The evening world., 1908-11-13
Dowager Stricken as Ruler
Passes Away and Nation
Faces Double Bereavement
FRINGE CHIN NOW RULLS
Named Regent, and Son Pu
Mei Designated Heir Pre-
M sumptive to the Throne.

N, PICKING, Nov. 13.-'rhe Ell. error
or China was reported dead at
O'Clock this afternoon. 1t had, how
ever. been impossible to secure Off
cial confirmation of this announce
ment up to o'clock this evening.
1t is reported tonight that the Dow
ager Empress also is dying.
The Emperor was transferred to the
szeath chamber at 2 o clock in the after
moon. At that hour he was still
kbreathing.
ESTwo imperial edicts were issued from
Ahe Palace this AFTERNOON in rapid sue
%ession. The first makes Prince Chun
Regent of the Empire, and the second
APPOINTS his son, Pu Wei, heir pre-
Numptive.
NfSimultaneously with the removal of
The Emperor from the winter palace to
Hhe death chamber in the Forbidden
City, the members of the Grand Coun-
cil assembled in the palace. The Dow
4ger Empress was present at this meet
Ing, and is reported to have swooned.
Her condition, it is said, grew worse
And was followed by a stroke of
Weralysis.
HAn the Government offices are de-
1erted. The palace is crowded with Of
Metals
1.-The rumor of the Empress dying, If
kne, would explain the two edicts is
med late this Afternoon regarding a
3legency for the Empire.
RThe foreign residents of Picking are
~ cd nv IA ie n
fo-day, and the various reports and ru-
nnore emanating from the Palace. 1t is
ABSOLUTELY impossible to obtain any con-
wrmation. officially, of the reported
HSath of the Emperor and the condition
w. the Dowager Empress. There is a
Mpftain amount of suspicion in regard
W what is actually transporting. 1t is
lieved that the Government will util-
- the dying condition of the Emperor,
0he is not already dead, to screen the
ambition of the Dowager Empress,
~ Significant Edicts.
E4 The edicts of to-day bear the name
20 Kwang-hsu, which indicates that he
s1As Still alive at the hour the members
I'd the Grand Council were IN conference
NJ the Palace This was at TWO o'clock
In the afternoon.
GThe second edict orders that Pu Wei,
tft1e son of Prince Chun, a child of five
Hears old, be trained in the Palace for
ybccess!on 10 the throne This makes
Nm heir presumptive.
1.-The hour of the day at which these
sadicts We're issued shows that the i'm
fperial family, as we'll as the Grand
Councillors, before deciding upon the
appointment OF Prince Chun to the
.Hegency, awaited the return of Prince
fGhing, President of the Board of
Foreign Affairs, from the Eastern tombs
whittier he went to inspect the mauso-
leum of the Dowager Empress
Prince Chun is a brother OF the EN-
peror. His name is Tsai-feng He sue
ceeded to the title of his father Prince
Chun. in 1891. He is Lieutenant Gen
eral of the Plain White Banner Corps.
and visited Germany in 1901 as a special
commissioner of the Throne
The death of the Emperor of China
u II is true, brings TO an end the reign
of sovereign feeble in mind and body
who has been dominated all his life by
the all-powerful influence of the Dow
ager Empress. kuang- hsus reign
will be completely lost in the rule of the
WASHINGTON. Nov l3,-A despatch
Was received at the State Department
5ust before noon to-day from American
Minister Rockwell at Picking, reporting
that the Emperor was dying, The mes
sage was sent about o'clock this after
Noon Picking time.