Los Angeles herald., 1906-01-30
KING CHRISTIAN
DIES SUDDENLY
HEART FAILURE CAUSE OF
DECEASE
Monarch's Demise Places Many Of the
Rulers Of Europe in Mourning.
His Son Frederick VIII
Succeed Him
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Jan. 29.-
Christian the Ninth, the aged king of
Denmark, dean of the crowned heads
OF Europe, father of King George of
Greece, of Queen Alexandra of Great
Britain and Ireland, and the dowager
empress Maria Feodorovia of Russia,
grandfather of King Haakon the Sew
enth of Norway and related by blood or
marriage to most of the European
rulers, died with startling suddennes5
in the Amalienborg palace this after
noon. The accession of his successor,
Prince Frederick, his eldest son, who
will be known as Frederick the Eighth.
will be proclaimed tomorrow.
The following official bulletin was is
sued this evening:
His majesty died at 80 o'clock this
afternoon. After his majesty had
brought this mornings audience to
close he appeared to be quite well and
proceeded to luncheon as usual. To
ward the end of the meal he gave evil
dence of indisposition and was COM
PEELED to retire to bed at 2:30 p. m. His
majesty passed away peacefully, the
symptoms indicating heart failure"
This bulletin tells concisely the story
of the death scene, which found every
one, even those who realized the in
creasing feeblenesS of the king, un-
prepared for the sudden shock.
The death of King Christian has
plunged half the courts of Europe into
the deepest mourning and brought a
sense of personal loss as well as of
sincere grief to every one throughout
the kingdom of Denmark, reaching
even to the humblest cottage, evidences
of which are shown everywhere to-
night. 1t has cast pail over the pal
aces of the monarchs of Great Britain,
Russia, Norway and Greece.
Country Is Grief Stricken
The quick taking away of the dis
tinguished personality, who has for so
long been a center of interest not only
in his own country but throughout the
civilized world, almost paralyzed the
community and unnerved the business
world of Denmark.
Every flag in the city is at half-mast,
all places of amusement are closed
and the people walk the streets as
though they were passing through the
chamber of death itself.
This afternoon when the flag flying
over the palace was placed at half
mast the news spread from mouth to
mouth. 1t was not believed by the
great crowds which gradually assem-
bled in the square in front of the Anna
gave place to certainty those in the as
semblage shed tearsf AMI dispersed in
respectful silence, many barring their
heads and saluting the palace as they
went by.
King Christian appeared to be in his
usual health this morning. After tax
ing breakfast he held a public audience
which it has been his custom to do
every Monday morning. The reception
today was largely attended and his
majesty conyersed freely and affably
with a number OF officials and other
persons. When the function was over
the king, though appearing to be
slightly fatigued, attended luncheon
with the members of his family, among
whom were the dowager empress of
Russia and his brother, Gen. Prince
Hans. During the meal his majesty
complained of indiSposition and was
assisted to his bedroom. A court ply
sician was summoned, but by the
time he arrived the king had col
lapsed. The physician used restora-
tives, but his efforts were useless and
King Christian expired, almost with
out uttering a word, in the arms of the
,dowager empress and in the presence
of the court physician and Prince
B Hans. Just as the king breathed his
last Crown Prince Frederick entered
the room and the other members of the
ward. Nothing is definitely known to-
night concerning the arrangements for
the funeral and 1t will necessarily be
some time before anything regarding
the arrangements is officially an
nounced.
Many Messages of Coincidence
kilograms and cablegrams of condo
lence are pouring in tonight. including
messages from all the sovereigns of
Europe and the Danish colonies.
Premier Christensen tonight ten
dered the resignation of the cabinet
to the new king, who expressed a wish
that the present ministry should con-
tinue to carry on the affairs of the
government
Both houses of parliament will as
senb,, tomorrow when their respective
presidents will formally announce the
death of King Christian. At o'clock
i'm the afternoon the members VIII as
semble in the hall of the Folkthing to
receive the royal message announcing
the accession of Frederick VIII.
1t has been known for some time that
King Christians health was falling. 1t
was his intention to go south In the
near future accompanied by the dow
ager empress of Russia.
SO totally unexpected was the death
of the king that many members of the
diplomatic corps at first refused to be-
lieve the news The Russian minister
to Denmark, who had attended the
audience in the forenoon. was called
on the telephone by the Russian min
lister at Christiania and informed of
King Christians death, to which he
replied:
'It is not true. I have come direct
ly from the palace"
The minister declined to believe the
news until he verified 1t by again
visiting the palace.
The king died in the small and plain
ly furnished bedroom facing the palace
gardens. which he had occupied for
many years. When the attack came
on his majesty declined other assist
ance than the mere loosening of his
uniform The face in death bears a
peaceful expression. The aide de camp
of the late king and the gentleman in
waiting are keeping watch tonight in
the death chamber.