The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1908-11-16
DEATH CLAIMS
CH|NA'S GREAT
WOMAN RULER
.Dowager Empress Died Short
ly After the Death of the
Emperor
MASTERFUL RULE OF THE
FIRST MANCHU DYNASTY

Sold as a Slave In Her GirlhoOd, Her
Great Beauty Placed Her in Power
as the Secondary Wife of the En-.
peror
Pekin, Nov. 16-Taze Hsi An. the
dowager empress of China, the auto
cratic hand OFF the government which
she directed without successful inter-
ference since 1861, and without pro-
tests since 1881, died at o'clock yes
terday afternoon.
The announcement of the dowager
empress death was official and fol-
lowed closely upon the announcement
that Kuang Hau, the emperor had died
Saturday at o'clock in the after
noon, but it is believed that the deaths
of both the emperor and the dowager
empress occurred a considerable time
before that set down in the official an
nouncements.
An edict issued at 8 o'clock this
morning placed upon the throne
Prince Pu vi, the three year old son
of Prince Chun, the regent of the en-
pire in accordance with promise
given by the dowager empress soon
after the marriage of Prince Chun in
1908. An edict issued on Friday
made Prince vi heir presumptive.
The foreign legations were notified
this morning by the foreign board of
the death of the emperor and the sue
cession Of Prince Pu vi. Troops
have been in readiness for several
days to quell any disorders that might
arise on the death of Kuang Hau and
the possibility of an uprising was
made greater because of the fact that
the death Of the dowager empress was
known to be close at hand. Two di-
visions of troops have been held in
reserve and these are now stationed
in various quarters Of the city.
Twenty gendarmes were dispatched
Ito guard the approaches to the lega-
| tions but up to the present the duties
Of the forces have been slight. 1t was
announced that the legation guard
was ordered out at "the special call
of the legations on account of the en-
peror's DEATH"
Prince Chun, the regent, has order
ed the viceroys and governors to take
precautions of the administration of
the provinces as heretofore and he
has ordered a hundred days of mourn
ing. The court will go into mourning
for three years.
City in Mourning
Pekin already has been greatly
transformed; all red objects have
been removed and blue substituted.
The people learned last evening of the
death of the dowager empress and al
though the Chinese are in no wise
emotional, they showed that they
were profoundly impressed by the
passing of their powerful ruler. The
foreigners in the city are watching the
strange ceremonies with great inter-
est. At the palace elaborate rites are
being observer and flood of edicts
have been sent forth.
| Death bed observances of three
thousand years ago marked the pass
ing of the emperor and dowager.
They died alone and unattended, al
though surrounded by circles of alb
ject spectators who remained a rod
distant as on. account of the sacred
persons Of their majesties, they could
not be approached. The emperor died
as he had lived, without ministraion
of any kind or scientific aid. For
months he had refused to permit the
services of foreign physicians and al
though 1t was stated that he had gone
back to his old form of medical treat
ment, 1t is believed that latterly he
rocoivod mn froo
The government has given out that
the dowager empress in a lucid inter-
val on Friday last, received Prince
Ching, who is Manchu and a men,
Der of the royal family, and approv-
ed of the edicts declaring Prince Pu
VI heir presumptive, and Prince Chun
regent of the empire. Prince Chun
was ,at the beginning of the boxer out
break, lord chamberlain of the court
and commander of the Pekin field
forces. 1t was on Prince Ching that
the foreign officials hung hopes of the
safety Of the ENJOYS. He has held
many official positions and was high
in imperial favor.
Manchu Regime
That the dowager empress took this
step Is discredited; nevertheless she
lS DeneVeQ TO nave successfully eStab-
lished the Chun regime which is the
Manchu regime without obstacle and
the opinion is held here that this So
luton of the difficulty which has nec-
essarily confronted the government,
is the best possible. Until word of the
dowager's death is read broadcast, no
general disorders are apprehended.
China Is quieter now than at any time
since 1900. Local disorders in the
south are possible on any pretext but
the north is more inclined to peace.
There are few signs of antagonism to
foreigners and there is no manner of
doubt that Prince Chun will be able
to meet the situation as he is recog-
nized as thoroughly progressive and
he 10 the most reliable man that could
be chosen to those most disposed to
A.. - - n