Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-02-17
DEATH OF THE FRENCH PRESI-
DENT,

DEN L.
NJ. Felix Faure, President OF the
Republic Of France. died in Paris at IL
o'clock lest night, after an illness OF
three hours.
He left his study about seven o'clock
Wednesday eveniug to ride Oh horse
back. Ga Thursday he dined with his
family, went TO bed at zen o'clock, e2i
up yesterday morning ct six an3 81
most Immediately informed his yaie;
that he would not ride. NJ. LEGAL, his
secretary, on learning OF this, nurried
TO the President, whom ne fouad IL his
dressing room, II. Faure said: Il do
not feel i'll, but prefer to abstain from
fatiguing exercises today" Otherwise
the President worked as usual, aud
read the official documents and di5-
patches with the newspapers, as was
nis custom. in order to prepare himself
to preside st the council, which as-
sembe ut 9 o'clock. u. Faure pre-
-idel with his usua Liability, aad wle1
taking leave. the ministers could noJ
have imagined that they were pressing
MS hand for the last time. He Spent
the afternoon seated 10 q lavorite ~rm-
cna.r by the hrs, convels'ng with VI.
LEGAL, Who, about FIVE o'clock, asked
permission TO depart. AZ SIX O'CLOCK
VI. LsGsii returned and found TIE
President signing DEGREES. The work
Of 81 ming was tnen nearly over when
the President called ". LeGall, saying:
Come quickly. l fee! Ia. 1 sm lalnt-
ing" Dr.. HumDert. on orriving, gave
ether Inhalation. He did not consider
the c, : : serious, but or tuding that bis
Gati-pt did not revive, he decided 10 in
oct caffeine.
TIE President was apparently aware
OF the seriousness OF the attack, and he
expressed desire to see his wife and
children. When Madame Faure and
Mile. Llcie Faure entered the room
tie President exclaimed: Il an suffer
ing greatly. | am lost" His WITT came
20 him, and be babe her 40 eifectiouate
farewell l. was {. touching enc. He
snanked her for ne atIecrioG al dsvo-
lion ah- na.! CONSTANT! SboWn hlm..aG
then lie bare farewell TO MS daughters,
the doctors and mis- persona! sttendants,
thanking all for Their care and devotion
| and asking them TO pardon any hasly
words ne might ever Fave uttered.
Upon the announcement OF the death
Of the President the flag over the Ely
see was immed a;eIy lowered 10 haii
mast, and the news vas dispatched to
all the officials and the members OF the
cabinet.
The report spread rapidly through
the city, and large Groves assembled
in the vicinity OF the palsce.
President Mckinley. who was in Bos
ton, upon being informed of the death
of President Faure, expressed his sur.
prise and grief. 4 suitable message OF
coincidence will be sent tomorrow morn
'ng by the President through Secretary
Of State Hay. None CT the members
of the Cabinet cared to express any
opinion other than profound regret.
Francois Felix Faure, though born in
Paris on January so, 1871, was more
identified with Havre than with the
capital, caviig been engaged il bust
ness in that ci;y, and several times rep
resented it in me Chamber of Deputies.
When the Cabinet of NJ. Dupuy was re
organic d, after the assassination OF Ii.
CarDot, aud the elevation o. NJ. Cast.
mir Perier to the presidency, H. Faure
became minister of marine, and re-
tanned his Office up to the resignation OF
the cabinet on the railroad investiga-
ton vote, which precipItated the crisis
and placed him in the office vacated by
Casimir Perier. His election was g
triumph of the moderate republicans.
The socialists and radicals were strong
enough to make NJ. Brisson president
Of the Chamber OF Deputies, 10 defeat
the Dupuy Cabinet and Brighten the
president from office, but they could
not overcome the moderate strength in
the Senate, and the union OF republic
cans placed NJ. Faure in office, holding
practically the same relations to the
parties and the legislature as did his
predecessor.