New-York tribune., 1902-06-25
SUDDEN SHOCK To LONDON.
NEWS OF THE KINGS ILLNESS CAUSED
CONSIDERATION EVERYWHERE IN
THE BIG CITY
CBx The Associated Press.l

London. June 24-The first news Of the re-
newed Illness Of the King came from the House
Of Commons where various court officials gave
an Injunction that the arrangements for Thurs
day would better be suspended fothwtth. as the
coronation would be postponed indefinitely on
account of the indisposition Of his majesty.
The sudden announcement of the postpone
ment of the coronation, just the eve of the
ceremony, caused the utmost CONSERVATION
everywhere The news spread like wildfre. The
tens of thousands Of occupants Of the streets
suddenly stood still under the sudden shock and
gazed at one another in silent dread of what
might come next
On Saturday and Sunday society was discuss
ing the reports of the Kings illness. and though
the crcumstantiaIity. detail and sources from
which they came precluded entire disbelief, there
was disposition to doubt the stores and when
the positive. categorical denial was officially
issued they were dismissed as being unfounded.
Hemorrhoids apoplexy and Iumbago were few
Of the Kings maIadies discussed in the clubs
and drawing rooms. and those discussing them
recalled the stories how the King, ever quite
Gently reitera ted his belief that he would never
live to be crowned.
On the Stock Exchange the effect of the start
ling news immediate Prices weakened.
led by consols with a fall of half a point.
Official announcements of the Kings serious
Illness were made 70 public bodies as speedily
possible. Word was sent TO the House Of
Commons, and the Acting Lord Chamberlain.
Lord Churchill. personally delivered to the Man
sion House, the official residence OF the Lord
Mayor, a message regarding his majestys i'll
ness and at this mornings rehearsal of the
coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey the
Bishop OF London, the Right Rev. Arthur F.
Ingram, at the request Of Lord Esher the
Deputy Governor of Windsor Castle, made a
statement as follows:
I have to make a very sad announcement
The King is suffering from an illness which
makes operation necessary to-day. The
coronation. therefore. is postponed
The Bishop requested the congregation to join
in the Litany out of the coronation service. and
pray for the recovery of the King.
In the course of the afternoon the Earl
Marshal. the Duke of Norfolk. issued the fol-
lowing notice:
The Earl Marshal has received the Kings
commands TO express his majesty's deep sorrow
that owing TO his serious illness the corona
tion ceremony must be postponed The CeIe
bratiOns in London Will in consequence be like
wise postponed, but II Is the Kings earnest hope
that the celebrations in the country shall be
held as already arranged
The King also expressed TO the Lord Mayor
his desire that mis- majesty's dinner TO the poor
OF London be not postponed
Outside of Buckingham Palace enormous
throngs Of people congregated since early morn
ing for the purpose of witnessing the arrival OF
the special ambassadors. who were TO be re-
ceived by the King and Queen to-day. Large
numbers of foreign representatives actually ar
rived. but the shortness OF their stay was no
ticed. inquiries were made and soon the news
of his majesty's serious state of health was
circulated among the waiting thousands
At the various palaces and at the Grosvenor
Buckingham. Carlton, Cecil and other hotels
where the foreign representatives are staying,
the news created the greatest dismay. Royal
carriages were already drawn up in readiness
70 take the guests 10 the reception at the
palace. but the moment the 'tickers' announced
his majestys illness all the preparations for
the day ceased
In the streets the change which came over the
crowds most pronounced. Traffic seemed
momentarily paralyzed. and it was long before
the full effect Of The startling intelligence was
felt.
Large crowds quickly gathered around the
Mansion House. where the official notice was put
up by a police inspector. who first mounted
the steps and read out the bulletin. which was
received with respectful silence.
The streets as the day wore on became more
and more congested, and the holiday crowd
concentrated into groups. reading and rereading
the extras Most of the people apparently felt
dazed. and scarcely appreciated the full import
of what they read
Work on the stands erected all sides 10
able people to view the coronation procession
was gradually discontinued. The Lord Mayor
instructed the workmen TO demOlish the stands
in front of the Mansion House. In Piccadilly.
along nearly the whole length of which work
men were completing the decorations. the
roadway was blocked with sghtseers. newsbOys
were yelling the announcement of the postpone
ment of the coronation. but the workmen in
that part Of London stodly continued 10 finish
the work which they will only have 10 take down
tomorrow.
At about I o'clock in the afternoon three
copies of the signed medical bulletin were posted
on different parts Of the railing surrounding the
front of Buckingham Palace. The crowd which
had been SO numerous during the earlier part
of the day, had by that time dwtndled to
few hundreds but a constantly increasing
ber of fashionable occupants OF passing
riages descended TO read the bulletins
In the course OF the early afternoon the bulle-
tin from buckingham Palace announcing that
the operation had been successful. that a large
absceSS had been evacuated and that the Kings
condition was satisfactory. issued. and post
ed at the various points where people congre-
gated and shortly afterward d court official in
formed a representative OF The Associated Press
that his majesty was recovering satisfactorily
from the effects OF the anaesthetic- The King
treated the idea OF the operation very lightly,
his great concern being for the disappointment
OF the people.
This. however" added the official. was en-
tirely unavoidable, up TO the last moment the