Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-07
Pneumonia; Following Bronchial Trouble, Claimed
Him Within Few Hours After Attack
Became Serious.
LAST BREATH WAS DRAWN AT r1:45 P. M.
Custom of Centuries Followed in Making Formal Announce
ment of Death and Succession of Son. Prince
George to the Throne.

London, May liking Edward VII,
who returned TO England from a vaca-
ton 10 days ago in the best of health,
died at 11:45 o'clock last night in the
presence of his family, after an illness
of less than a week, which was serious
hardly more than three days.
The Prince OF Wales succeeded to
the crown Immediately, according to
the laws of the kingdom, without Off
cial ceremony. His first official act
was to dispatch TO the lord mayor the
announcement of his fathers death,
in pursuance to custom. His telegram
read:
"a am deeply grieVed to inform
you that my beloved father, the
king, passed away peacefully at
11:45 O'Clock tonight. GEORGE"
Bulletins Issued.
The physicians soon afterwards IS
sued their. official bulletin, which was
as follows:
MAY 6, 1880 p. Mills ma
jesty the king breathed his last at
11:45 o'clock tonight, in the pres
ence of her majesty, Queen Alex
andra, the prince and princess OF
Wales, Princess Royal, the duch-
ess of Fife, Princess Victoria and
Princess Louise, the duchess of
Argyll.
"LAKINe, REID, POWELL, DAw
SON.
Pneumonia, following bronchitis, is
l'beneved to have been the cause OF
death, but the doctors thus far have
refused to make a statement. Some
of the kings friends are convinced
that worry over the critical political
situation which confronted him, with
sleepless nights, aggravated, if it did
not cause, the fatal illness.
Those in Death Chamber.
Besides the nearest relatives in Eng
land, the duke OF Fife and the arch.
bishop of Canterbury were in the
death chamber. The kings brother
the duke of Connaught, with his fam.
lily, is at Suez, Fastening home from
Africa. The kings daughter, Queen
Maud of Norway, will start for Eng.
land tomorrow.
The intelligence that the end OF
King Edwards reign had come was
not surprise at the least. The people
had been expecting to hear it any
hour since the evenings bulletin was
posted at Buckingham palace and
flashed throughout the kingdom. The
capital received it without excitement,
but sadly, for the king with his own
people was unquestionably one of the
most popular rulers in the world
Papers Bring News.
The fashionable restaurants were
just emptying and few groups of late
theatregoers were making their way
homeward through the rain, while a
small crowd still hung about the pal
ace when the streets were filed sud
denly with newsboys shrilly crying:
Death of the King" The papers
were quickly seized and the people
discussed the momentous event quietly
and soon dispersed. The streets were
deserted by 1 o'clock
News Sent to the World.
Within a few minutes the death of
the king the home Office was telegraph
ing the intelligence to the heads of
other governments and the British dip
lomats and colonial officials through
out the world
All who knew the king anticipated
that his death would be sudden. and
it would not have occasioned great
surprise If it had occurred without
warning at some social function, as a
result of heart trouble. Almost to the
end he refused to take to his bed. and
was sitting up yesterday in a large
chair, SO the palace stories go, corrob-
Grating the description of him as an
unruly patient which DR.. OFT gave to
Vienna interviewer last evening.
Rally Was Only Partial.
The queen and others of the royal
family and four doctors had been con-
stantly in the sick room throughout the
day. Several hours before his death
the king was in a comatose condition,
but he rallied slightly between and
10 O'Clock. and appeared to recognize
his family. Then he lapsed into un-
consciousness, which ended in his
passing.
When Dr. st. Clair Thompson. the
great throat specialist, was called in
yesterday morning it was, expected
that an operation on the throat woulc
be necessary. but after consultation
it was decided that the lungs were
the seat of the most serious symp-
toms. Experts were held in readiness
to administer an anesthetic. but there
was fear that the weakness of the