The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-01-22
PRINCE OF WALES MADE REGENT
Appointed to Act in Sovereign's Stead-Eperor William
and Other Members Of Royal Family Are
Summoned to Osborne House

Cowes, Isle of Wight, Jan. 20, a.
m.-The queen of England lies at
deaths door, She was stricken with
paralysis tonight. Reuters Telegraph
company understands that the prince
Of Wales has received authority to act
in her majesty's stead and thus there
has been created practical, though
not constitutional regency.
Local Ruler purveyed Of the Os-
borne house employees declares that
the queen cannot live until Monday,
but this receives no official confrma-
tion, though it is admitted that it is
likely that the queen, if she RECEIVERS
again, will not regain the use of those
vigorous faculties which have distin-
gnished her among the women Of all
time. Gathered at the bedside are the
prince and princess of Wales, Princess
Louise and other members of the royal
family, while Mr.. Ritchie, secretary
of state for home affairs, officially
represents the cabinet. Lord Sails
bury is in constant telephone commu-
nication with Osborne house and it
was rumored he had started for Os-
borne house, but this does not appear
to be true. The arrival of Emperor
William and other members of the
royal family is anxiously awaited.
| For Queen Victoria tradition and
etiquette decree that she is never i'll
and SO with dogged determination she
fought off the ravages that worry
over the Boer war, deaths in her own
family and increasing years have
brought. But before that unstinted
hand of nature even the imperial
resolve of the great empire proved
futile and with knowledge of the in
evitable she shut herself off from her
encourage. For two nights she dined
alone and never stirred from the
apartments she occupied alone. Hum
bly,, for this woman rules her court
with no uncertain hand, her court
officials implored her to seek medical
advice. These messages she stealfast-
ly ignored and although her condition
is acknowledged to be serious, there
are in attendance only Doctors Powell
and Reid. Doubtless the prince of
| Wales will tomorrow secure additional
medical talent.
| Her majesty lies helpless and almost
speechless in her bed in Osborne
house surrounded by every comfort.
Fruits, flowers, i,e and all accessories
of modern medicine are at hand. Os-
| borne house is buried amidst goomy
park of frs. 1t is brightly lit out
side. a mile away stands the lodge.
Beyond it's portals none but the house
hold can pass. On them. without the
sovereign's knowledge, are posted bull
letins announcing her condition.
Beyond the bulletins nothing. official
is Obtainable, but not soul connected
i'll any way with Osborne house seems
to believe that her majesty can sur
vive this attack. In fact, locally, the
announcement of her death is awaited
with something approaching equa-
nilnity. Never in the memory of her
subjects has the queen been ill before
and now that at her advanced age she
has been stricken it seems to those
who have lived around her that it is
impossible for her to recover. Village
wiseacres, who have seen her from
girlhood, wag their heads today and
say it is sad day for England. The
official bulletins may safely be des-
cribed as optimistic. Their vageness
describing the queens ailment may
be accepted as merely evasions of
facts.
The report obtained by Reuters
Telegraph company to the effect that
it is paralysis that the queen is suffer
ing from is based upon the highest
possible authority. By Monday it is
likely the truth will be announced to
the nation. The extreme weakness of
her majesty and loss of her faculties
appear to be at present the chief cause
of anxiety. Stimulants are being
freely administered.
In the opinion of those best quail
fed to judge the queens present SER
ious condition was precipitated by
intense worry over losses and hard
ships suffered by the British troops in
South Africa. frequently she has
remarked to court attaches that
another war would kill her. In this
connection Reuters Telegraph COM
pany learns that she was most SER