Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-12-21
KING LEOP0LD's BODY
IS BORNE TO BRUSSELS.
Fight May EnSue Between
Prince Albert and Sons of
Union With the Baroness
Vaughan.


evening the funeral cortege of the dead
King Leopold left the palace of the
Palms, where he died. for Brussels. The
coffin was covered with a black velvet
pail and escorted by squadron of cav
airy.
Immediately behind rode the new king.
the court officials and mourners, Minute
guns were fired until the arrival at the
state palace in Brussels. The streets along
the way were densely packed with Silent
throngs. Sunday and Monday the body
of the king will lie in state in the Chap
Dclle Ardente.
A royal carriage has been, sent to Co
logne to meet the Princess Louise. The
Baroness Vaughan is still in Brussels,
but is expected to go to Paris Sunday.
According. to the Gazette, Princess
Louises counsel has notified the prin-
cipal banks that she will oppose the pay
ment of any deposits they may have re-
ceived in the names of Leopold or Bar
oness Vaughan, and has forbidden the
executors of Leopold's will to destroy
any papers. -... .s
BRUSSELS, Dec. 1S-King Leopold, in
his will. declared that he possessed only
S. COO, 900, which he left to his children.
autopsy be performed and said that
apart from my nephew. Prince Albert
and the members Of my household, for
bid anyone to attend my funeral. Ny
papers shall be destroyed or handed to
Prince Albert"
Baron Goffinet, who was private secre-
tary to King Leopold has been appointed
executor of the will of the late king. AL
bert, the new king, will take the name
of Albert l.
BRUSSELS, Dec. ia contest over
the succession to the throne of Belgium
is possible The vatican is reported to
have confirmed the marriage a year ago
of King Leopold and Baroness Vaughan.
Two sons are said to have been born
from this union and both survive. The
elder is Lucian, years, old. 1t is re-
ported that he will claim the throne.
Prince Albert, the heir presumptive, Is
a nephew of Leopold III.
All Brussels mourns today. Flags
on public buildings are at half
mast and private houses are draped
with crepe. The body of the king, cloth
ed in the uniform of lieutenant general,
remains in the chamber of THE Palms"
where death entered last night. 1t is sur
rounded only by those who in life had
won and retained the kings close friend
ship. The expression on, the dead mon
arch's face is peaceful, as though the end
was painless. The body will be placed
in a casket this evening and then the
period of mourning will officially begin.
DR.. Thiriar said today: II knew that the
king was suffering from a malady of the
heart. This was our chief anxiety when
operating but we decided to resort to
surgery in order to save his majesty from
terrible suffering. AS a matter of fact,
he died without suffering at ALL" -
Immediately following .Leopold's death
two nuns laid out the body and prepare
tions for conveying the corpse to the
city proper were made. The obseduies will
take place at the collegiate church Of ST.
GuduIa.
This morning early Premier Schollaert
proceeded to the palace and under his
direction the official Moniteur published a
special number announcing the formation
IF a regency council composed of the
council and ministers who will NORMALLY
hold the reins of government until the
heir to the throne, Prince Albert, has
taken the oath of ascension.
After much persuasion today, Baron
Goffinet, private secretary to King Leo
pold, who is greatly affected by the sud-
den termination of his majesty's Illness
described the scene at the palace.
1.-The kings body said the baron.
rests on his bed His expression Is
peaceful. All of the household are in
tears, gathered about the body. We have
informed the ministers of the sad event. =
The newspaper correspondents were not
permitted in the palace this morning.
1t is said that Leopold's Will constitutes
a good sized volume.
The Princess Clementine and her sister,
Stephanie, with the countess of Flanders,
left the palace at an early hour. They
were followed soon by his majesty's inti-
mate friend, Baroness Vaughan.
The latter proceeded to Balincourt, re-
fusing to be interviewed.
the courts.
PARIS. Dec. 1.-THE death of King
leopold. of Belgium, removes one of the
stanchest friends of France. He saved
Belfort for France after the war of 1SaI
and during numerous crises In the his
tory of the third republic, never failed to
place his sound advice at the disposal of
the government. Despite the pleasure
loving follies which marred his career,
the French statesmen consider that the
role played by Leopold II IN Europe as
large and distinctively as that Of a po-
litical peacemaker.
He was frequently the counselor of 9TH
er monarchs and though he broke with
every member of his own family at times
his Intervention is believed to have pre-
vented scandal and trouble in many
princely houses, notably those Of Ger
many and Austria. - Personally he was
extremely fond of France and spent
great portion OF his time here. A few
years ago he was a familiar figure on the
Boulevards. at the opera and in the
restaurants, where he earned the title of
''the sportiest, king of Europe; Since
his alliahce+w with Baroness Vaughan. how
ever the places of amusement had seen
little of him. - -
Prince and Princess Albert, of Belgium.
who now become king and queen of the
worlds most interesting nation, are bet
ter liked by the Belgians than the new
kings dead uncle. Leopold, was. Albert
already was officially the ruler of the
Congo, and this move kept King Leopold
from being punished by the powers for
This cruelties .'% e
The new king is the only son of King
Leopolds dead brother. Prince Philippe,
count of Flanders. He was born In 1875.
and. was married to the Princess Eliza
beth, of Bavaria in 1900: He has three
little sons-Prinee Leopold, born In 1901;
Prince Charles. bern in 1903, and Princess
Marie Jose. born in 1896 $50
Prince Albert always was considered
model member of the house of Flanders.
He has none of the speculative traits of
his dead uncle and is of a studious turn
of mind.
Despite their apparently happy married
life ba ravuy r,,Iars Of the EeIO{opS bavo