The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-10-01
HERB. RT'SLAlT HOUR
British Ambassador Passes
Away with Tragic Sud-
dennesS.
(By the Associated Press.)

London, Sept. 30.-Sir Michael Herbert,
the British ambassador to the United
States, died today at Davos-P Platz, Switz-
erland, after long and plucky fight
against consumption, which terminated
with tragic suddenness. The first an
nouncement of the ambassadors untimely
end was made at this afternoons session
OF the Alaskan Boundary Commission
Hannis Taylor, in behalf of the United
States, had finished his lengthy argument
at about three o'clock this afternoon
when Sir Edward Carson, the solicitor
general, was replying, with an intricate
legal argument dealing with maps and
the ancient Vancouver controversy, which
was half heartedly paid attention to by
those present and several of them made
Preparations to leave the hall as the solic-
itor general delved still deeper into dry.
as-dust detail, when Chief Justice AL
verstone held up his hand and Sir Ed
ward sat down.
A second later the commission, coun.
sci, secretaries and spectators sat spell
bound as Lord Alverstone, with trem-
bling voice and tears courSing down his
cheeks, announced that Sir Michael Her
bert was dead. Maps and boundaries
were utterly forgotten. With dramatic
pathos the international contestants be.
came fellow sympathizers, listening in
stunned amaZement to Lord Alverstone S
tribute to the man whose death none
even expected. Lord Alverstone paid a
high tribute to the personal and official
qualifications of the late ambassador.
In the meanwhile Ambassador Choate
had entered. He had just come from
Lord Lansdowne's room, where he learned
the news. The intense silence which fol-
lowed the delivery of Lord Alverstone's S
tribute was broken by Jacob NJ Dickin-
son. of American counsel who voiced the
American sorrow and proposed an adj
journment of the commission.
Solicitor General Carson followed and
the commission quietly broke up until
tomorrow.
Sir Michael had been at Dayos-Platz
about five weeks. When he returned to
London from America he confessed that
he felt far from weIl but, his physicians
still held out hopes of his conquering the
consumption. The ambassador expected
to leave Davos-PlatZ a week or so ago,
in order to greet the Alaskan Commits
soners here but he contracted bron-
chitis. OF this he wrote, only a few days
ago, quite slightingy, saying it was only
annoying because on account of it the
doctor insisted on his not going to Lon
don to see his American friends.
Lady Herbert intended TO leave Switz-
erland a short time ago with her chill
dren but she apparently changed her
plans and remained at Davos Platz.
Washington, Sept. 30-The ollowing
statement by authority of the President
was issued at the White House today:
'The President is deeply shocked and
grieved at the death of Sir Michael Her
bert, both because of his personal affec.
tion for Sir Michael and because of his
high appreciation of him as an Official
President Roosevelt sent message OF
coincidence TO Lady Herbert, as did also
Secretary Hay. Mr.. Choate was instruct
ed by the State Department to convey
to the British Foreign Office an appro-
pirate expression of the Washington gov
ernment's sympathy
Newport, r. L., Sept. 30.--News of the
death of Ambassador Herbert in Switzer.
land, reached Mrs. Ogden Goelet, sister OF
Mrs. Herbert, here today. What effect
il any. the event may have on the ap.
preaching marriage of Miss May Goelet
10 the Duke of Roxburgh, could not be
stated. At Ochre Court. Mrs. Goelet's resi-
dence. it was said that there had been
no time to consider future plans.