The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-11-20
MONARCHS DIED IN
. SOU[LESS STATE
IN PEK|N
HUNDREDS AWAITED END WITH
ALL PoMP OF INHUMAN COURT
ETloUETTE-DIED FROM NAT
URAl CAUSES.

PEKIN, Nov. 20.--A constitution
for China in nine years, Is promised
in an edict, which was issued yester-
day. ordering posthumous honors Tor
the dowager empress, who died last
week. simultaneously, II was accept
ed as a fact by the foreign legation
that neither the late emperor or en-
press were poisoned. The emperors
death. II is concluded, was due to neu.
Tasthenia and cardiac weakness.
The emperor made speech less
than one hour before his death. He
passed away during a period OF the
greatest excitement and confusion.
Ills native physicians had been tenn
porarily dismissed under the impress
sion that he might live for some
time There was sudden turn for
the worse and they were quickly re-
called
They at once gave orders that the
emperor be dressed for death and that
imperial yellow clay be spread over
the road leading from the winter pal
ace to the Forbidden City. AT the
same time an imperial conveyance
was made ready to convey the dow
ager empress to the death chamber.
Her last illness dated from Nov. /.
On this day the court was terrified
by an outburst OF uncontrolled tenn
per from her majesty. On Nov. II
she suffered paralytic stroke upon
being informed Of the precarious con-
dition or the emperor.
On Nov. l3 Prince Ching returned
from her mausoleum In the eastern
hills. where she had sent him to make
a religious offering, In the hope OF
propitiating the ghost that in her
dreams had beckoned her to follow
him out TO these hills An official
said today she died of apoplexy. and
talked up TO within a few hours or
passing away.
Soulless Formally.
Both their maiesties awaited the
coming OF death clad in their full Of
fetal robes and surrounded by hun
dreds OF court officials. II was bar
barous exhibition OF the soulless and
inhuman formality and etiquette OF
the court.
The members Of the grand council,
In a testamentary statement written
expressly for her majesty. have drawn
a pitiful picture of her last sufferings
This reveals the feelings of an eye
witness who stood In the crowd at a
prescribed distance from the bedside
OF the dying woman.
On the night of Nov l3, the dowa-
ger called the members OF the grand
council together and talked with them
for some time. She was lying prone,
but fully dressed After consultation,
the councillors were dismissed, but
were told to return at o'clock in
the morning with edicts announcing
the succession. Her majesty was able
to signify her assent. but Immediately
after declared: II can bear no
more" She then relapsed into uncon-
sciousness.
As soon as it was knoYn in the pal
ace that their majesties were dead
panic ensued. The widow of Tung
Chi attempted to kill herself because
she would not be made dowager en-
press. General pandemonium reigned,
many of the palace eunuchs flying.
carrying away such valuables as they
could lay their hands ons
The dowager empress. Yehonala.
was one of the few who retained her
presence of mind. She ordered that
the gates be guarded and gave instruc-
tians for the maintenance and restor-
alton of order.
Conditions Normal.
Today the eunuchs have returned
and have been reinstated, and except
for the continuance OF funeral obse-
quies, conditions at the palace are
normal. The principal concubines OF
The late KuangHsu have been pen
stoned.
Pu-Ki the baby emperor, has been
taken from his family and is sedu-
y iously cared for within the palace pre-
cincts. He is crying day and night
for his old nurse.
Another edict, issued in the name
OF the late dowager empress, says:
my attention has been given ito n
myriad of affairs and my strength AMI
my heart are exhausted Since last
summer | have been i'll and not able
TO assist in the multitudinous affairs
of the government with tranquility.
For long | have been without appe
lite, nor have | been able to sleep.
ON Nov. IA came the sorrow OF the
death OF the emperor and IL was then
impossible for me to exercise self-con-
troll. Following this day my illness In.
creased and now | am not able tC
rise from my couch.
II look back today over so years OF
sorrow and trouble and even at the
end Of my life my anxieties still are
with me and | can find no respite.
Reform in the method of govern
ment has begun and these will be con-
tinued and developed Let the Emper-
or Pu-Ki make the affairs of the en-
pire OF the first Importance. and 10
this end lei him be adequately In
structed"
These edicts are considered TO COM
nit the new regime conclusively to a
program of reform and progress.