Arizona republican., 1901-11-07
GREAT II IS DEAD
The Foremost Statesman of
 the East Is No More
He Sank Gradually, Working Until he Passed Into the Unconsiousness Which Preceded Death-A Great Gap to Fill.

Pekin, Nov. 6.-Physicians who visit ed Ii Hung Chang at 10 o'clock this morning found him in good spirits. though extremely weak the result of sitting up and working in defiance of their instructions. When they called several hours later they found him un- conscious and sinking rapidly. It was announced at noon that Ii Hung Chang could hardly live three hours longer.
 Ii Hung Chang died at II o'clock this morning. At o'clock Ii was still breathing. but the burial clothes were already put on him. The court yard of the yamen was filled with life-size pa per horses and chairs with coolie bear CTS, which his friends were sending, in accordance with Chinese custom to be buried with him when he died in order to carry his soul to Heaven. Sev- eral ministers of the powers collected to express their sympathy.
 The Chinese officials are somewhat uneasy concerning the effect his death will have on the populace and to guard against a possible anti-foreign demon stration, Chinese generals have disposed their troops about the city in such a way as to command the situation. Trouble is extremely improbable. The wife of Earl Ii, his two sons and daughter were with him and Chinese officials thronged the yamen. Tele- grams have been sent summoning Prince Ching, who is now on the way to meet the court and Chou Flu, the provincial treasurer The former will assume general charge of the govern ment's affairs. and the latter will act as governor of Chi Ii. until Lis success sor to that office is appointed.
 
 Ii Hung Chang was born about 1923 in the province of Anhwei. He was known the Bismarck of Asia" He joined General Gordon in opposing the Tai-Ping rebellion against Tartar rule; they were both successful, both re- ceiving the yellow jacket and the three eyed peacock feather. the highest or ders bestowed by the emperor. He was appointed viceroy of Chilli province and senor grand secretary of state in 1870. remaining the intermediary be- tween China and the world at large until the beginning of the war with Japan. With the first reverses of the war of 1894, on the Chinese side. his enemies prevailed upon the emperor to strip him of his highest decorations and, later. he was obliged to share the command of the army with Prince Kung. the emperors uncle. Later still he and Prince Kung were super ceded in command of the army by Liu- Kun-Yi. an enemy of Ii. But at the close of the war, after intellectual eff forts by others, Ii Hung Chang was made the high commissioner for China. with absolute powers, and brought about an agreement for peace between his country and Japan. He was the or ganizer of the only body of modern soldiers China employed, the founder Of her navy of modern ships. the build CT of her only railway. The faults of the Chinese army for which he was de- graded early in the war. were due to the weakness and ignorance of the Tsung- Li- Yamen. the board which con ducted the war. and to which Viceroy Ii was subordinated. He was prime minister of China from 1895 to 1898. and visited Europe and the United States in 1886. He was chiefly the agent by which the woes of his country. result ing from the late Boxer troubles, were greatly ameliorated, and up to the mo- ment of his death he was engaged in the restoration of his country.