The Washington herald., 1909-02-21
KWANGSU MURDERED
China's Emperor Made Vie
tim of Empress Plot
FORCED TO SWALLOW POISON
About 20 Die, Demands
that Nephew Precede Her, so that
Peace in the Celestial Empire
Would Be ASsured-Infant SON of
Younger Brother Placed on Throne.

Prom the Chief European Correspondent Of the
Ls1Sn News Bureau
Paris. Feb 2o.-The Revue. OF PARIS.
publishes an interesting study of the life
and death Of Kwang Su. Emperor OF
China The story. said 10 have been pro-
cured from unimpeachable sources n
Pekin. supports the suspicious aroused by
the death OF the Emperor and Dowager
Empress within t-eo days Of each other
After sketching the miserable existence
the Emperor led after the betrayal BY
Yuan Shi Kai Of his plot to intern the
Empress Dowsger, a plot which led 10 MS
own captivity for the rest OF his days.
detailed story Is given Of bis death. Il
appears that when she felt her end ap-
preaching the old Empress Tzu-hsi con-
voked the grand council on November T.
and It was decided that as Kwsng Su had
no male issue the infant son Of HE
younger brother Chun. should be named
successor. with Chun as regent
Summons Deadly Foe.
is soon as the grand council mad oroken
Up she summoned Yuan Shi Kal, he En-
peror's most deadly foe, together win
Prince Using. the head Of the imperial
family. and the chief Of the eunuchs OF the
palace. As a result OF their meeting II
was announced that Kwang Su was dan
gercusly I'll from heart disease, and the
offers OF the foreign legations 10 send
their doctors were courteoUsly but firmly
declined.
Next morning at 10 o'clock the chief
eunuch. with two confidential attendants,
entered the little palace where the En-
peror wss confined. After having ordered
everybody out Of the room he declared 20
Kwang Su that the Empress was dying
and that 4 vas needful for him 10 pre-
decease her. 50 saying he deposited on
table some pills Of opium, a packet OF gold
leaf. and a yellow silk-piaited cord, prom
ising to return in three hours time
II he found that neither the opium nor
the gold leaf had been used. il would be
his painful duty % can upon The two
assistants 20 strangle him with the silken
cord. Meanwhile the two executioners
would watch the door Of the room Il
should be explained that a piece OF fine
gold leaf is placed over the lips. and the
breath, being deeply drawn, il Is inhaled
and obstructs the giottis, causing imme-
date suffOcsti0n.
Hide Their Valuable
The news OF what was about 20 happen
quickly spread CONSERVATION throughout
the palace. The women. fearing SINH
lar fate for themselves. ser Up lamenta-
tons and the favorite eunuchs hastily
began 10 pack and hide their valuables.
During this tine the unfortunate KWsug
Su remained alone in the room with
the two creatures OF the chief eunuck.
When this official returned at ! o'clock
the opium had disappeared and Kwang
Su was stretched almost nfeless on bis
couch. though still breathing.
Yuan Shi kai, being informed, carried
10 the Empress a TsPo.t OF the state OF
her nephew. the Emperor, and while the
foreign missions were officially communi-
Gated with Prince Using was sent 70 de-
posit offerings on the imperial tombs 20
prOpitiate their names in favor OF their
descendant.
At o'clock Kwang Su expired, and the
three-year-old Pu u was at once brought
TO the imperial palace and proclaimed
Emperor Tzu-hsi could now die in peace.
which she did twenty-fOur hours later
after having. as she imagined, by the
murder OF her nephew insured the tran
quillity OF the Celestial empire after her
death