Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-12-09
SICK FOR OVER TWO YEARS
Separation Of Norway from Domain
Broke His Heart.
sEvEETY-EIGHT YEARS OF AGE
He Assembled the Throne in 1879
After Death of Brother.
HIS SON GUsTAvE BECOMES KING
No Political Complications Likely 60
Follow ChanEe---ReEarded as
the Best Monarch IN
Europe.

the Best Monarch In
Europe.
STOCKHOLM, Dec. S-oscar II. king OF
Sweden. died at $40 O'Clock this morning.
The death OF the venerable monarch oe-
CURED in the royal apartment OF the pal
ace, where. surrounded by the members
Of his family. including the aged Queen
Sophia and Crown Prince Oscar Gustave.
and high ministers Of state. the inevitahls
END had been awaited. while outside the
palace great crowds stood with bowed
heads and fearful eyes long after the an
nouncement came Of the death Of their we'll
loved sovereign. The whole country is
bowed with grief. for King Oscar was
something more than a ruler OF his people
and had endeared himself TO them as an
intimate and personal friend When the
flag on the palace was dipped 70 half-ssaff
there was moan OF anguish from the as
sembled multitude. and many OF them
cried, our dear old king is dead"
The following oficiai bulletin was posted
after the kings death signed by his
physicians:
The strength OF the king continued to
decrease throughout the night and the
state OF unconsciouEnSss became more
marked. His majesty passed quietly away
at $40 a. m.
The death certificate was worded as
follows;
We declare upon oath that his majesty,
King Oscar II, expired peacefully at s:io
holm, at the age Of Is years. 3 months
and II days. as the result Of calcihcation
Of the cerebral and cardiac blood vessels.
New King Takes Oath.
The succession to the throne OF Sweden
-.
Of verland the oldest son Of the late king
At meeting Of the council Of state this
afternoon the new king took the oath OF
allegiance under the title OF Gustave v.
and adopted the motto: with the People
for the Fatherland"
The princess then took the oath OF al.
legiance and the new monarch accepted
the homage OF the state officials.
The last hours of the expiring monarch
were passed in Inconsistencies and up 70
the end he gave no sign Of recognizing
thoaa about hin. The queen wps gr1eR-
stricken because ne could hgs bld her fare-
wen. An through yesterday the king had
remained in a cornatose condition. At times
there were faint signs Of conscious peroep-
tions as the attending physicians brought
some temporary relief to the sufferer. But
their ministrations were without avail and
they held out no hope last night beyond a
promise to keep the spark OF life burning
for yet a few hours.
The death of King Oscar is not expected
10 be followed by any serious disturbances
OF Sweden's political condition. The ven
cradle monarch has been slowly failing
for many months past and last January
he experienced an illness that at the time
was expected 70 end fatally. All precautions
have been taken for the orderly passage
Of power to the hands of his able son and
successor. Oscar Gustave Adolphe. duke
OF Vermland, who viii doubtless take the
title OF King Gustaye.
King Oscar has long been one OF the most
interesting figures OF European royalty, his
descent from Napoieon's great Geld mar
shal. Bernadotte. his gigantic stature and
his family connections with many OF the
other great houses OF Europe. combining
to give him an interesting personality HIS
truly democratic habits have made him
idolized by HIS subjects, who have regarded
him more as q father than as q monarch
II was King Oscars devotion to the cause
of peace that attracted the attention OF
both the United States and Great Britain
when the two countries were framing the
olney-Pauncefote general treaty of arbi-
tration. the document naming King Oscar
as ANAL arbitrator should those representing
the two countries fan 70 agree
Grief over NOryvaT's Act.
Under King Oscar, Sweden's stability and
progress have been uniforEn until the events
eliminating I'm the recent separation of
Norway. The fnal success Of the separa-
ton was a grievous blow 20 the aged king.
Both his pride and heart were wounded
an
happy event doubtless contributed TO his
death. Indeed the doctors hnai diagnosis
that HIS heart was affected. appears 70 efvs
color TO the earlier reports that he was
slowly dying OF a broken heart Politically,
however. neither Sweden nor Norway is
likely 20 be disturbed By King Oscars
demise. since the recent storm betveen
them has been wholly calmed and each
has now adjusted itself 70 the new order
OF affairA In one respect the change Of
mOnarchs may ameliOFate the relations be-
tween Sweden ana Norway. as the new
kings son. who now becomes crown prince.
Is united by marriage 70 the family OF the
queen OF Norway.
New Kins Resembles Father.
The new king. Gustave. much resembles
his father in gigantic stature ana In light
saxOn-biOnde features. The young mon
arch 10 not unused 70 the cares Of state as
he has frequently acted as regent during
the illness and absence 81 his father, and
has displayed good sense and ability He
Is personally much liked here and a. other
capitolE, where he is regarded as having
his fathers characteristics q sincerity and
simplicity.
Oscar ii, king OF Sweden. and previous TO
1906. king Of Sweden and Norway, was
u
son Of King Oscar and Of Queen Josephine.
daughter Of Prince Bogens of Leuohten-
berg. and grandson Of Marshal BeFnadotte
Oscar II succeeded 70 the thrOne a. the
death Of his father. King Carl XIV septsm-
bs a. lSl2 He Was married June 6 1881. 10
Queen Sophia. born June o 1855. daughter
OF the late Duke william OF Nassau. -Four
ehildren survive King Oscar-Cr0wn Prince
Gustave. born June l6 lSss: Prince oscar
Bernadotte, born November Is. 1&s: Prince
Carl, born February =, Isd. and Prince