The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-11-20
TOM l. JOHNSON, MAYOR Of CLL EE\VELL LAhD HAS LOST
Ills FORTUNE WHILE BATT[ ING FOR THE TAXPAYERS
AWAITED DEATH
IN full DRESS
HOW THE EMPEROR AND EN-
PRESS OF CHINA DIED.
.BARBAR0Us CUSTOM

bAKbAKOUS CUSlOm
Surrounded by Their Court, at Spec
flied Distance, and in Full Reqalia,
Royal Personages Were Taken to
Death Chamber.
PEk1N, Nov. 19.-An edict ordering
'honors for the late dowager empress
was issued today and it enumerates
for the fourth time since the death of
his majesty, the program OF reforms
to which the new regime is commit
ted.
These political edicts first began
appearing four days ago when, in the
name of the emperor and the grand
council, two DEGREES entailing upon
the infant Emperor Pu vi, the car
rying out of the reforms already in.
augurated by his predecessor were
published. One of these, after spec
flying number of the reforms in
question says:
I'VE have received reverently the
decree Of the dowager empress ap-
pointing Pu vi to be emperor. OIL
cials must pacify their hearts, aban-
don all abuses and heartily obey pre-
vious edicts.
With regard to the existing pro-
gram, years of study have been given
to its preparation. It's purpose is to
establish constitution for China at
the end Of nine years and by complet-
ing what is left unfinished, you will
comfort your spirit in Heaven"
Another edict that was issued in the
name of the late dowager empress
says:
Edict Of the Empress.
NY attention has been given to a
myriad Of affairs and my strength and
my heart exhausted. Since last sum
mer I have been i'll and not able to
assist in the multitude Of affairs Of
the government with tranquility. For
long l have been without appetite nor
have not been able to sleep. On
November IA came the death of the
emperor and it was then impossible
for me to exercise self-control Fol
lowing this day my illness increased
until now 1 am not able to rise from
my couch.
"I look back today over so years
of sorrow and trouble and even at
the end of my life, my anxieties still
are with me and can find no appe-
tite.
Reform in the method of govern
ment has begun and these ideas will
be continued and developed. The re-
gent and all it's officials should exert
themselves to strengthen the founda-
tions of the empire. Let the Emperor
Pu vi make the affairs of the empire
of first Importance and to this end let
him be adequately instructed
These edicts, together, are consid-
cred to commit the new regime con-
clusively to a program Of reform and
progress.
Their Majesties Not Poisoned.
Prince Chun was present at the pal
ace both yesterday and today. The
Forbidden City is crowded all day
long with officials of various degree
and throngs of mourners, and notable
III IIC 61LAO4lA lAO l|dlCA AAduld I'll
Tibet and all his disciples. Tomorrow
morning at 10 o'clock there will be
a service of Tibean prayers before
the coffin of the late majesties. The
Tibitians will officiate. Accurate in
formation concerning the late disease
of the emperor and the dowager en-
press was obtained today from Off
cials of the palace. The various for
eign legations in attempting to deter.
mine the causes of the death of the
emperor and the dowager empress
have abandoned the poison theory
and have concluded that death re-
suited from nurasthenia and cardiac
weakness, together with ear complica-
tions.
The foreign board denies emphat-
ically and without qualification the
rumors that either of their majesties
was poisoned.
Death Of the Emperor.
The emperor made a speech less
than an hour before his death. He
passed away during a period Of the
greatest excitement and confusion.
His native physicians had been
temporarily dismissed under the i'm
preston that there was no change in
the condition of his majesty and that
he might live for some time. There
was a sudden turn for the worse, how
ever, and they were quickly recalled.
They at once gave orders, in accord
ance with a custom Of the imperial
family observed for centuries past,
that the emperor be dressed for death
and that imperial yellow clay be
spread over the road leading from the
winter palace to the Forbidden City.
At the same time, an imperial con
veyance was made ready to convey
the dowager empress to the death
chamber.
Awaiting Death.
The last illness of the dowager en-
press dated from November 1. On this
day the court was terrified by an out
burst of uncontrolled temper from her
majesty. On November IL she suffer
ed a paralytic stroke upon being in
formed of the precarious condition
of the emperor. On November Is
Prince Chun returned from her mauso-
leum in the eastern hills. where she
had sent him to make a religious offer