The San Francisco call., 1908-11-14

this morning. 1t was. however, inn
possible to secure official confirmation
Of this announcement this evening.
His majesty was transferred TO the
death chamber at , o'clock in the after
noon. AT that hour he was still breath
ing.
II was reported at 1890 this evening
that the dowager empress was dying.
Two imperial edicts were issued from
the palace in quick succession this
afternoon. The first makes Prince
Chun regent Of the empire.
The second edict orders that Pu Wei.
son of Prince Chun. child five years
old. be trained in the palace for sue
cession to the throne. This makes him
heir presumptive.
simultaneously with the removal Of
the emperor from the winter palace to
the death chamber in the forbidden
city. the members of the grand council
assembled in the palace. The dowager
empress was present at the meeting
II IS reported that she swoOned. At
z:30 o'clock this afternoon a palace Of
fetal Of high standing said the emperor
WAS still alive.
Prince Chun is a brother Of the en-
peror. His name is Tsai-Fong and he
succeeded TO the title Of his father,
Prince Chun, in 1891. He is a lieuteant
corps and visited Germany i'm 1901 as
a special commissioner of the throne.
WESTERN MEDICINE REFUSED
This last illness Of the emperor as
sumed a serious aspect a fortnight ago.
II was then declared that he was suffer-
ing from a grave intestinal complaint.
He has persistently refused to accept
western medical aid, although medical
men attached TO the legations here have
stood ready TO give their services.
His majesty has been suffering for 10
years past from chronic nephritis.
which recently became complicated
with diabetes and sciatica. It was ad-
mitted yesterday that his brain was
affected.
The members Of the grand council
have been in close attendance at the
palace for 10 days. Statements offici-
ally gazetted that his majesty was in
conference with the cOunsellors were
absolutely untrue and were made for
the purpose Of misleading the public
FOREIGN RESIDENTS CONFUSED
The foreign residents Of Peking are
confused by the sudden developments Of
today and the various reports and ru-
mors emanating from the palace. 1t is
absolutely impossible to obtain any
official confirmation Of the reported
death Of the emperor and the condition
Of the dowager empress
It is believed that the government
viii utilize the dying condition Of the
emperor, If he is not already dead, to
screen the condition Of the doWager
empress. The edicts OF today bear the
name Of Kuang Hsu, which indicates
that he was still alive at the hour the
members OF the grand council We're in
conference at the palace. This was at
o'clock thIs afternoon.
DOWAGER EMPRESS DOMINATED
The death of the emperor Of China
viii end the reign Of a sovereign feeble
in mind and body, who had been domi-
mated All his life by the all powerful
influence OF the dowager empress.
Kuang Hsus reign viii be completely
lost in the rule of the empress.
The emperor was born in 1870. His
succession TO the throne. "a years ago,
was one Of the many Arbitrary and IL
legal acts OF the dowager empress. who
adopted him into succession from q
generation the same as that Of his pre-
/. decessor. although precedent provides
that succession should go to the next
following generation.
Kuang Hsu was years old when
snade emperor and his reign is the third
sn point OF duration in the history of
the dynasty. Kang Hsu and Glen Lung
each having reigned and ruled so years.
The question Of the succession has
egitated the imperial family since the