The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-26

as to the Sensational Occurrences
I'm the Orient - Dethronement
without Subterfuge First Pro-
posed by the DOwager.
LONDON, Jan. 26-According to a spe-
cial dispatch from Shanghai, it is report
ed there that Emperor Twangsu has com
mitted suicide. Another special dispatch
from Shanghai says:
'"The father Of the new emperor is the
head of the great secret societies, The
Great Sword" and 1.-The Great Boxers"
extending over the provinces of Chi Lii,
Shan Tung and Hob Nan, which were re-
sponsible for the murder Of Mr.. Brookes,
the missionary.
Various edicts have been issued with
view Of assuaging public anxiety, and
the ominous rumors regarding the fate of
the ex-emperor are spreading widely. It
is alleged his dethronement was decided
upon by a special council convened by
the~empress dowager on Tuesday. The
Manchu clan proposed dethronement, but
the Che clan opposed it, predicting tre-
mendous upheaval. 1t is said the French
and Russian legations were notified of
the pending changes, and that they will
support the new regime. 1t is said nav
al force has already reached Fekin. The
English and American legations were
kept in ignorance Of the new departure,
but 1T is said that Ii Hung Chang was
sent as viceroy to Kwang Tung to su-
perintend the dowager's policy, and to re-
press any hostilities on the part of the
Cantonese
IMPERIAL EDICT.
PEKIN, Jan. 25.-An imperial edict is-
sued yesterday, says that, owing to the
emperor's poor health, he is unable to
conduct the business of state, and ap-
points Pu Chan, son of Prince Tuano,
his heir
The emperor, apparently, has been COM
PEELED by the dowager empress to abdi-
cate about the Chinese new year, though
it is understood this will meet with con-
siderable opposition in certain court cir
cles. The dowager, however, intends to
carry out the programme which she has
been planning for wears.
MIR. FANG SURPRISED.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.-Mr Wa Ting
Fang, when shown the above dispatch,
was at first inclined to doubt and dis
credit 1t, but on examining the circum-
stantial detail of the reported edict, he
said:
"I am unable to say whether 1t is true
or not. Thus far I have received nothing
official or unofficial to indicate that such
change had been made, or was con-
templated. A short time ago report
(erroneously given in the dispatch as
Prince Tuano) would be named as heir
apparent. But 1 have not been Informed
that this had been done. But 1 would
not be surprised If an heir apparent had
been designated, as this occurs at times
in order to provide succession when an
emperor is sick or otherwise incapaci-
tated.''
After consulting reference on the gen.
ealogy of the imperial family, Mr.. Fang
said as near as he could tell Prince Tuan
| is a son of the former emperor Hien
Fung, this making the new heir Pu
Chan, grandson of the emperor Hen
F'ung. The latter was followed by Ting
| Chi, a son of the present empress dow
ager, who still retains her strong in
| f1uence over court affairs. Her son was
without issue, and was succeeded by the
present emperor, Kwang Su, nephew of
| the empress dowager, and designated
through her influence. In case the re-
ported change has been made 1t will be