The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-12-17
LEOPOLD
IS DEAD
End Came Early This Morn
Ing
AFTER A BRAVE FIGHT
The King Of Belgium Displayed Won
dertul Fortitude During His Last
Hours Revived After
Operation.
AFTER A BRAVE FIGHT

Brussels, Belgium, Dec. l7.--King Len
Poid died this morning at 2;35 after a
brave struggle for existence lasting ~.
erai Gays, and toward the close Of which
ne underwent an operation to remove an
obstruction IN his intestines. The end
nag been expected hourly, as the king
failed last, and the royal family were
az prepared for the end when it came
Leopold Louise Philippe Marie Victor
KING OF the Belgiuns, was born in Brus.
sells, April >, 1885, and succeeded to Tie
throne upon the death OF his father.
Leopold !, which occurred Dec. 10, 1865.
Leopold received liberal education and
II his youth Travelled extensively through,
Europe, Egypt and Asia Minor. As
Duke OF Brabant, he took prominent
part IN several important discussions IN
the senate. When he came to the throne
he was thought to possess broad and
acttve mind and was looked upon az d
ruler who would understand The wants
Of his people. In his early days he gave
himself up to the study of tile great
economical questions that to-day are
paramount. He made exhaustive re-
searches into finance, commerce. indus.
try and engineering His first speech
IN the senate, delivered several wears be-
fore he came to the throne, was 10 ad
yocate the establishment Of d maritime
service between Antwerp and the Lei
want.
DUNG his many years on the throne
Leopold proved himself to be in adj
mirable monarch and a keen business
man. In the latter capacity he was
without peer among the European row
atty. His financial achievements III tie
Congo, in China. in the United States
and in other parts Of the world are proof
sffieient Of this fact. 1t is owing to The
kings untiring energy and perseverance
that Belgium has, in the Congo state. /
an outlet for her commercial and IN /
dustrial activity. He was active on the /
various stock exchanges and seemed 10 (
find more satisfaction in launching and /
directing great Industrial enterprises
than IN administering the affairs Of his
kingdom The Congo Free State was T
his pet hobby. He recognized the i'm
portance OF the vast country and tinanc- 4
ed the private corporation which ex-
plotted and administered the territory.
The money he expended on its early de-
yelopment often embarrassed the ter
ritory but in later years the venture
reaped vast profits and became. by rea-
son Of it's maladministration and bv
the violence Of all the stipulations Of
It's charter or constitution, veritable
plague spot, and all the civilized world
shudaered at the reports Of the appan-
ing ernelties perpetrated upon the nil. !
tiyea by the agents Of tile king. These
atrocities came near causing serious
trouble on several occasions and lead to
interference By other nations. The mat
ter was finally hushed up aud Belgium
assumed full control and sovereignty Of
the Congo country, taking it out Of the
hands Of the syndicate which had estab- i
lished sort OF independent govern
ment over IT, Il
The legitimate heir to the throne il 4
Prince Albert Of Flanders, only son OF !;
the late Count Of Flanders, brother to
King Leopold He WAS born April s. 4
1870. Lis elder brother, the Prince Bald H
win before mentioned, who had been u
recognized as his uncle, King LeopoIdis Il
heir, died at house ii Brussels under h
mysterious circumstances. much like 8
those In which the death Of the crown II
prince Of Austria. Prince Rudolph, was Il
involved