Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-11-20

had been temporarily dismissed under
the impression that there was nu
change in the condition of His Majesty
and that he might live for some time.
There was sudden turn for the worse,
however, and they were quickly recall
ed. They at once gave orders, in ac-
cOrdance 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 convey
ance was made ready to convey the
Dowager Empress to the death cham
Der.
The last illness of the Dowager En-
press dated from Nov. /. On this day
the court was terrified by an outburst
of uncontrolled temper by Her Majesty.
On Nov. II she suffered a paralytic
stroke upon being informed Of
the condition of the Emperor
An official Of high standing
said today that the Empress
died of apoplexy and that she
was able to talk and did talk UP to
within few hours of passing away.
Both Their Majesties awaited the COM
ing of the grim reaper clad in their
full official robes and surrounded by
hundreds of court officials and follow
ers. 1t was a barbarous exhibition of
the soulless and inhuman formality
and etiquette of the court.
Soon after the deaths were announc.-
ed hundreds of men, including every
hn6xy a t0 fha
ments, collected in the palace and re-
manned there for five days
The members Of the Grand Council
in testamentary statement written
expressly for Her Majesty, have drawn
a pitiful picture of her last suffer
ing. This account recalls the feelings
Of ar eyewitness, who stood awe
stricken in the crowd at prescribed
distance from the bedside of the dy-
ing woman in sorrowful contemplation
of Her Majesty lying upon her couch
and awaiting the coming of death.
On the night of Nov 49, the Dowager
Empress called the members of the
Grand Council together and talked
with them for some time. She was
lying prone. but fully dressed. After
one hours consultation the councillors
were dismissed but they were told to
return at 2 o'clock in the morning with
the adicts prepared to announce the
succession to the throne. 1t is report
ed that Her Majesty was able to sig
Nifty ner assent to these particular
edicts, but Immediately after having
done this she declared:
Il can bear no more" and relapsed
into Inconsistencies.
The Emperor and the Dowager EN-
press were dead or moribund when
the regency edicts were issued.
AS soon as it was actually known
throughout the palace that Their
Majesties were dead. a condition of
panic ensued. The widow of Tung Chi
attempted to commit suicide because
sne perceived she would not be made
Dowager Empress. There was an out
break of wailing and general pande
monium. Many of the palace eunuchs
fed. carrying with them such valuables
as they could lay their hands on. The
Dowager Empress Yeholala was one
of the few who retained her presence
OF mind. She ordered that the gates
be guarded and gave other instructions
for the maintenance of and restoration
of order.
Today the eunuchs have returned and
have been reinstated and except for
the continuance of funeral obsequies
and observances, conditions at the pal
ace are normal The. principal concu-
bines of the late Kuang Hsu have been
pensioned. ...
Pu vi. the baby Emperor. has been
taken from his family and cared for
within the palace precincts. He, is
popularity reported as crying day and
night for his old nurse