The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-08
Only Influential Oriental Who Could
Deal Satisfactorily with For
eign Governments.
YUAN SHI KAI NEXT IN FAME
But MAY NOT BE ABLE TO LEAVE
sHAN-TUNG PROVINCE.
Dead Viceroy to BE Buried in the
Coffin He Carried Around the
WorId-Wu's Tribute.

PEKING, Nov. THE death of Ii Hung
Chang was quiet, his vitality ebbing slowly
For time he lost consciousness but he
showed great tenacity rallied at midnight,
became semi-conscious, partook of nourish-
ment and appeared to recognize his rela-
tives. The foreign doctors left him early
yesterday, saying that nothing more could
be done. His personal physician, DIR. Watt,
then took charge The controversy between
the foreign and Chinese doctors had no
effect on the patient. because he was al
ready beyond hope of recovery.
The flames of the procession of paper
effigies, chairs and horses burned in the
courtyard of the Yamen to carry his spirit
to heaven told the crowd of officials who
were gathered in the narrow street outside
the Yamen that the end had come. Soon
afterward a procession appeared bearing a
costly coffin of teakwood. beautifully lac
quered. This coffin Ii Hung Chang took on
his trip around the world and he brought
it from Canton when he came to Peking
to settle the Boxer troubles Since that
time it had been kept in temple here.
The body will be placed in the coffin to-
morrow morning with the customary rites.
On Sunday there will be ceremonial cor
responding to a lying in state, and all the
Chinese officials will pay their respects. A
separate day will be designated for the min
listers of the powers. The interment will
be at the birthplace of the deceased states
man. little village in the province of An
Hui. The time has not yet been decided
upon.
A memorial was telegraphed to the court
announcing his death and a circular letter
sent ITO the ministers of the powers. 1t is
expected that when the court received the
news an edict. was issued bestowing posthu-
nous hOnOrS on the deceased and prob
ably advancing him TO the rank of a mar
quis, which title will descend to his eldest
SON.
The ministers of the powers are personal
ly sending messages of sympathy. The first
letter received at the Chinese Foreign Office
came this morning from Mr.. Conger, the
United States minister, saying that Secre-
regrets of President Roosevelt and the
United States government at the imminent
death of the great viceroy.
The Chinese officials were unable to OBJ
tain communication with Prince Ching to-
day. The Governor of Peking the provin-
cial treasurer and the generals command
ing the Chinese troops have sent a joint
telegram to various points recommending
Prince Ching to proceed and join the court
in order to present To the court the facts
OF the situation in Pekng before returning
to me capital.
There are no signs of mourning in the
city. although the populace is considerably
excited. The ministers of the powers con-
slider Yuan Shi Kai the strongest man in
China after Ii Hung Chang, and they think
his presence here wC.lld have a good in
fiuence on the court; but they fear the re-
suits of removing him from the province
of Shan-Tung. the most turbulent pro-
vince in the empire, and the seat of the
Boxer movement. Yuan Shi Kai has con-
trolled the province with an iron hand The
situation there is particularly delicate on
account of the friction with the Germans
and the substitution of a man with less
tact would doubtless mean uprisings and a
conflict between the Chinese and Germans.
The death of Ii Hung Chang is doubly re-
gretted because he was the only influential |
Chnaman who could deal with foreign
governments with an appreciation of the
foreign point of view. Officials attached to
Earl LIS household informed the cor
respondent of the Associated Press to-day
that the Russian minister. NJ Paul Lessar
called early in the morning and strenuous
ly endeavored to have the seal of Lii Hung
Chang attached TO the Manchurian conven-
ito before he died. 1t is impossible TO
verify this statement from other than Chi
npSe sources.