The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-08
LIS LAST HOURS.
His Body Placed in Coffin Which
He Carried Around the World.

Pekin, Nov. S.-The end of Ii Hung
Chang was quiet. His vitality slowly
ebbed For a time he lost consciousness,
but he showed great tenacity, rallied at
midnight, became semi-conscious, par
took of nouriShment and appeared to
recognize his relatives
The foreign doctors left him early
yesterday saying that no more could
be done. His personal physician, DR..
Watt, then took charge. The contro-
very between the foreign and Chinese
doctors had no effect on the patient be-
cause he was already beyond hope of re-
covery. The flames of the procession OF
paper effigies, chariotS and horses burn
ed in the court yard of the Yamen to
carry his spirit to heaven told the crowd
of officials who were gathered in the
narrow street outside the Yamen that
the end had come Soon afterWard a
procession appeared bearing a costly
coffin of teak wood. beautifully lacquer
ed. This coffin Ii Hung Chang took
on his trip around the world, and he
brought it from Canton when he came
to Pekin to settle the boxer troubles.
Since that time it has been kept in a
temple here.
The body was placed in the coffin this
morning with the customary rites On
Sunday there will be a ceremonial COR
responding to a lying in state and all
the Chinese officers will pay their re-
spects. separate day will be desig-
mated for the ministers of the powers.
Interment will be at the birthplace of
the deceased statesman,a little village in
province of Anhui. The time has not yet
been decided upon.
A memorial was telegra phed to the
court announcing his DEATH and cir
cular letter sent to the ministers of the
powers. 1t is expected that when the
court received the news an edict was
issued bestOwing pOSthumouS honorS on
the deceased and probably advancing
him to the rank of marquis, which
title will descend to his eldest son.
sonally sending messages of sympathy.
The first letter received at the Chinese
foreign office came from Mr.. Conger,
United States minister, saying that Sec
rotary Hay had instructed him to tender
the regrets of President Roosevelt and
the United States government at the
death of the Viceroy.
The Chinese officers were unable to
obtain communication with Prince
Ching. The governor of Pekin, the
provincial treasurer and the generals
commanding the Chinese troops have
sent joint kilograms to various points
recommending Prince Ching to pro-
coed and join the court in order to pre-
sent to the court the facts of the stu
alton in Pelxin before returning to the
capital.
There are no signs of mourning in the
city although the populace is much ex-
cited. The ministers of the powers
consider Yuan Shi Kai the strongest
man in China after Ii Hung Chang, and
they think his presence here would
have a good influence upon the court,
but they fear the results of removing
him from the province of Shan Tung,
the most turbulent province in the en-
pire and the seat of the boxer move
ment.
Yuan Shi Kai has controlled the pro-
vince with an iron hand. The situation
there is particularly delicate on ac-
count of the friction with the Germans
and the substitution of man with less
tact would doubtless mean uprisings
and a conflict between the Chinese and
Germans.
The death of Ii Hung is doubly re-
GREETED because he was the only infiu-
entail Chinaman who could deal with
foreign governments with an apprecia-
ton of the foreign point of view. Off
Gals attached to Earl LIS household in
formed the correspondent of the Asso-
ciated Press that the Russian minister,
Paul I.esar, called early in the morning
and strenuously endeavored to have the
seal of Ii Hung Chang attached to the
Manchurian convention before he died.
1t is impossible to verify this statement
from other than Chinese sources.