The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-23
THE STORY OF THE END.
The Last Hours of EngIand's Great
Queen.

The Last Hours of EngIand's Great
Queen.
Cowes, Isle of Wight, Jan. 22.-oueen
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 Victoria's father. the
Duke of Kent
The end of this career, never equalled
by any woman in the worlds history.
came in simply furnished room in Os-
borne House. This most respected of all
women, living or dead. lay in a great four
posted bed and made a shrunken atom
whose aged face and figure were a cruel
mocl1ery of the fair girl who in 1897 be-
gan TO rule over England
Around her were 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 impsri-
Gus ruler of the German empire and the
man who now is King of England ,he
woman who has succeeded to the title
of Queen, the Princes and Princesses and
those of less than royal designation. list
ened to the Bishops ceaseless prayer.
Six o'clock passed. The Bishop contin-
ued his intercession One of the younger
children asked question in a shrill child
ish treble and was Immediately silenced
The women of this royal family sobbed
family and the men shuf1ed uneasily.
AT exactly $50 O'Clock Sir James Reid
held up his hand, and the people in the
room knew that England had lost her
Queen. The bishop pronounced the bene-
diction.
The Queen passed away quite peace
fully. She suffered no pain. Those who
were now mourners went to their rooms
A few minutes later the inevitable eIe-
ment of materialism stepped into this
pathetic chapter of international his
tory, for the court ladies went busily to
work ordering their mourning from Lon
don.
The MateriaIism of Life.
The wheels of the world were Jared
when the announcement came, but in this |
palace at Osborne everything pursued
the usual course. Down in the kitchen |
they were cooking a huge dinner for an
dom been known in England, and the |
dinner preparations proceeded just as If |
nothing had happened.
The body of Queen Victoria was en- |
balmed, and will probably be taken to |
Windsor Saturday. The coffin arrived |
last evening from London.
An incident characteristic of the Queens |
solctude for others occurred two days
ago when in one of the intervals of con-
seriousness she summoned strength to sug-
gest 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 he brought to |
her bedside.
Asked to See "A Faithful Servant.
1t was feared that the Queen was dying
about 8 O'Clock in the morning the car
riages were sent to Osborne Cottage and
the rectory to bring all the princes and
Drincesses and the Bishop of Winchester
to her bedside. 1t seemed then very near
the end, but when things looked .he
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 Emperor VIII
liam She asked to see one of her faith
full servants. a member of the household.
He fastened to the room, but before he
got there InS queen Hdu pdSSeu ilbO
ftful sleep.
-Four O'Clock marked the beginning of
the end. Again the family were sum
moned, and this time the relapse was not
followed by recovery.
The Prince Of Wales was very much af-
fected when the doctors at last Informed
him that his mother had -breathed her
last Emperor William, himself deeply af-
fected. did his best to minister comfort to
his sorrow stricken uncle, whose new dig
nity he was the first to acknowledge.
FROM all parts of the world there are
SIN pouring into Cowes messages Of con-
doience. They came from crowned heads.
tradesmeh and paupers. and
are variously addressed to the Prince of
wales and the King of England.
Emperor williams arrangements are not
eettled His yacht will arrive here to-
dav "wednesday. but it Is believed that
he will not depart until after the funeral.
Several other royal personages are likely
to be present at the function, which prob
ablv will be a ceremony never to be
in this century.
The only OhiciaI Statement.
The record OF the last days Of the reign
Of Victoria is not easy to tell. The cor
respondent of the Associated Press was
the only correspondent admitted 10 Os-
horne House, and his interview with Sir
Arthur John Rigge. private secretary to
The late Queen, was the only official state
ment that had been given out. For sew