Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-24
DEATH OF A PRINCE.
The Heir to the Throne of Belgium
Passes Suddenly Away, and
DARK SUSPICIOUS ENTERTAINED.
His Demise, However, Was Due to Perfectly
Natural Causes.
THE EFFECTS UPON THE SUCCESSION

BRUSSELS, Jan. 23.-Thls city was
thrown into a state of wild excitement by
the news that Prince Baudouin, nephew Of
King Leopold, and heir to the throne of
Belgium, is dead. He died in this city at
lao o'clock this morning. The intelli-
gence caused the most sensational rumors to
be circulated on all sides. and these rumors
grew more startling as the day progressed.
1t was openly asserted that the death OF the
popular Prince was repetition of the sad
circumstances surrounding the demise OF
the Archduke Rudolph, the heir to the Aus
trian throne, who met his death in such n
mysterious manner on January 80, 1889. 1t
was added that beautiful German goveruess
who had been recently banished from the
Belgian court, by order of King Leopold,
had been in some way connected with the
death of Prince Baudouin.
The Court Physicians Theory.
The court physicians. in the death certifi-
cate, announce that Prince Baudouin's
death was caused by hemorrhage, following
a severe attack of bronchitis. The physi-
clans also assert that he caught chill
while watching at the bedside OF his sister,
the Princess Henriette, who has been i'll for
some time past, but these statements are far
from convincing the people that the real
cause has been given to the public.
During the course of the afternoon,
further details concerning the death of the
Young Prince were furnished from official
circles. According to these details Prince
Baudouir had for some time past been
suffering from influenza, but in spite of the
remonstrances of his physicians, he insisted
upon passing his nights recently at the bed
side OF his sister, Princess Henriette. On
Monday last, according to the story, the
Prince insisted upon going for drive, some
accounts say for a ride on horseback, II
others are to be believed. In any case it
would seem that the foolhardiness caused
him to- catch a fresh cold, and on Wednes-
day he was forced to take to his bed.
Progress of the Princes Illness.
Yesterday the condition OF. the Prince had
become more serious, but, at the same time,
does not seem to have been such as to cause
any alarm, for his indisposition was not
known to the general public.
During the afternoon of Thursday an un-
favorable change was noticed in the Prince,
and as the evening drew near his condition
caused his attendants grave apprehensions.
Finally, toward night, the last sacraments of
the Roman Catholic Church were admins
tered to the Prince. Following the admin
istration OF the sacraments, Prince Bau-
douin was attacked by high fever and was
in danger OF lapsing into delirlun.
King Leopold and Queen Maria were
summoned to the Princes bedside. They
did their utmost to console the royal
sufferer, though both the King and Queen
were overcome with grief. Finally the
Ministers and chiefs of the royal. household
were sent .or. They were in attendance
during all the latter part of the night.
The Moment of Death at Hand.
At 10 o'clock the Prince was subjected to
the operation of cupping, but with no re-
suit. Shortly before midnight the attend-
ing physicians pronounced the Prince to be
dying, and the worst was expected at any
moment. Little by little his respirat4ns
became weaker and weaker, until sudden
flow of blood from the lungs sufocated the
sufferer. The Princess Henriette is said to
be in worse condition this evening than
during the earlier hours of the dav.
The remains now lie in state on the bed in
which he died, surrounded by wax candles
in golden sticks. The body is attired in the
handsome uniform of captain of the
Royal Belgian Carbineers. In one hand
the dead Prince grasps his sword, and the
other holds handsome rosary, from which
is a pendant golden cross. The features of
the dead are calm, pale and placid, and ap-
parently not in the slightest degree changed
by death.
Some Additional Facts Come to Light.
Guarding the deathbed, death chamber
and the palace is guard of honor from the
regiment to which the Prince belonged.
Among the additional facts gathered in
connection with the Princes death, is the
news that King Leopold visited the dying
Princes bedside at midnight, and that the
Ministers had previously been called to the
palace of the Count of Flanders. The latest
and most probable version of the cause of
| Ptince Baudouin's death is that it was due
| to a complication of smallpox, bronchitis
| and haematuria. The populace are enraged
at what they term ,the blundering of un-
suspecting doctors.
1t now transpires that Prince Baudouin
| was upon the point OF being betrothed to his
| cousin, Princess Clementina, the third and
youngest daughter OF his uncle, King Leo
| pold.
| All the theaters and public institutions
are closed and will remain closed until after
the funeral, which will take place from the
royal palace of Laeken, in South Brahant,