The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-12-17
king LEOPOLD
IS NO MORE
The Aged King Of Belgium Passes
Away This Morning at Brussels
With no Children at
Bedside.
INORGANIC WIFE THERE
Passed Away Peacefully at 2:a5
O'Clock, the Collapse Coming
Suddenly and Very
Rapidly.

BRUSSELS, Dec. liking Leo
pold is dead Her wasted body, made
to stand the strain following the
operation a few days ago, death COM
ing at 2:35 o'clock this morning. The
collapse came quickly and at a time
when the physicians apparently had
their greatest hopes for his recovery.
The Baroness Vaughn. the kings
morganatic wife, who occupied a
chateau near the pavilion where Leo
pold breathed his last, is said to have
been at the bedside. This statement
is partly borne out by the priest who
administered to the dying Belgian rul-
er.
Throughout yesterday bulletins is
sued from the sick room indicated
progressive improvement. The bulle-
tin posted at $3.50 p. m. gave the
kings temperature, pulse and respira-
tion as practically normal. Apparent
ly the drainage of the wound was
perfect, as no fever was present dur
ing the day, and the king had been
able to take nourishnlent.
The public at large was satisfied the
king was on the road to recovery, but
within the pavilion, where the king
lay, there was feeling of anxiety.
chiefly because of Leopold's great
age. After restful day the patient
was able to sleep for brief period
early in the evening, and the night
passed quietlyl. But toward 2 O'Clock
alarming symptoms appeared. Sud
denly the king turned and called to
DR.. Thiriar:
'J'etouffe, docteur, j'etouffe" Il am
suffocating).
DR.. Depage was summoned and the
| two physicians did everything posi-
BILE to prolong life, but without avail
The end came quickly and, after 8
spell Of weakness, peacefully. Prince
Albert arrived at the death bed about
| twenty-five minutes later.
He was accompanied by Princess
Clementine.
| Albert kissed the dead king, ant
left the chamber weeping. Baron Gof
fnet, the kings secretary, started i'm
mediately for Brussels to notify the
members of the royal family. AS ht
was entering his motor car he ex
slaimed:
ITO think that only yesterday VIZ
were still full of confidence, and nov
! tie king is dead
1t appears that the doctors were to
tally unprepared for a fatal termina
ton. 1t was a nun, acting as nurse
who first noticed the heavy breathin.
!. of the king She called DR.. Thiriar t,
the bedside. Both Doctors Thiria
and De Page resorted to injections o
morphine, but these had no effect
Shortly after the end came the minis
ters were notified The first officia
arrived at the death chamber was th
royal chaplain. The ministers re
manned in the chamber for a consider
able time discussing in subdued tone
the sudden death and matters o
| state.
Leopold III succeeded to the thron
! upon the death of Leopold l., Dec. 10
1855 He was born April 8, 1887. Hi
mother was the daughter Of Kini
Louis PHILIPPE, of France. In 1858 h
married the daughter Of Archduk
Joseph of Austria. She died ia 1907
Three daughters were born, Louise
Stephanie and Clementine The tw
elder have been estranged fror
their father but C'ementine remain
ed in his affections
There being no direct hereditar
heir, the crown passes to Prince A
bert, the only son of Leopold's brotf
er, the late Count of Flanders. Th
new monarch was born April 8, 1877
and in 1900 married Pricness Elizabet
of Batavia. They have three chile
rem, Prince Leopold, aged s, Primo
Charles. aged g. and Princess Mari
Jose, aged 8. The prince has been on
of the most popular members of tn
Belgian royalty, and the new king an
queen have the admiration and iov
of the people. In appearance the ne
king is strikingly like Leopold. bu
their dispositions and temperament
are in marked contrast Albert ha
J been great studen of politics an
economics in the United States an
other countries.
funera. Next Week.
! BRUSSELS, Dec. 1.-THE funeral
the king will take place next Wedne
day. Prince Albert will take the oat
or office as king on the following da