The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-04-24

Ex.PREMlER OF GREAT BRITAIN
DIES IN HIS HOME IN
LONDON.
end WAS PEACEFUL
After Long sickness, Which compel'-
ed Him 10 Resign His Position az
Premier, Noted English Statesman
Grows Gradually Weaker Until
Death Ends Suffering.

Grows Gradually Weaker Until
Death Ends Suffering.
London, April 22.-Sir Henry Camp
belllBannerman, former British pre-
mier, died at 9:15 o'clock this morn
ing at his official residence, 10 Down
ing street. The end was peaceful.
The death Of Sir Henry after a lin
gering illness Of more than two
months did not come as a surprise.
Although the doctors had declared
his condition critical, the fact was
perfectly understood and the public
had been expecting the end at any
hour during the past fortnight. The
news came in the form. Of the follow
ing bulletin issued at 1920 o'clock
this morning:
""Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman
passed peacefully away at 9:15
O'Clock this morning. The cause Of
his death was heart failure. (Signed)
r. W. BURNETT"
In the death chamber when the
end came were his niece, Mrs. Camp
bell, who had acted as Sir Henry's
host since the death of Lady Camp
bell-Bannerman, a little more than a
year ago; DR.. Burnett, who was Mr..
Campbell-Bannerman's personal ply
sician and who had been in constant
attendance since his long illness, and
Sir Henry's butler.
e. End Came Gradual.
The ex-premier had been unconscious
most Of the time during the last
two or three days and his sinking
was gradual. A few hours before his
death kilograms were dispatched to
king Edward, who with Queen Alex
.andra, is visiting the Danish royal
family at Copenhagen; the Prince of
Wales and the cabinet ministers.
Immediately newspaper reporters
commenced keeping vigilant watch be-
fore the house Of the dying man but
the only news handed to them was a
bulletin. "A few minutes after a
crowd assembled In Downing street
but all persons were barred from ap-
preaching the house by a Gordon Of
police.
#5n. LH-. nfE@T5L e *
Sir Henry's illness dates from Feb
ruary 10, when he last appeared in
the house Of commons and moved
the closure Of. the Scottish land bill,
though he had been ailing since No
Nember Is, 1907, when he participat-
ed at an entertainment in honor of
Emperor William at the Guild hall.
On November ID after addressing a
political meeting at Bristol he was
seriously stricken with heart weak
ness and later Influenza was added to
his heart trouble, bringing on his ia
tai illness.
Knew He Must Die.
The ex-premier fully appreciated
his condition and realized that his
recovery was impossible. He offered
to give up his office some time before
he formally resigned early this month.
Few inyalids have been the object
of such so1icitude and attention as
was bestowed upon Sir Henry, there
having been a constant stream OF
callers at his Downing street resi-
dence, including King Edward, who
visited him on two occasions, Queen
Alexandra and the dowager empress
Of Russia, the prince and princess Of
Wales and many diplomats and prom,
inent men in public life.
Last Public u~tterance.
Sir Henry's last public utterance
was a warm letter of thanks to his
Scottish friends who presented hin
with a portrait of himself. It il
known that the ex-premier was op
posed to a public funeral and it is be
lieved that he will be buried without
O0lC4LAt1OA Uc61O0 LIE UOuy 4OlA Hi
wife at Meigie, in Perthshire, Scot
land.
David Lloyd-George, chancellor o
the e~xcheQuer IN receiving the new
OF Sir Henry's death, said:
II never met a greater public fg
sure since l have been in political lif'
who o SO completely the affection
of men who amt in contact will
him"
On his resignation April 5, the rep
resentatives Of all the parties unites
dn paying tribute to his ability an,
his strong character. Mr.. Asquitl
said Of him:
I'm the annals of u history Their
is no man. who, after long year
spent in the thick OF public conten
tion, has e laid down the highes
ONCE under the crown more univel
sally and %deservedly beloved"
ireland Suffered Loss.
!. Mr.. Redmond, leader Of the ma
TEA
Linper longer over It; LEI