The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-07-09


An old prophecy that he should reign
but should never be crowned seemed OF
late 70 have preyed upon his mind.
The King was really very superstitious.
and the idea possessed him that the
old phrase Queens weather" would
give place to -'the reign Of King Ec'
ward the rainy" Sir Francis Laking.
who was in close attendance upon him,
feared that this superstitious nervous
ness was a symptom of nervous col
lapse. He therefore warned the King
not to undertake the arduous program
ut Aldershot on June u and 16. but
the King. however. persisted In stick
ing to the program.
1t was really against the physicians
advice that the King returned to Lon.
don on Monday. His reason for insist.
Ing was that such a radical change In
the plans would cause alarm among the
people.
An extraordinary number Of the or
fetal Gazette contained the following
announcement from the Duke OF Nor.
folk, the Earl Marshal:
IL have to announce that the SOL
emuity of the coronation Of their
Majestles has been postponed to a date
hereafter to be determined.
NORFOLK"
Lord Salisbury announced that the
naval review. which was to have been
held on Saturday. was postponed.
There Is no previous instance where
the coronation of the monarch was
In fhn
ward ". who was never crowned.
The King expressed desire to the
Lord Mayor that the dinner to half q
million poor Of London should not be
postponed.
Indescribable dlsmay swept oveI
London on the announcement Of the
Kings condition. The news seemed
to have reached the people before the
newsboys appeared on the streets with
extra editions Of the evening papers
shouting. Coronation postponed!'
Endless thousands Of holiday makers
and sightseers from all countries who
were going over the route to be fol
lowed by the coronation procession
were dumbfounded. They continued OF
their journey in a mechanical way. and
then the crowds seemed to dwindlt
away.
When first the news Of the serious
condition Of the King reached the city
every one was incredulous until secv
ant Of the Lord Mayor appeared and
posted plncard on the wall Of tht
Mansion House announcing the post
ponement Of the coronation ceremonies
tr ell
only broken by shouts to the police su
perintendent standing near the pla
card. Read 1t; read it!'
Then every one asked how 1t woul6
affect various aspects Of the corona
tion arrangements. the stands and re
freshment contractors and the city hol
idays. Akintlof panic set in. stockbrok
ers rushing back to the Exchange tt
watch the markets. The telephone and
telegraph system was speedily para
ly7ed. One dry goods agent endeavor
Ing vainly to wire north to prepare FOL
mourning. reported that a corner ir
crepe had already been formed. The
stands were besieged by persons de
manding their money back In vain.
AS the news of the Kings condition
spread among the great crowds In tht
streets 1t was noticed In many places
that the women broke down and wept.
The work of demolishinS the stands
and all the paraphernalia prepared FOL
the coronation pageant was In full
swing during the latter part Of the
afternoon. Hundreds of workmen
who in the morning were engaged In
putting finishing touches on the various
Jobs. were at work tearing down all
that has taken weeks to accomplish
The barriers in the street were being
removed. the barricades merchants hnd
constructed to safeguard their shop
windows were rapidly disappearing,
vans filed with Sarlands and multi
colored bunting stripped from masti
and house fronts lined the streets. and
London promised soon to resume Its
usual dullness.
The loss of the insurance companies
will be heavy. as great numbers OF
commercial companies and private In
dividuals had taken out policies to
cover them from the loss Of the re
ceipts from stands and the cost Of dec
orations In the event Of the coronation
ceremony not occurring. Where spec
ulators and householders did not take
such precautions the losses will IL
many cases mean an approach to bank
ruPtcy.