Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-01-23
THE END CAME PEACEFULLY.

after the funeral. Several royal per-
sonages are likely to be present at
the function, which will probably be
a ceremony never to be equalled in
this century.
The record of the last days of the
reign of Victoria is not easy to tell.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press was the only correspondent adj
mitted to Osborne House and his in
terview with Sir Arthur John Rigge,
private secretary to the late Queen,
was the only official statement that
had been given out. For several weeks
the Queen had been failing. On
Monday week she summoned Lord
Roberts and asked him some very
searching questions regarding
The War in South Africa.
On Tuesday she went for a drive
but was visibly affected. On Wednes-
day she suffered a paralytic stroke
accompanied by intense physical
weakness. 1t was her first illness in
all her 81 years and she would not
admit it. Then her conu4tion grew
so serious that, against her wishes,
the family were summoned. When
they arrived her reason had practic-
ally succumbed to paralysis and
weakness.
The events of the last few days, de-
scribed in the bulletins, are too fresh
to need repetition. At the lodge gates
the watchers waited nervously. Sud-
denly along the drive from the house
came a horseman who cried The
Queen is dead as he dashed through
the crowds.
Then down the hillside rushed a
myriad Of messengers, passing the
Hateful bulletin from one to another.
Soon the surrounding country knew
That king ruled over Great Britain.
The local inhabitants walked as if in
dream through the streets of Cowes,
but they did not hesitate to stop to
drink the health of the new monarch.
LONDON, January %, 1905 A. M
Absolute silence leigned tonight in
the vicinity of Buckingham Palace
and Marlborough House. A smau
bill, signed "Balfour," was posted out
side. announcing the demise of the
monarch
Everywhere tonight the one topic
or conversation was what will happen
under the new reign. Much interest
was evinced in the way in which the
enormous fortune of the dead queen
would be distributed, the general no.
ton being that OSBORNE House would
go to the Princess Beatrice and that
she and Princess Christian would
come into a considerable portion OF
NfctOrias wealth.
The probability that King Edward
will take up a practically permanent
residence in Buckingham Palace was
much canvassed. This is a question
that comes very much home to Lon
doners. Queen Victoria's preference
for Balmoral Castle and Osborne
House has been complaint of lone
standing in the Metropolis and it il
hoped that the new reign will ste a
change in this respect. The presence
OF the court in London would give q
brightness and gayety which have
long been absent.
Not until Queen Victoria has been
laid to rest beside the Prince Consort
at FrogmOre will the theatre or music
halls reopen. Moreover business will
come to practical standstill. The mu-
sic in all the hotels and public places
has ceased. Fashionable resorts were
empty and very few Of the nightly
habitues were in evidence The St
James, Princes and other prominent
restaurants have already discarded all
alluring colors for sombre black.
Americans, who have passed through
great national calamities. NAV recaii
the crepe-dTaped buildings and the ma
tional hush; but they can ill-coneeive
since the death of Lincoln, any such
expression Of gloom as has already fall
en- on the United Kingdom. Marlbor-
ough House, so long the home of the
new monarch. Buckingham Palace
where Queen Victoria made her last
stay IN London, and st. James Palace
the residence of so many former mon
archs. were all black and deserted
Sentries in black overcoats keen silent
vigil before the closed gates and bolted
DOORS
The population. therefore. SLOWLY dis
persed as the night wore on.
Shortly before midnight an official
announcement was issued calling
Parliament to assemble at 4 O'Clock
this "wednesday afternoon to en-
able members of the House of Lords
and House of Commons to take the
oath. of allegiance to King Edward
VII.
kilograms arriving from all parts
OF the country re-echo the deep feel
ing OF sorrow pervading ALI classes.
Ihese show that everywhete bells
have been tolled and public berform-
ances and private functions suspend
ed.
In Dublin. the expressions regre,