The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-20
DEPos1NG AN EMPEROR.
The Chinese Downger's Action in the
Pekin Palace.


! From the London Globe.)
The following lettersis from a member
of the Reform party lin Pekin. who got
his information from Jan eyewitness, one
| of the Empress Dowager's eunuchs. 1t is
| translated literally as follows by 1.-The
| North China Daily News OF March 8,
| which remarks that perfect reliance may
| be placed on the statements:
.'To begin with the beginning previous
| to January % last Pekin was filed with
/ disquieting rumors, which gradually Ill
tered into the Palace. Some declared ;hat
the Emperor had already been secretly de
posed; others again stated that the En-
peror had been made away with by poison;
| but when the Empress Dowager heard of
| them she simply smiled in that grim way
| of hers, which to the terrorized eyes of
those around her meant that she had de-
! cided on some course which. even II it
were paved with the blood of thousands
| would not deter her from her subsequent
| goal. 1t is also significant of the woman
| that none-except. perhaps. her favorite
| eunuch, Ii Wing. and Prince Ching
| Of those who daily attended on her knew
exactly what the Empress Dowager actu-
| ally intended to 90. although it was quite
| clear that some sort of a coup was on the
taps. But when the fateful January "a
| few hours before. the Emperor had beer
| forced to sign his abdication, and gloom
| spread over the capital like a pail. ac
centuated as it was by chilly. lowering
skies.
Il was enc of those who stood around
with ink slab and pen for the Emperor to
use, while the Empress Dowager herself
held out the pen to him. Even then His
Majesty hesitated to take 1t and sign the
ready prepared Imperial decree of abdi-
cation held out to him, but an imperious
stamp of the right foot and those piercing,
menacing eyes of the Empress Dowager
frowning upon him seemed to enthral and
fascinate the Emperor. who Immediately
stretched forth trembling hand, and tn.
next moment. with groan and gestur.
of despair, as it were. the fatal deed was
done. and the Empress Dowager trium-
phantly snatched the decree from her
nephew S hand.
Then a sudden change occurred. which
these around her were too accustomed to
see to be startled or astonished at. The
Empress Dowager's face became instantly
suffused with smiles. her eyes became soft
and benevolent, and she was all kindness
and motherly solicitude foi her Imperial
nephew. He. poor. fallen Majesty, had
sunken down on his chair aftsr signing the
fatal paper, while sudden deadly pale
ness manifested itself in his countenance.
| and a moment after he had dyed his robe
and the carpet beneath with his life blood.
His Majesty's excitement had been too
much for his weak health, and it .eemeG
that he had burst one of his lesser blood
vessels.
Very kindly and gently the Empress
Dowager herself attended to the Emperor
and when he seemed TO have somewhat re.
covered himself she supported him on one
side, waving away the eunuch who had
come forward to do so. and with a su:-
prising solicitude for his health and COM
fort arranged the pillows and cushions in
His Majesty's sedan chair. which was to
carry him back to his usual prison. the
water surrounded kiosk at the Souther,
Lake Palace. which isEyery near the En-
press DOwager's own residence OF Emo
Park. She herself escorted the Emperor to
his place of retreat. called the Ying-t'ai.
and having seen him securely confined
within its high walls and the drawbridge
once more brought over. her face resumed
that hard look usual to it as she and her
numerous retinue returned to Pekin. All
the way from Pekin to his prison l heard
the Emperor weeping at his hard fate He
was so utterly broken down ana opp; esssd.
Poor Majesty! His meanest subject among
his 400 000. 900 people would have refused
TO exchange places with him on that day.
Many of us who escorted His Majesty
dropped tears of sympathy. and-I peep d
at the author of all his evils Il, see how
she took it, Her heart seemed to be of
stone. There was that set stern look In
her eyes. but not the least sign of soften
ing.
II csr assure you that the Empress
Dowager had everything prepared for the
browning of the new Emperor on the first
day of the new year tJanuary 81. but
on the 2Tth Of the month the Tsung-l-
Yamen handed 10 her Kin .L:en-shan's me-
mortal. praying that the Emperor be al
lowed to resume the rens of governm nj.
even In his illness. for that was the only
way to satisfy His Majesty's millions of
subjects throughout the Empire
"Oh, the rage OF the Empress Dowaser
when she read that obnoxious telegram! /
have seen many of her displays OF tempe.
and anger. but none like this one-it sur
nsssed even her rage at kang Yu Wei
md his reformers We euIurhs and even
tho Prince Of Ii, who brought the tele
Zrsm were Simply terrified. and trembled
est her anger should fall on anyone pres
ent. Who dare sent such telegram at
'art came her Guci'i5n. Kin Yuan-sham
tKin's official nal,e, Of Shanghai. and
oyt; q thousand Oilers was the Prince OF