The Topeka state journal., 1908-11-13
HIS END NEAR.
Emperor of China Removed to
the Death Chamber.
Members of Grand Council Meet
in Palace.
THE EMPRESS SWOONS.
An Edict Makes Prince Chen
Regent Of he Empire.
The DOwager Empress Also Is
Reported Dead.


China was reported dead at O'Clock
this afternoon. 1t had, however, been
impossible to secure official confirma-
ton of this announcement up to 6
O'Clock this evening. His majesty was
transferred to the death chamber at 2
O'Clock in the afternoon. At that hour
he was still breathing.
Two imperial edicts were issued from
the palace this afternoon in quick sue
cession The first makes Prince Chun
regent of the empire, and the second
appoints his son, Pu Wei, heir pre-
sumptive.
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 this meeting
and is reported to have swooned. At
half past O'Clock this morning a pal
ace official of high standing said the
emperor was still alive. All the gov
ernment offices were deserted. The
palace is crowded with officials.
Prince Chun is a brother of the en-
peror. His name is Tsai-Feng, and he
succeeded to the title of his father,
Prince Chun, in 1891. He is a lieu
tenant general of the Plain White
banner corps, and visited Germany in
1901 as special commissioner of the
throne.
This last illness of the emperor as
sumed a serious aspect a fortnight
ago. It was then declared he was suf-
fering from a grave intestinal COM
plant. 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. 1t was ad-
mitted yesterday that his brain was
affected. The members of the grand
council have been in close attendance
at the palace for ten days. State
ments officially gazetted that his
majesty was in conference with the
and were made for the purpose of
misleading the public.
DOwager Empress Reported Dead.
Pekin, Nov. 13.-1:4O p. NIT is
reported that the dowager empress
also il dying.
This runor, if true. would explain
the two edicts issued late this after
noon regarding regency for the en-
pire.
The foreign residents of Pekin are
confused by the sudden developments
of today and the various reports and
rumors emanating from the palace.
1t is absolutely impossible to obtain
any confirmation, off1ciallV of the re-
condition of the dowager empress.
There is a certain amount of specula-
ton in regard to what is actually
transpiring. It is believed that the
government will utilize the dying con-
dition of the emperor if he is not al
ready 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 that the members of the
grand council were in conference at
the palace. This was at o'clock this
afternoon.
The second edict orders that Pu
Wei, son of Prince Chun, a child
years old, be trained in the palace for
succession to the throne. This makes
him heir presumptive. The hour of
the day at which these edicts were is
sued shows that the imperial family
as we'll as the grand councillors, be-
fore deciding upon the appointment of
Prince Chun to the regency, awaited
the return of Prince Ching, president
of the board of foreign affairs, from
the eastern tombs whittier he went to
inspect the mausoleum of the dowager
empress.
RocI1hi1 Heard From.
Washington, Nov. 13.-A dispatch
just before noon today from American
Minister Rockhill at Pekin, reporting
that the emperor was dying. The
message was sent about 2 o'clock this
afternoon, Pekin time.
Was Always Delicate.
Washington, Nov. 13.-According
to members Of the diplomatic corps
in a position to know about the life
of the Emperor of China, his delicate
health forbade free Indulgence in out
door sports He found his greatest
recreation in the study of mechanical
contrivances. His ENJOYS and inti-
mates were able to please him i'm
mensely by sending him models and
Of Of hi
subjects studied more carefully than
he the reports, on Investigations
abroad of mechanical devices. which
he utilized for the improvement of
conditions in the empire.
Particularly attractive to the emper-
or were clocks and watches. In the
winter palace at Pekin and in the roy
al summer residence, some miles dis
tant were hundreds of clocks from
all parts of the world, nearly all of diff
ferent makes and styles. Nothing is
said to have pleased the emperor more
than to tear a clock to pieces and
quite expert in the adjustment of these
time pieces. His collections of these
contrivances is said to have been one
of the most complete in the orient, not
only representing modern work, but the
development of time recorders through
the centuries.
WI Has Not Heard OficiaIly.
Washington, Nov. 13.-The Asso-
ciated Press dispatches gave the first
news of the death of the Chinese en-
peror. When they were shown to
Minister WI Ting Fang the minister
commented:
"But reports of his death have been
received before"
He added, however. that while he
had not been notified, such notifca-
ton was not to be expected i'm