The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-12-17
Leopold II, Born in 1887 and
Succeeding to the Throne on
Death Of His Father in 1865,
Passes Into World Beyond.
PRINCE ALBERT FALLS
HEIR TO VACANT CROWN
The New Monarch Is a Nephew
Of the Late KiHgl a Great
Student of Economics and
Popular With the People.
STATUS OF CONGO STATE

Brussels, Dec. liking Leopold
died at 2:35 o'clock this morning, his
aged and wasted body being unable to
stand the strain put upon it. The
collapse occurred suddenly, and at a
moment when the doctors seemingly
had the greatest hopes for his recov-
cry.
Throughout Yesterday bulletins is
sued from the sick room indicated pro-
&resslVe Improvement, The bulletin
posted at $3.50 o'clock gave the kings
temperature, pulse and respiration as
practically normal. Apparently the
on alhdse OF the wound was perfect as
no fever was present all day. The king
mad been able To- take no nOurishmeuL
Ine public at large was satisfied that
the king was on the road to recovery.
but within the pavilion where the king
lay Ihere was feeling Of anxiety,
chiefly because of Leopold's great age
After a restful day the patient was
able to sleep for q brief period early
iii the evening, and tonight passed
quietly.
Deathbed Scene.
Bur towards o'clock alarming
turned and called TO DR. Thirar:
.etouffe, docteur; Tetouffe' q am
sufTerluEl.
Dr. De Page was Summoned and the
two physicians did everything possible
10 prOlOug life, bur without avail
The end came quickly, and, after
spell OF weakness, peacefully. Prince
Albert arrived at the deathbed about
twenty-five minutes later.
He was accompanied by Princess
Clementne. Albert kissed the dead
king, and left the chamber weeping.
Baron Geoffinet, the kings secretary,
ct % INN ..Hf 1H .I-
notify members of the royal family As
he was entering his motor car he ex-
claimed:
Hopeful Only Yesterday.
ITO think that only yesterday we
were stiIl fun of confidence, and now
the king is dead
1t appears that the doctors were
totally unPreDared for the fatal ter
mlnatiou. 1t was a nun, acting as
nurse. who first noticed the heavy
breathing of the king.
She called DIT. Thirar to the bedside
Doctors Thirar and De Page resOrted
u injections of morphine, but these
had no effect.
soon after the end had come the min
listers were notified. The first off
cial TO arrive at the death chamber was
the royal chaplain. The ministers re-
manned i'm the chamber for consider
able time discussing i'm subdued tones
the sudden death and matters of state
Leopold's Reign
Leopold 1T. king of the Belgians. son
of the late King Leopold I, upon whose
death on December 10, 1865 he sue
ceeded 10 the throne, vas born at
Brussels, April @, 1887 His father was
the former Prince of SaNe-COburg-
Gotha, and his mother Princess Louise.
daughter of King Louis Philippe Of
France.
On August o. 1853, he married the
"A Henrietta q far
of Archduke Joseph of Austria She
died september 10. 1902. There were
three daughters born of this union
Louise, Stephanie and Clementine. The
two elder prlncesses have been es-
tranged from their father, but ClemeE-
tine remained in his affections
There being no direct hereditary
heir the crown passes to Prince Al
bert the only son of Leopold's brother,
Continued on Page Two.