The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-09
Beloved By His Subjects the
 Aged Ruler Succumbs to Deaths CaII
DISTINGUISHED AS A MAN
 EVERY INCH A KING
New Ruler of Sweden Is Former Crown Prince, Now King Gustave V, Who, Like Ills Father, Is
 Good Man.

Stockholm, December S.-Oscar IT, King l of Sweden. died at 9:10 o'clock this morn-
 ing The death of the venerable monarch
 occurred in the royal apartment of the
 palace, where, surrounded by the mcm- l bers of his family. including the aged Queen Sophia and the crown prince, Os- car Gustave, with the high ministers of
 state. the inevitable end had been
 awaited while outside the palace great
 crowds stood with bowed heads and tear 1 full eyes long after the announcement came of the death of their well-loved sov-
 eregn.
 l When the flag on the palace was dipped | to half-mast there was a moan of anguish
 from the assembled multitude and many | of them cried: "Our dear old King is | dead"
 The following bulletin was posted after
 the Kings death:
 l "The strength of the King continued to | decrease throughout the night, and the
 state of unconsciousness became more marked. His majesty passed quietly
 away at 9:10 a. m"
 l Gustave V Is King. l ne SuCCcSslOu lO tue tuTOue or OWcuen
 now passes to Oscar Gustave Adolphe, Duke of Vermland. the oldest son of the l late King. At a meeting of the council
 of state this afternon the new King took 1 the oath and title of Gustave V and
 adopted the motto, with the People. For
 the Fatherland.'' The princess then took | the oath of allegiance and the new mon- 1 arch accepted the homage of the state
 officials.
 The last hours of the expiring monarch
 were passed in inconsistencies and up 10 the end he gave sign of recognizing 1 those about him. The Queen was grief
 stricken because he could not bid her l farewell.
 1 Believing that death would not occur
 until morning, the members of the royal
 family and the ministers withdrew, and
 the physicians left their patient in the 1 hands of the nurses soon after midnight. 1 Within hour two the doctors were l called again to the sick room and admin
 istered further stmulants. but at 5:15 the 1 gentlemen of the Kings court were
 aroused and ordered to appear at once m | the bed chamber. The premier and for
 eign minister and the highest court offi
 clals. together with all members of the
 Kings family, assembled there and re-
 mained at his side until the end came.
 The Boys Loved Him.
 In the palace court yard in the dim grey
 mist of the morning, stood q crowd off
 school boys, King Oscars most devoted
 friends. Here they had stood for hours.
 blue and shivering, watching the palace l Ha. IIat. s.1n aI
 men and women in rags, such as the King l had always stopped to comfort with mild
 words and generous aims when he met l them in the parks or streets, their faces l tear stained because their beloved King 1 and benefactor was dying. Suddenly the 1 flag dropped to half-mast and a wall of
 sorrow arose. The old folks clasped their l hands. prayed, and wept aloud, and the l school boys lamentations were pitiful In a room near the death chamber the 1 first marshal of the court read to tilei 1 cabinet draft of the new Kings promo 1 ton to the Swedish people. In an ante- 1 chamber high officers and officials dis-
 eussed the probable policy of the new, l King One by one, the ships in the fhar- l bor and the buildings throughout the city ] displayed the flag at half-mast and the i people soon crowded the streets and open l places near the palace, but all spoke in
 whispers bearing testimony to the King
  ], they bore him.
 l In the death chamber knelt the heart- ! broken Queen. and gathered about her 1 were her children. grandchildren and 1 great grandchildren, praying for strength :, to bear their great affliction The church l bells began to toll and the minute guns 1 boomed All Sweden mourned It's great ] loss.
 New King Sworn In. 1 At solemn occasion in the afternoon, 1 King Gustave took the oath of officsl | before the cabinet and court, assembled, i in the grand gallery. The oath was ad- | minstered by Minister Lindman. Then, l the princes of the blood swore allegiance, l to the King, who embraced and kissed | them. giving his favorite brother, the | giant Carl. a hearty slap on the back. This ceremony being concluded, the l Cabinet resigned, but the King begged | the ministers to remain at their posts tnd l assist him as they did so ably assist ms
 father. They acceded to his request and | took the oath of office, congratulatlngj 1 Gustaye upon his promotion, who an- l nounced his motto, With the People. l For the Fatherland." After the officers. | of the army and navy and the civil off
 cials had taken the oath cabinet meet ing was held.
 later in the palace chapel. where the l services consisted of that of the Luth- eran church. simple and solemn in form. 1 No national mourning will be prociain- | ed Tomorrow all the theaters will open 1 again with the exception of the Royal 1 Opera.
 1 Gustave's Proclamation. | Gustave V has published a prociama- 1 tlon addessed to all officers, informing
 them of his accession to the throne. and
 a further proclamation addressed to tho | people of Sweden. in which he refers in 1 eulogistic terms to their late sovereign, 1 In the latter he says:
 Providence richly endowed that mag l unanimous prince with great and brilliant | qualities His sense of duty. his respect | for justice and his love of right. and his | regard for relief of his subjeots-thess | were the traits of character in the late |