The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-06-12
AN HEIR TO SPANS THRONE
Country in a Frenzy of Joy Over
the Event
Impressive Ceremony When An.
nouncement Is Made-Royal Babe
Presented to Waiting Dignitaries. !

Madrid, Spain. - Queen Victoria
gave birth to a son, who becomes heir
to the throne of Spain. He will be
named Alfonso and have the title
henceforth of Prince of the Asturias.
The child is described as being a ro-
bust blond and as having his moth
er's complexion. Il is the first time
in many generations that the first
child Of a King and Queen Of Spain
has been a male.
Mother and son are doing we'll.
The birth occurred at 12.45 o'clock
p. m. The announcement was imme-
diately conveyed to the waiting off,
Gals within and the crowds outside
the palace, who received the glad It'd
tngs with feelings of enthusiasm and
emotion. That the Queen had been
blessed with a soma male heir to
the throne - was no less welcome
than the happy event itself.
The formal announcement Of the
sex Of the royal infant was made by
the Camarara Mayor, or Mistress Of
the Robes, to Premier Maura, who
formally communicated the fact to
the official company in attendance.
The Premier in announcing the birth
used the words:
Gentlemen, 1t Is a prince"
The Infanta Eulalia was at the
Kings side as he entered the room,
accompanying the Camarara Mayor
carrying a huge silver tray, upon
which was lying the newly born royal
baby, covered with delicate lace gar
ments. The scene was most impress
sive. Premier Maura at once ad-
vanced, and, with some hesitation.
relieved the Mistress of the Robes Of
her precious load. Then, bearing the
tray, the Premier proceeded slowly
to the centre Of the room, where all
present crowded round, anxious to
obtain a glimpse of the child, which
was presented to one after the other
in their order Of court precedence.
When the curiosity Of all those pres
ent was satisfied tie babe was handed
back to the Mistress Of the Robes and
by the latter was given to the royal
nurse, who Immediately returned to
the side of the Queen.
AS the nurse disappeared into the
royal apartments a roar Of cheering
could be heard from the outside Of
the palace. Business had been sus-
pended for hours previous to the an
nouncement of the child's birth. An
immense multitude gathered in the
vicinity of the palace, and when the
royal standard, Of red and gold, fut-
tered up to the peak Of the Flagstaff
on the Punta de Diamente, making
known that a prince of the Asturias
was born, a great shout Of Joy went
I'D from the assembled masses. I'm
mediately afterward a salute Of TWEEN
ty-one guns carried the news to the
most remote confines of the city and
the inhabitants Of the surrounding
country. AS the sixteenth report re-
sounded, for fifteen guns only would
have been fired to announce the birth
of a girl, the men, women and chill
dren waiting in the streets and on
the balconies and roofs gave voice to
their satisfaction, and soon the whole
city was ringing with cries of o.
Long live the Prince!" Long
live the Queen!" and Long live the
KING"
simultaneously the public build
ings blossomed out, as If by magic,
with the Spanish colors and, singing,
dancing and otherwise rejoicing, al
most the entire population Of the city
began streaming in the direction OF
the palace.
The Queen insists that she will her
self nurse the child, despite the oppo-
sition of the royal household to such
a departure from custom, as she de"
sires to insure It's good health.
The Queen was the first to kiss the
baby, and she was followed by the
two grandmothers, Princess Beatrice
of Battenberg and Maria Christina,
the Dowager Queen Of Spain. De-
crees were issued ordering a three
days national holiday throughout
Spain.
The baby prince weighs $3.50
grams, which is equal to eight and
three-quartsr pounds. -.
The Cabinet drew up and present.
ed to King Alfonso for his signature
DEGREES transferring the title Of heir
presumptive from Prince Charles or
Bourbon to the newborn prince.
Queen Victoria, the mother Of the
royal infant born in Madrid, was mar
ried to King Alfonso at Madrid on
Nav 81, 1906, amid scenes Of the
greatest splendor, followed by the
horror of a bomb explosion which
killed scores of people and narrowly
missed the royal coach in which their
Majesties were returning from
church. .