The San Francisco call., 1908-11-24
ROYAL VISITORS
MOURN FOR DEAD
Tong ShaO vi and Prince Grief
Stricken at Loss of Em-
peror and Dowager
Discard Gay Robes of State and
Don Humble Mourning
Raiment

The first concern yesterday OF the
distinguished Chinese, Tong shaoo "
and Prince Tsai Flu. who arrived in this
city Sunday on the Mongolia, was to
pay their religious respects to the mem
ory of the late Emperor Kuang Hsu
and of the dowager empress, OF
whose demise they were in ignorance
until they reached this port
Accompanied by about 90 Of their
suite, the special commissioner of the
Chinese government, who is bearing
with him the thanks of China to the
United States for the remitting of Sill
100000 from the boxer indemnity, and
the prince: who is second cousin OF
the late emperor and a more distant
relative to the present sovereign, drove
In three automobiles to the offlces or
the Six Companies. 760 Commercial
street, and there they mourned-
Tlle distinguished foreigners wore
over their trousers a double apron or
white. the Chinese mourning color, the
red button had been removed from
their caps and the prince of royal blood
and the commissioner bore on their
persons none of the gala distinguishing
marks common in their country with
men of high degree.
WEEP BEFORE ALTAR
An altar, covered with plain white
cloth, had been erected. On 1t burned
a number of fragrant punKs, set in
white cand1esticks. AS the party. en-
tered Chfnaman of solemn mien beat
upon crescent shaped gong in slow
and measured tempo. The prince and
the commissioner walked toward the
altar, and, prostrating themselves full
length on the mating covered floor.
gave themselves up to their grief
This duty to the dead having been
paid, Tong returned to his chambers
in the Fairmont hotel and busted him
self with his correspondence. One of
the first messages read was a cable
from an old friend in Mugden, Liang.
who is at present acting as an assistant
secretary, with headquarters in that
city. 1t ran:
"Peking quiet. mourning loss of em-
peror and dowager empress. All other
rumors circulated in papers perfectly
fictitious"
Collector of Customs Frederick S.
Stratton, Immigration Commissioner
Hart III. North; DIR. John Endicott
Gardner, deputy Chinese inspector; r.
P. Schwerin Of the Pacific Mail to-
gether with a number of consuls of for
eign governments, called on the COM
missioner and paid their respects. No
message was received from the depart
ment of state at Washington, the gov
ernor of the state or the mayor. AS
Nun Yew Chung, a secretary of the
commissioner, who received most of the
visitors. explained, neither Tong nor
Prince Tsai Flu had been properly pre-
sented nor had President Roosevelt
been officially apprised of their visit.
MINGLE WITH GUESTS
Among the presents which Tong is
bringing with him is a complete an
thology of Chinese history, literature.
art and science It comprises about
1000 volumes, which have been shipped
in IL large cases. The party will re-
main in this city until Thursday, when
1T will take the Union Pacific direct to
Washington. Two of the Chinese stu
dents under the care of Secretary Yung
Kwai left yesterday for Amherst col
lege.
Prince Tsai Flu is living quietly in
the hotel and takes his meals in his
room with Tong Shao VI. The rest
of the party eat in the main dining
hall with the other guests of the hotel.
They have no special menu, but partake
Of the foods their Caucasian brothers
delight in. a large supply of choicely
carved chop sticks were purchased by
the hotel management, but the Chinese
refused to use them