El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-01-30
LAST HOURS OF THE QUEEN.


A Glimpse Into the Death Chamber,
and Something of the Genuine Sor-
row at Cowes.
Details of the dying hours were not
obtainable until late last even
ing, says London dispatch. 1t
appears that the queen was moved on
Sunday from her big bed into a small
cot especially built with springs. which
was surrounded by screen. This was
to enable the doctors to reach the pa
tient easily on both sides, which was
impossible when she lay in a bed six
feet wide. In this small bed she pass
ed away.
When Emperor William arrived he
rushed in without taking off his over
coat, to her bedside, and the first words
he said were words of regret that his
mother was unable to come. Yes"
murmured the queen. Il wish Mickey
could be here, using a pet name of her
eldest daughter.
On Tuesday afternoon all the mem
bers of the family We're in readiness
for the end. At 4 the Prince of Wales
was summoned. Half an hour later he
was joined by the other members of
the family. At o'clock the Duchess
of York arrived. and the queen kissed
The bishop of Winchester began to
pray. The queen slowly sank into I'M
consciousness. At 6:15 p. m. the end
was thought to have come. The Prince
of Wales and several others walked out
of the room.
But the vitality of the queen once
more won the day. For another fifteen
minutes, with only the Princess of
Wales and a few others present, the
At 6: 80 with the Emperor William, the
prince and others absent. death ac
tually came.
Death has SOftened the face. and the
thin veil. conceals no terrible defects.
The hand of the Mighty Leveler dealt
with her lovingly; and. as the last Wis
itation of nature has been mercifully
mitigated. so also have been the pomp
and glory which accompany the sue
cession of the king. Tuesday night
neither he nor his wife would allow
their encourage to address them by
their correct titles.
\ large force of detectives present
from London is precaution against
any anarchist attempt on the life of
William and not on account of the
new king.
Messages of coincidence do not cease
to pour in from all quarters of the
world. President McKinley's early
cablegram created a most favorable
among the royal personages at break
fast yesterday morning, with the gen.
eral comment that American sympathy
was fifty the first to be received.
Queen Victoria's body was embalm-
ed last night and occupies the center of
the dining room, which is hung with
trappings of mourning. Outside two
officers are on guard. Within two In
dian attendants remain in company
with the ladies in waiting, who are
constantly present.
The body is attired in black. The
face is perfectly peaceful and the arms
are folded. On the breast rests a beau
tiful gold cross. The head is inclined
slightly to the right. All about repose
great quantities of beautiful flowers.
The honor of first seeing the body of
the queen was conferred on her per-
sonal retinue, and such a simple, pa
thetic scene as marked the afternoon
could hardly have occurred in any
other monarchy.
All the servants and tenants were
The footman, house maids,
coachmen. stable lads and policemen,
fled through the room for four hours.
There wereno formalities. Bent old |
men, children and families who had
grown up upon the estate and who re-
garded Queen Victoria as friend and
patron rather than as a sovereign, took
their turn, and their grief was the sor-
row of those who had lost a friend.
In the meantime many residents of
Cowes and neighboring towns and
some persons of Importance applied at F,
the porter's lodge for admission, but !
were told to come today
There is no mistaking the reality of +.
the sorrow of Cowes. |
Emperor William has ordered in |,
two magnificent wreaths with |
broad ribbons bearing the initials of
himself and the empress, which he per- ]
will place on the queens coffin |
at tOday'S service.