Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-01-24
DIES ON ANNIVERSARY
OF FATHERS DEATH
Closing Scenes in the Life Of the
Empress-Queen Of British
Empire.
OLDEST DAUGHTER is VERY Ill
The Dowager Empress of Germany May
Soon Follow Her Mother to Grave
Has Been Suffering for Sew
cral Months.


Victoria is dead, and Edward VII.
reigns.
The greatest event in the memory Of
this generation. the most stupendous
change in existing conditions that
could possibly be imagined, has taken
place quietly, almost gently, upon the
anniversary of the death of Queen
Nictoria's father, the duke of Kent.
The end of this career, never equalled
by any woman in the worlds history,
came in a Simply furnished room in
Osborne house. This most respected of
all women, living or dead, lay in a
great four posted bed and made
.shrunken atom whose aged face and
fair girl who in 1887 began to rule over
England.
Around her was gathered almost
every descendant of her line. Well
within view of her dying eyes there
hung a portrait of the prince consort.
1t was he who designed the room, and
every part of the castle. In scarcely
audible words the white-haired bishop
of Winchester prayed beside her, as he
had often prayed with his sovereign,
for he was her chaplain at Windsor.
With bowed heads the imperious
ruler of the German empire and the
man who is now king of England, the
woman who has succeeded to the title
of queen, the princes and princesses,
and those of less than royal designa-
ton listened to the bishops ceaseless
prayer.
Her Last Moments.
Six o'clock passed. The bishop con-
tinued his intercession. One of the
younger children asked a question in
shrill, childish treble, and was imme-
diately silenced The women of the
royal family sobbed family. and the
men shutfied uneasily. AT exactly 6:30
DR.. Reid held up his hand and the peo-
pie In the room knew that England
had lost her queen. The bishop pro-
nounced the benediction.
The queen passed away peacefully.
She suffered no pain. Those who were
now mourners went to their rooms.
A few minutes later the inevitable
element of materialism stepped into
this pathetic chapter of international
history, for the court ladies We're busily
to work ordering their mourning from
London. The wheels of the world
were Jared when the announce
ment came; but in this palace at
osborne everything pursued the usual
course. Down in the kitchen they were
cooking huge dinner for the as
semblage, the like of which has seldom
been known In England, and the din
ner preparations proceeded just as II
nothing had happened.
The body of Queen Victoria was en-
balmed and will probably be taken to
NO rod
last evening from London.
An incident characteristic OF the
queens solicitude for others occurred
two days ago, when. in one of the In
tervals of consciousness, she sum
moned strength TO suggest to her
dressers. who had been acting as
nurses, to take the opportunity of get
ting some fresh air.
Monday afternoon she asked that
her little Pomeranian spaniel be
brought to her bedroom.
Beginning of the End.
1t was thought that the queen was
dying about 3 O'Clock in the afternoon,
and carriages We're sent to Osborne
cottage and the rectory to bring all
princes and princesscs and the bishop
of Winchester to the bedside. 1t
the end, but when things looked the
worst the queen had one of the rallies
due to her wonderful constitution,
opened her eyes and recognized the
prince of Wales, the princess and EN-
peror William. She asked to see one
of her faithful servants, member OF
| the household. He FASTENED to the
| room, but before he got there the
queen had passed into fitful sleep.
-Four O'Clock marked the beginning of
the end. Again the family We're sum-
moned and this time the relapse was
not followed by recovery
The prince of Wales was very much
affected when the doctors at last in
formed him that his mother had
breathed her last. Emperor William.
himself deeply affected, did his best to
administer comfort to his sorrow
stricken uncle, whose new dignity he
was the first to acknowledge.
From all parts of the world there are
stil pouring into Cowes messages of
coincidence. They come from crowned
heads, millionaires. tradesmen and
| paupers, and are varously addressed
to the prince of Wales and the king of
England.
ELDEST DAUGHTER VERY I'LL.