The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-01-30
HENRY Of BATTENBERG DEAD
HUSBAND OF PRINCESS BEAT
RICE OF ENGLAND DIED OF
AFRICAN FEVER
CONTRACTED ON TRIP 70 ASHANTI.
Wight, of Which He Was Cover
nor-The Queen and Princess
Beatrice Frustrated.

London, Jan. 22.-News has been re-
ceived at Osborne that Prince Henry of
Battenberg, husband of the Princess
Beatrice of England, who went to Ashan-
ii in special capacity, and who contract
ed fever there, is dead.
Henry was the third son of Prince
Alexander of Battenberg, uncle of Lud-
wig ~, grand duke of Hesse. He mar
ried the Princess Beatrice in 1885. They
have four children. He was born Octo-
Der 5, 1858, and was governor of the Isle
of Wight and of Carisbrook Castle.
The news of the death of Prince Henry
of Battenberg was received at Osborne
house, Isle of Wight, early today. The
queen and Princess Beatrice are pros
trated with grief.
The greatest sorrow is manifested
throughout the Isle OF Wight at the death
of the prince, and flags were everywhere
at half mast. The remains will be
brought to England. The death of
Prince Henry will make a decided differ
ence in the court plans. The period of
mourning for the late prince will extend
over the coming season and all the draw
ing rooms have been abandoned.
While Prince Henry of Battenberg
was unpopular ON the whole with the
naonla nrincinaJlv becouse he was n moor
German nrince. and therefore considered
unwortbv of the hand of a princess of
the rovai house of England, he was well
liked Nv ali those who had the pleasure
of knowing him personally. He was
n splendid. athletic looking man. a good
sportsman. and he sailed his own Yacht
skilfully. To those around him he was
nnnratending and cordial and he was
n great fayorite with the queen.
Previous TO his departure for Ashanti
considera BILE ridicuIe apneared in the
Enplish newsnaners over the alleged
nrenorotiOns being made for his depart
nre for s.the southern picnic." as the ex-
nedition to Coomnssie was called. But
subsequent events showed that this rid
;cule was undeseryed ms the prince en-
horkad like anv other officer on hoard an
Ordinary troOp shin. and was not treated
With anv more consideration than would
hn nccorded to an ordinary officer. He
ranked ms colnnel of an Isle of Wight
volunteer regiment. and was attached to
the exnediti9n in speciaI capacity. al
though his rank would have entitled him
tn assume the Dosition of second i'm COM
m,nd Rut' of course. This would never
va
nothing of the war office authorities, and
80 the unfortunate prince went to the
west coast of Africa snlarting under a
storm of undeserved rdicule and abuse,
probably with the object of attempting
TO show those who have made a practice
of calumniating him from the outset that
he was not IL drawing room soldier, and
that he was not deficient in courage, even
if he was net wealthy and of rank said to
a.. L. e. D,.,
Beatrice of England
The prince arrived at Mansu, Ashanti,
in company with Sir Francis Scott and
staff and Prince Christian of SchlesWig-
Holstein, from Akroful on the evening
of December %, after an arduous march
of 21 miles. The road, for great part,
lay through forest and brush and the heat
was very oppressive. But Prince Henry
accomplished the journey in safety al
though he complained of the heat. The
next morning, in order to avoid the heat
as much as possible, Prince Henry start
ed in advance of the staff with Prince
Christian, but otherwise the two princes
were treated exactly in the same manner
as the other officers, all of whom tray
eled in hammocks, each carried by four
men, the bearers being changed ut inter-
walls.
At Nyisa, some days later, Prince Hen
~ DtSuH ~ lloll DIV amp lNNNi anu
on January 8 it was decided that it would
be best to send him back to the coast.
The prince, however, for long time
resisted all such propositions and it was
only when his condition became really
dangerous that he consented to go to
the rear in charge of special surgeon
and with a small escort. In order not to
alarm her majesty and Princess Beatrice.
the real condition of the princes health
was not known to them. 1t stated that
he was only suffering from slight at
tack of fever and that his speedy recov-
cry was anticipated. The prince, how
ever, grew worse, and notwithstanding
the care and attention bestowed upon
him at the hospital on board the troop
ship he was not relieved. The fever mad
obtained such a hold upon nm that IN
spite of everything done to save MN the
prince expired at o'clock last evening;
The vessel Blonde thereupon set SAL
for Sierra Leone and the news OF the
death was cabled to England. The
prince died peacefully, leaving KIND mes
sages for those at home.
The Prlncess Beatrice. his VIE, was
upon the point OF startlnS Tor the island
of MADEIRA IN order to nurse her hus-
band when the news OF his death reached
Osborne mouse and plunged the royal
family INTO the deepest Grie1.
The death OF f'rince Henry was the
one great topic OF comment III the press
and by the DuDllc today.