New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-11-20
CHINA PLEDGED TO
EFFECT REFORMS
M4NT EDICTS ISSUED Al
THE PALACE.
.Slockfng Scenes FollOzced Deaths of
Rulers-Legations Discredit the
Theory of Poison.

Theory of Poison.
Peking Nov. Ie.-Prfnce Ching present at
the palace both yesterday and to-day The For
hidden CRY 10 crowded all day long with Off
Gals and n1ourners and notable in the gathering
Is the Dalai Lama OF Tibet and his disciples
Tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock. there viii be a
service or Tibetan prayers before the collins of
their late nIajestes The Tibetans viii ofi1ciate
Accurate information concerning the last days
Of the Emperor and she Empress Dowager was
obtained to-day from officials Of the palace.
The various foreign legations. in attempting TO
determine the causes Of the death of the En-
T1e-or and the Empress Dowager have aban-
doned the poison theory. and have agreed that
the symptoms Of the Emperor indicate that
death resulted from neurasthenia and cardiac
weakness. together with other complications
The Foreign Board denies enphatically and
without qualification the rImors that either Of
their nsjesties was poisoned.
II has been learned since the tragedy that
when tire members of the foreign legations were
last received in audience they took with them
70 she palace two or three foreign physicians.
with the IDEA Of discovering what malady it was
from which the Emperor suffered They were
not successful.
The Emperor made a speech less than one
hour before his death. He passed away in q
period Of great excitement and confusion. His
native physicians mad been temporarily dis
missed, under the impression that there was no
change in the condition OF his majesty and that
re might live for some time. There was 8 sud
den turn for the worse. however, and they were
quickly recalled They at once gave orders, in
accordance with q custom OF the imperial fam
iIy observed for centuries, that the Emperor be
dressed for death and that yellow clay be spread
ever the road leading from the Winter Palace TO
~----.. sr-
perisi conveyance vas made ready 10 convey
the Empress DcwaEer 10 the death chamber
GRIM SCENES AT DEATEBEDs.
The last illness OF the Empress Dowager dated
from November !. On that day the court was
terrified by an outburst OF temper from her
majesty. On November Il she suffered a para
iytic stroke On being informed Of the precsrious
condition Of the Emperor on November ID
Prince Ching returned from her nausoleun1. IN
the eastern hills whittier she had sent him to
make religious offering in the hope Of propiti-
stinE the ghost which in her dreams had beck
oned her 70 follow him out TO these hills. An
official Of high standing said to-day that the
Empress had died from apoplexy. and that she
able 70 talk. and I'D talk, until few hours
BEFORE her death. Both their ms1esties awaited
rheir end clad in their official robes and sur
rounded by hundreds Of court officials and fol-
lowers Il was q barbarous exhibition Of the
soulless and inhuulan fornality and etiquette Of
TIE court
Soon after the deaths vers announced, hun
dreds OF men. including everybody attached to
Ire household departments. collected IN the
palace and remained thers for five days.
The members Of the Grand Council. in tes-
ts1nentary statement written expressly for her
ma jesIy. have drawn e pitiTul picture Of her
Iast surerings. This account reveals the feel
in the crowd al q prescribed distance from the
bedside OF the dying woman.
On the night Of November Il the Empress
DowsgeT called the members Of the Grand
Council together and talked with them for
some time She was lying prone, but was fully
dressed. After an hour Of consultation the
councillors were dismissed but they were told
10 return at , o'clock in the morning with the
edicts prepared 10 announce the succession TO
the throne Il Is reported that her majesty was
able signify her assent 70 these particular
edicTs. But Immediately after having done this
she said Y can bear more and relapsed
into Inconsistencies. The Emperor and En-
press Dowager were dead OF dying when the
regency edcLs were Issued
PANDEMONIUM II THE PALACE.
As soon as II was known throughout the pal
that their ma1esties we're dead, panic be-
commit suicide because she perceived she
would be made Empress Dowager. There
vas Al outbreak or waiIinE, and the general
disorder which accompanied the issuance Of
th@ order that their majesties should be clad
Il their imperial robes for death was renewed.
Many % the palace eunuchs fed. CARRYING with
them such vaiuahles as they could lay hands
On he Empress Dcwager Te-Ho-Na-La was
one n the few who retained her presence Of
~ he
acc gave otheT instructions for the mainte-
nance and restoration Of order
Tire eunuchs have returned and have been re
instated. and except for the continuance of
funeral observances conditions at the palace
are normal The principal concubines of the
late huaHg Hsu have been pensioned
Pu " the baby Emperor. has been IA ken
from his family and is seduloUsly cared for
within the palace precincts. Il is popularity re-