The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1901-11-08
EFF|G|ES BURN
WHILE Il DIES
Late Diplomat Reposes
in Coffin He Carried
Around World.
Chinese Court Will Pay Post
humous Honors and Create
Deceased a Marquis.

humous Honors and Create
Deceased a Marquis.
PEKING, Nov. 1.-THE end Of Ii Hung
Chang was quiet. His vitality slowly
ebbad. For a time he lost consciousness,
but he showed great tenacity rallied at
midnight, became semi-conscious, partook
of nourishment and appeared to recognize
his relatives.
The foreign doctors left him early yes
terday, saying that nothing more could
be done. His personal physician, DR..
Watt. then took charge. The controversy
between the foreign and Chinese doctors
had no effect on the patient. because he
was already beyond hope of recovery. The
flames Of the procession of paper effigies.
chariots and horses burned In the court
yard of the yamen to carry his spirit to
heaven told the crowd Of officials who
were gathered in the narrow street out
side the yamen that the end had come.
cap Of
tifully lacQuered. This coffin Ii Hung
Chang took on his trip around the world
and he brought 1t from Canton when he
came to Picking to settle the Boxer trou-
bles. Since that time 1t has been kept in
temple. here.
The body will be placed in coffin to-
On Sunday there will be ceremonial cor
responding to lying in state and all the
Chinese officers will pay their respects.
separate day will be designated for the
ministers of the powers. lnterment will
be at the birthplace of the deceased
statesman. a. little village in the province
Of Anhui. The day has not yet been de-
cided upon.
A memorial was telegraphed to the court
announcing his death, and a circular let
ter sent to the ministers Of the powers.
1t is expected that when the court re-
slowing posthumous honors upon the de-
ceased and probably advancing him to
the rank of a marquis, which title will de-
scend to his eldest son.
Messages Of Sympathy.
The ministers Of the powers are per-
sonally sending messages or sympathy.
The first letter received at the foreign Of
flee came this morning from Mr.. Conger,
United States Minister, saying that Sec
rotary Hay had instructed him to tender
the regrets Of President Roosevelt and the
United States government at the imminent
death of the Viceroy.
The Chinese officials were unable to OBJ
tain communication withPrince Ching to-
day. The Governor of Picking, the provin-
clal treasurer and the generals command
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 return
There are no signs of mourning in the
city, although the populace is much ex-
cited. The Ministers of the powers con-
slider Yuan Shi Kai the strongest man in
China after Lii Hung Chang, and they
think his presence here would have a
good influence on the court, but they fear
province of Shantung, the most turbulent
province 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 narficula 1olt.
cate on account Of the friction with the
Germans, and the substitution of a man
with less tact would doubtless mean up
risings and a conflict between the Chinese
and Germans.
The death of Ii Hung Chang is doubly,
regretted because. he was the only infiu-
entail Chinese who could deal with for
eign governments with an appreciation
OF the foreign point of view. Officials at
tached TO Earl Lis household informed
The Call correspondent to-day that the
Russian Minister. Paul Lesar. called early
in the morning and strenuously endeav-
ored to have the seal of LII Hung Chang
before he died. 1t is impossible to verify
this statement from other than Chinese
sources.
Great Loss to China.
WASHINGTON. Nov. Minister WI
his Government OF the death of Ii Hung
Chang and while crediting. of course, the
information conveyed by Minister Conger
10 the otdLS department, III tIS lillcTSSl VI
perfect safety he has cabled to Peking
for confirmation OF the news before taxi
ing any action on the subject at Wash
ington.
death of LII Hung Chang" said Minister
WI to-day. land the position he held In
Chinese affairs will be a most difficult one
for China to fill. He was great man.
He was also a good man and practically
devoted his life to the betterment of the
empire and to doing good"
this evening and had long talk with
him over the Chinese situation as affected
by the death Of Ii Hung Chang. Rock
HILL having just returned from Peking
is better posted. perhaps, than any person
connected with the State Department now
in Washington. The officials do not ex-
pect any considerable disturbance in the
Chinese administration. A new Viceroy
will be chosen. The names most promi-
nently mentioned as possible successors
of Ii Hung Chang are Yuan Shi Kai, the
present Governor of Shantung. and Prince
Ching himself. who has been associated
with Ii Hung Chang as one Of the two
Chinese plenipotentiaries Neither Of the
two great southern Viceroys. those of
relinquish his post. even to accept the
Viceroyalty of Chill, next to the throne.
1t is a source of anxiety here that some
person Of reactionary tendencies may be
be a more serious matter than almost any
other appointment, in view of the fact
that the V1ceroy OF Chill necessarily will
come into frequent and close contact with
the legation guards and the military COM
manders left by the powers to connect
Picking with the sea.
WI was protege of Ii Hung Chang.
His friends here fear that, in the death
of his protector and patron, he has been
exposed to the attacks of the many enc
mics in the Chinese court which his lin
eral policies have created.
Minister WI for some time was Earl
LIS legal adviser in foreign affairs and
superintendent, while acting in that ca
pacity. the construction of the first Chi
nese railway. On the receipt of official
confirmation of the death of Ii HING
Chang from Picking the Chinese STANDARD
floating over the legation in Washingtnn,
will be. half-masted and there will he
event.
FIRE PROTECTION FOR THE