The herald., 1896-01-23
Prince Henry of Battenburg,
Vict0ria's SOn-in-Law
THE COOMASSlE EXCURSION
Proves to Be a Picnic Which Ends
in Death
He Was Unpopular Because Poor but Well
Beloved by Those Who Knew
Him Intimately
Press Special Wire.


LONDON, Jan. 22.-News of the death of
Prince Henry of Battenberg was received
at Osborne, Isle of Wight, early this morn
ing. The queen and princess are Frustrated
with grief. 1t appears that the prince had
relapse yesterday on board the British
cruiser Blonde, on the way to Madeira land
died at o'clock yesterday morning.
The prince arrived at Mansu. Ashantee,
in company with Sir Francis Scott and
staff and Prince Christian of Schleswig-
Holsten, from Akrofut, on the evening OF
December 2Sth, after an arduous march of
twenty-one miles. The road, for great
lay through forest and bush, and the heat
was very oppressive. Prince Henry ac-
complished the journey in safety, although
he complained of the heat.
The next morning, in order to avoid the
heat as much as possible, Prince Henry
started in advance of the staff with Prince
Christian, but otherwise the two were
treated exactly as the other officers, all of
whom travelled in hammocks, each carried
by four men, the bearers being changed at
intervals.
The prince, it appears, was greatly upset
at the speedy death of his friend, Major
Ferguson, who was attacked with fever
while out walking with the prince. The
latter continued on the march until within
thirty miles of Coomassie, where he be-
came seriously ill of a sudden, and the
officer in command insisted that he should
Immediately be conveyed back to Pronsu.
When the prince reached there his condi-
ton was desperate and the doctors almost
despaired of being able to get him back to
the coast. Prince Henry, however, rallied
slightly before reaching Cape Coast
Castle. Once there, although sick unto
death, the prince did everything possible to
prevail upon his medical attendants and
the news reached Cape Coast of the entry
by the British of Coon assie. But his
condition was so desperate that all his ap-
peals were in vain, and he was finally in
duced, very much against his will, to en-
bark on board the Blonde for the island of
Madeira. This, it now appears, was on
Friday last. The prince was in a very
weak condition when he went on board
the cruiser, but the cool sea air had an
invigoratng effect on him and he rallied
again. In fact on Saturday he became quite
cheerful and hopes were entertained of
his recovery. On Sunday, however, there
was decided change for the worse. The
prince grew weaker and weaker until he
expired on Monday at s 40 p. m.
The Blonde thereupon put about for
Sierra Leone and the news of the princes
death was cabled to England.
Inc frl0ceSS Dedtrlces Ills Wlles was
upon the point of starting for the island of
Madeira, in order to nurse her husband,
when the news of the death reached Os-
borne house.
Prince Henry went to Ashantee in a spe-
cial capacity. He was the third son of
Prince Alexander of Battenburg. He mar
ried Princess Beatrice OF England in 1855.
They have four children. He was born
October 5, 1888, and was governor of the
Isle of Wight and Caresbrook.
The first lord of the admiralty, after con-
sulting with the queen, has given instruc-
tions to the Blonde to bring the body of
the prince to England.
The death of Prince Henry of Batten-
burg is the one great topic of comment in
the press and in public today. The review
of the flying squadron now at Spithead,
which was to have taken place today off
Osborne, has been postponed. All the
royal navy and military stations are flying
flags at half mast.
Ambassadors and ministers and all the
representative bodies of London and other
cities sent messages of sympathy to Os-
borne house.
The death of the prince will make a de-
cided difference in the court plans. The
period of mourning for the late prince will
extend over the coming season, and all
drawing rooms have been abandoned.
While Prince Henry of Battenburg was
unpopular on the whole with the people,
because he was a poor German prince and
therefore considered unworthy of the hand
OF princess of the royal house of Eng
land. he was we'll liked by all those who
had the pleasure of knowing him person
ally. He was splendid, athletic looking
man, good sportsman and he sailed his
own yachts skilfully. To those around
him he was unpretending and considerate
and he was a great favorite with the queen.
Previous to his departure for Ashantee
Et,u-
Iish newspapers over the alleged prepara-
tions being made for his departure for the
"picnic," as the expedition to Coomassie
was called. 1t was said he was going TO
travel in a specially prepared saloon car
riage and to have an especially prepared
cabin on board a special steamer, and
mass of other exaggerations of similar
nature was printed. much to the disgust of
those interested in the prince. But subse-
quent events showed that all this ridicnle
was undeserved, as the prince was not
treated with any more consideration than
would be accorded any other officer on
board an ordinary troop ship.
He ranked as colonel of an Isle of Wight
volunteer regiment and was attached to
the expedition in special capacity.
The Court Circular says of Prince
Henry's death:
seeing her beloved daughters happy life
crushed and in losing u most amiable and
affectonate son-in-law, to whom she was
much devoted.'
The Chronicle says:
emperor William has telegraphed his
kindest condolences upon the death of
Prince Henry to the queen and to Princess
Bea rice.''
SAILED FOR ENGLAND
SIERRA LEONE, Jan. 22.-The British
cruiser Blonde, with the embalmed body
of Prince Henry of Battenburg on board,
has sailed for England.