The San Francisco call., 1909-12-17
LIFE THREAD OF
LEOPOLD SNAPS
DESPITE RALLY
Wasted Frame of Aged Ruler
OF Belgium Gives Up Soul
After Desperate Fight
Successor to Throne Hastens
to SOvereign's Bedside but
Arrives Too Late


aged and wasted body being unable to
stand the strain put upon it, The col
lapse occurred suddenly and at a mo-
ment when the doctors seemingly had
the greatest hopes for his recovery.
Throughout yesterday bulletins is
sued from the sickrOom indicated pro-
Sressive Improvement The bulletin
posted At $50 o'clock gave the kings
temperature, pulse and respiration as
practically normal. Apparently the
drainage OF the wound was perfect as
no fever was present all day. The king
had been able 10 take nourishment.
ALARMING SYMPTOMS APPEAR
The public at large was satisfied that
the king was on the road to recovery.
but within tho pavilion where the king
lay there was q feeling OF anxiety,
cnlcuN because OF LeopOld's great age
After 4 restful day the patient was able
10 sleep for 4 brief period early in the
evening and the night passed quietly.
But toward = o'clock alarming symp-
toms appeared. Suddenly the king
j etouffe. docteur, Jetouffe" q am
sufocating-D.
Dr. de Page was summoned and the
TWO physicians did everything possible
10 prolong life, but without avail.
The end came quickly. and, after
Prince Albert arrived at the deathbed
about . minutes later.
lie was accompanied by Princess
Clcmentine. Albert kissed the dead
king and left the chamber weeping.
Baron Gofhnet. the kings secretary.
started Immediately for Brussels 10
notify mem bers OF the royal family As
he was entering his motor car he eX-
claimed.
To think that only yesterday we
were still fUli OF confidence. and now
the king is dead"
END SURPRISES PHYSICIANS
IT appears that the doctors were to-
tally unprepared for a fatal termina-
tion. tt was a nun. acting as nurse.
who FIRST noticed the heavy breathing
Of the king. She called Doctor Thiriar
10 the bedside. Doctors Thiriar and De
Page resorted 10 injections Of NOR
phine. but these had no effect.
Soon after the end had come the
ministers were notified The first Off
cial 10 arrive at the death chamber was
the royal chaplain. The ministers re-
mained in the chamber for a consid-
erable time discussing in subdued tones
the sudden death and matters OF state. 4
There being 10 direct hereditary
heir. the crown pas As 10 Prince Albert, /
the only son OF Beopold's brother the I
late Philippe. count of Flanders. The 4
new monarch was born on April s. 4
1875, and on October ,. 1900. married /
Princess Elizabeth Of Bavaria. They 4
have three children; Prince Leopold. 8 4
years old. prince Charles s years of /
Ee. and Princess Marie Jose, years T
old.
SUCCESSOR Il POPULAR
Prince Albert IS one Of the most pop
ulsr members Of the reigning house of +
Belgium. His wife is equally popular
their home life being such as to attract
the love of the people. Prince Albert
las travelled extensively and is a man
of affairs. In sppeara nee he il strik-
ingly like the late king. bat their dis
positions and temperaments have al
ways been IN marked contrast
Prince Albert has been q great stu
dent Of politics and economies and has
frequently lectured On these subjects.
To broaden his grasp OF the affairs OF
5he world he visited the United States
and other countries. aiWays studying
and always adding to his store OF
knowledge md philosophy.
There is another side 10 the new
king which appeals TO popular fancy.
lie dearly loves clean and healthy
sport. he is an accomplished horse
man. enjoys motoring and has taken a
flight or two in a dirigible balloon.
Able but DissoIute Ruler
Leopold II. king OF the Belgians. the
Rockefeller Of monarchs and the most
dissolute Of European rulers was born
April 3. 1885. and was the son OF Leo
poid Of Belgium He. became king
December l., 1865. at the age Of %
years, ruling for just - years and
dying at the a sc OF a years
Though Infamous a royal volup-
tuary- whose reign from beginning 10
end was rife with scandal. Leopold did
much for the kingdom and Belgium. 4
lie was q master businessman, and
while his energies and talents in this 4
direction We're devoted largely to the
piling UP Of an enormous private for /
tune for himself, he still found time
to raise his country from state OF /
poverty to wealth.
Through his absolute rule Of the
Congo Free State. where for several +
years he practiced the most horrible 1
atrocities upon the native population. I
he enriched himself to an extent esti- 4
mated at over S5O,000.0O3. He made
the vast rubber producing sections of I
the Congo his own private property. 4
but recently turned over his Congo 4
holdings to Belgium after worldwide +
exposure OF his crimes had been made. 1
At the same time. by instituting busi-
ness reforms and taking shrewd ad- /
vantage Of opportunities for colonial 4
development he made Belgium pros 1
porous and Brussels one -Of the most I
beautiful cities Of the world.
SALE or PAINTINGS
The kings latest act in defiance OF |
propriety and in the face OF public |
opinion and the opposition Of his sub |
jects was the sale OF his fine collection /
OF paintings. by which he is thought |
10 have swelied his private fortune by
nearly $4,000. 900. His great greed for /
money during his latter life was sup |
posed TO be due to his desire to leave /
= vast fortune TO the baroness de /
Vaughan, his morganatic wife, and to /
the son born Of this union
The kings marriage to the baroness
de Vaughan was one of the most no /
torious scandals that has soiled the /
records of European royalty in recent /
years. The marriage followed liaison 1
which began about 1905, when Leo
pold first met the baroness, who was
then Caroline Louis LacroiX. concert /
hall singer daughter of a Budapest /
ia nitor. former barmaid and woman OF I
general bad repute The king became l
ensmored Of this woman, gave her the /
ritle which she now bears, furnished /
fices,f he,..s,,,n