Londeon. The wheels of the world were jarred when the announcement came, but in this palace at Osborne everything pursued the usual course. Down in the kitchen they were cooking a huge din- ner for an assemblage the like of which has seldom been known in England, and thedininer prep- arations proceeded just as if nothing had oceurred. The body of Queen Victoria was embalmed and probably will be taken to Windsor on Sat- The coffin arrived last evening from London. « An incident characteristic of the Queen’s solicitude for others occurred two days ago, when, in one of the intervals of consciousness, she summoned strength to suggest to her dressers who had been acting as nurses to take urday. the opportunity of getting some fresh air. hat her little Pomeranian spaniel be brought to her bedroom. It was thought that the Queen was dying about g in the morning, and carriages were Osborne Cottage and the rectory to bring all the Princes and Princesses and the Bishop of Winchester to her bedside. Monday she asked t sent to It seemed then very near the end, but when things looked the worst the Queen had one of the rallies due to her wonderful constitution, opened her eyes and rec- the Prince of Wales, the Princesses and Emperor William. servants, a member of the household. ognizec faithful She asked to see one of her He hastened to the room, but before he got there the Queen had passed into a fitful sleep. “our o'clock marked the beginning of the end. Again the family were summoned, and this time the relapse was not followed by recovery. The Prince of Wales was very much affected when the doctors at last informed him that his mother had breathed her last. Emperor William, himself deeply affected, did his best to min- ister comfort to his sorrow-stricken uncle, whose new dignity he was the first to acknowledge. From all parts of the world there are still pouring into Cowes messages of condolence. They come from crowned heads, millionaires, tradesmen and paupers, and are variously addressed to the Prince of Wales and the King of England. ; Emperor William’s arrangements are not settled. His yacht will arrive here to-day (Wed- nesday), but it is believed that he will not depart until after the funeral. Several other royal per- sonages are likely to be present at the function. The record of the last days of the reign of Victoria is not easy to tell. For several weeks the Queen had been failing. On Monday week she summoned Lord Roberts and asked him some very searching questions regarding the war in South Africa. OnTuesday she went for a drive, but was visibly affected. On Wednesday she suffered a paralytic stroke, accompanied by intense phy- sical weakness. It was her first illness in all her eighty-one years and she would not admit it. Then her condition grew so serious that, against her wishes, the family were summoned. When they arrived her reason had practically succumbed to paralysis and weakness. The events of the last days, described in the bulletins, are too fresh to neetl repetition. At the lodge gates the watchers waited nervously. Suddenly along the drive from the house came a horseman who cried “The Queen is dead” as he dashed through the crowds. Then down the hillside rushed a myriad of messengers, passing the fateful bulletin from one to another. Soon the surrounding country knew that a King ruled over Great Britain. The local inhabitants walked as if in a dream through the streets of Cowes, but they did not hesitate to stop to drink the health of the new monarch. S The news was received with the greatest sorrow at Balmoral, Windsor and Eton, where Queen Victoria was regarded in a specially personal manner by the inhabitants. Princess Beatrice telegraphed the tidings to former Empress Eugenie at Farnsborough. et <HRISTIAN, !Q“l'.hl“ MARRIAGE OF PRINCESS LOUISE AND THE MARQUIS NEW COLouR ©OF LORNE, I871 S [CAM foe BRON) FIGH. THE QUEEN PRESENTING THE 79 W DERS AT PARKHURST, ISLE fif‘wuau'.x.ra i THE LATE QUEEN VICTORIA . + LONDON, Jan. 23.—The ccronation of the King, who Wwill assume the title of Edward VII, will not take place for six months, though he will take the oath to-morrow. The following semi-official an- nouncement has been madevin the Westminster Gazetfe: “We understand that the privy council, at which the King will take the oath of accession, will not i be held at Osborne, but at London, and that his Majesty will start at once fo~ the capital.” s L o e T e e e o B e 9 e Parliament Is ONDON, _Jan. 23 1:01 a. m.— Absolute stlerice - refgned to- night in the vicinity of Buck- ingham Palace and Marlbor- ough Hcusc. A small bill, signed “Balfour.”” was posted outstde - announcing ~the “de- mise of the Queen. Every- where to-night the toplic of conversation was what would happen under the new reign. Much interest is evinced in what way the enormous fortune of the Queen will be distributed, the general notion be- ing that Osborne House would 'go te Princess Beatrice and that she and Prince Christian would come into a considerable portion of Victoria’s wealth. The probability that King Edward will take up a practically permanent residence in Buckingham Palacc was much can- vassed. This Is a question that comes very close home to Londoners. Queen Victo- ria's preference for Balmoral Castle and ‘| Osborne House has been a complaint ot long standing In the metropolis, and it is hoped that the new. reign will see a change in this respect. The presence of the court in London would give a bright- ness and “Rayety which have long been absent. " Not until Queen Victorla has been lald to rest beside the Prince Consort at Frog- more will the theaters or music halls re- open. Moreover, business will come to a practical standstill. The music in all the halls and public places has ceased. Fash- jonable resorts were empty and very few THE QUEEN AND GERMAN EMPRESS AT CHARLOTTENBURG + 0 e Summpneé to Enable Mem- bers to Take the Oath of Allegiance to King Edward. of the nightly hakitues were In evidence. | The St. James, Prince’s and other prom- inent restaurants have already discarded | alluring colors for somber bl k. Americans who have passed through | | great national calamities may remember the crape-covered bullding, but they can i1l concelye since the death of Lincoln any | such expression of gloom as has already | fallen upon the United Kidgdom. Marl- borough House, so long the home of the | new monarch; Buckingham Palace, where | Queen Victoria made her last stay in Lon- | don, and St. James Palace, the residence | of so many former monarchs, were all | black and deserted. Sentries in black over- | coats, kept silent, vigil before the closed | gates and bolted doors. The population | therefore slowly ‘dispersed as the njght wore on. Shortly before midnight an of- | ficlal announcement was. issued calling | Parliament to meet at 4 o'clock this (Wednesday) afternoon to enable members of the House of Lords and House of Com- mons to take the oath of allegiance to King Edward VIIL Telegrams pouring in from all parts of the Continent re-echo.the deen feeling of sorrow pervading all classes. These show that everywhere bells have been tolled and public performances and private funec- tions suspended. L In Dublin the expressions of regret were universal.: The bells of St. Patrick's Cath- | edral were tolled. Earl Cadogan, the Lora Lieuterant, was absent from Dublin yes- | rial. formula: terdey, but it. is exzpected he will Teturrlive the King." tmmeat to preside at a meeting of the Trish Prity Council to proclaim the new King. The Privy Council will meet in London to-day, and the mation of the King ‘will occur ther: at all places required by custotr. The King Will come to Lon- don to preside over the council. LAST WORDS OF THE QUEEN —_— y S . COWES, Jan. 22 (special cablegram to the New York Evening Journal).—Queen Victoria's last words were: “My son.” It was a most dramatic scene there'in the death chamber. The aged Queen, roused finto momentary consclousness, realized death was at hand. She recog- nized the Gernidn Emperor and the Prince of Wales and sevdal others of weep- ing family. These who were nfarest her heard i whispered good-by and a fond reference to her eidest son. As the breathing of the Queen died away and the end came—when it became | certaln death had taken her to himself— the officials in the bedchamber turned from the bedside to the Prince and sol- emnly declared the words of the Immemo~ “The Queen is dead. Long THE £1NG oF ITALY VISITING THE QUEERN AT FLORENCE., 1893, _