Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1901-01-31
VICTORIA DEAD
Passes Peacefully Away, Sur
rounded by Her Family.


London, Jan. 2e.-7:03 p. ma
Telegram from the Prince OF Wales
20 the Lord Mayor, timed at Os-
borne, 6:45 p. m. says the queen has
passed away. The text of the Prince
OF Wales dispatch to tho Lord
Mayor is as follows:
Osborne House, Jan. 20, 6:45 p. NJ
My beloved mother has just passed
away. surrounded by her children
and grandchildren.
ALBERT EDWARD.
Cowes, Isle of Wight, Jan. e.
Queen Victoria is dead and Edward
VII. reigls.
The greatest event In the memory
Of this generation, the most stupen-
fous changes in existing conditions
that could possibly be imagined, has
token place quietly, almost gently,
1pon the anniversary of the death
of Queen Victoria's father, the Duke
of Kent.
The end of this career, never
equalled by any woman in the worlds
history, came in a simply furnished
room in Osborne house. The most
respected of all women, living or
dead, lay in great four-posted bed
and made a shrunken atom, whose
aged face and figure were . cruel
mockery of the fair girl who in 1887
began to rule over England.
Around her were gathered almost
every descendant of her line. Well
within view of her dying eyes there
hung q portrait of the prince con-
sort. 1t was he who designed the
room and every part of the castle.
In scarcely audible words, the
white-haired bishop of Winchester
prayed beside her, as he had often
prayed beside her sovereign, for he
was her chaplain at Windsor. With
bowed heads the imperious ruler of
the German empire and the man who
is now King of England, the woman
who has succeeded to the title of
queen, the princes and princesses.
and those of less than royal desig-
nation listened to the bishops cease
teas prayer.
Six o'clock passed. The bishop con.
tinued his intercession. One of the
younger children asked a question in
shrill, childish treble, and was I'M
mediately silenced. The women Of
this royal family sobbed family and
the men shuffled uneasily.
At exactly half past 6 Sir James
Reid held up his hand, and the peo-
pie in the room knew that England
had lost her queen. The bishop pro-
nounced the benediction.
The queen passed away quite
peacefully. She suffered no pain.
Those who were now mourners went
60 their rooms.
The body of Queen Victoria was
embalmed and will probably be taken
co Windsor on Saturday. The coffin
srrived last evening from London.
1t was thought that the queen was
cying about o'clock in the after
noon and carriages were sent to Os-
borne cottage and the rectory to
bring all the princes and princesses
md the bishop of Winchester to her
bedside. 1t seemed then very near
the end, but when things looked the
worst the queen had one of her rail-
Hes, due to her wonderful constitu-
ton, opened her eyes, and recognized
che Prince of Wales, the princes and
Emperor William. She asked to see
One of her faithful servants, a men,
Der of the royal household. He has
tened to the room, but before he
got there the queen had passed into
o fitful sleep.
The Prince of Wales was very much
affected when the doctors at last in
formed him that his mother had
breathed her last. Emperor William,
himself deeply affected, did his best
70 minister comfort to his sorrow
stricken uncle, whose new dignity
he was the first to acknowledge.
For several weeks the queen had
been failing. On Monday last she
summoned Lord Roberts and asked
him some very searching questions
regarding the war in South Africa.
On Tuesday she went for drive, but
was visibly affected. On Wednesday
she suffered q paralytic stroke, ac-
companied by intense physical weak
ness. 1t was her first illness in 81
years, and she would not admit It.
Then her condition grew SO serious
that, against her wishes, the family
were summoned. When they arrived
her reason had partially succumbed
70 paralysis and weakness.