The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-01-20
WALES DE-FACTO REGENT
Has Been Given Authority to Sign
State Papers.
KAISER WILLIAM HAsTENs TO SEE HER
Great Gloom Manifested in London Over Prob
ability Of Her Early Death. The BuI-
Ietins Express Hope, But People
Fear The Worst.
Fear the Worst.
lBv he Associated Press.l

London Jan. 19,-Probably nowhere else
i'm the world has Queen Viytoria's pros
tration been so conservatively treated in
/ the newspapers as here, where it is of
the most vital Importance. The papers
like her subjects hesitate to speak plain
ly Of the fears depressing them regarding
The Queen. The headlines of most of the
afternoon papers today were confined 10
non -committal words in big type like Her
Majesty's Condition" But the news ven
ders were doing a tremendous business
with every edition. 1t was a gloomy day
for London. The anxiety on every face,
from the East End workingmen to the fire.
quenters of the ST. James Club. COMFORT
ed with the dreary, dri2zling rain. Lon
don's comment on yesterdays official
statement was that it might mean Httle
or much. The bulletin of today forced
the conviction on the public mind that it
meant much. The officials told the news
paper correspondents that they hoped for
the best but their manner showed they
feared the worst. Withal, the intelli-
gence did not surprise people The unani-
nous comment was that they feared it.
While the Queen was wonderfully strong
physically. for her age, the cares and
sorroWs not only OF the war, but arising
from the death of her grandson in South
Africa. and of her fayorite lady in wait
ing, the Dowager Lady Churchill, at
Christmas, affected her vitality, AMI the
empire awaited the news from Osborne
with the keenest suspense in the memory
of the Queens subjects.
Cowes, Isle of Wight, Jan. 19-(Mid-
night) THE Queen OF England now 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
Mer Majesty's stead and thus has been
created a practical though not consti
tutional regency.
Cowes, Isle of Wight, (Midnight,) Jan.
ia rumor purveyed by Osborne House
employees declares that the Queen cannot
live until Monday but this receives no
official confirmation. though it is admit
ted that it is scarcely even likely the
queen, if she recovers at all, will regain
the use of those vigorous faculties which
distinguished her among the wC~aen
of ali time.
Gathered at her bedside are the Prince
and Princess of Weles, Princess Louise
and other members of the royal family,
while Mr. Richie, the Secretary of State
for home affairs officially represents the
Cabinet. Lord Salisbury is in constant
telephone communication with Osborne
House, and it was rumored that he had
arried at Osborne. but this does appear
at best to be true. The arrival Of EN-
peror William and other members of the
royal family are anyiously awaited.
The last time the Queen drove out in
Cowes the rain beat heavily down upon
her.
Osborne, Isle of Wight, Jan. 10
C y. m)-The following official bulle-
tin has just been issued: The Queens
strength has been fairly maintained
throughout the day and there are indi-
cations OF Slight Improvement in the
symptoms this evening.
(Signed) ";AMES REID.
tR. DOUGLAS POWELL"
Cowes, Isle of Wight. Jan. 19-There
was no change in Her Majestys condi
ton at $40 D. M. Accarding to local
understanding and report, the Prince
of Wales comes to Osborne with the
object of practically assuming the re-
gency. ell viii take over the powers
of signing State documents and is ex-
pected to return to London, the centre
of State business. until his return here
is necessitated by the possible course Of
events.