The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1910-05-12
King Edward Dead.
DEATH TAKES SCEPTRE FROM
ENGLAND'S RULER.

FTlday Night - Pneumonia,
Following Bronchitis, the
Cause Of Death-Had Not
Been Well for Some Time,
But Immediate Sickness Was
of Short Duration-Edward
VII a Unique Personality
Loved by His People and
Honored Throughout Civil
lied World.
London, May liking Edward
VII, who returned to England from a
vacation ten days ago in the best oi
health, died at 11:45 O'Clock last
night Friday 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 tu
the crown Immediately, according to
the laws of the Kingdom, without of.
fetal 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:
Il am deeply grieved to inform you
that my beloved father, the King,
passed away peacefully at 11:45 to
night.
(Signed) "GEORGE."
Pneumonia following bronchitis is
believed to have been the cause o
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.
The intelligence that the end o.
King Edwards reign had come was
not surprise at the last. The peo
pie had been expecting to hear it al
any hour since the evening bulletin
was at Buckingham Palace
and fl ed throughout the King
dom.
The capital received it without ex
citement, but sadly, for the King
with his own people was unquestion
ably one of the most popular rulers
in the world. They regarded him az
one of the strongest forces making
tfor the stability of the peace of the
Empire.
All who knew the King anticipated
that the death would be sudden, anC
it would not have occasiOned great
surprise if it had occurred without
warning at some social function, as {
result of heart trouble. Almost te
the end he refused to take to his bed
and was sitting up yesterday in {
large chair, SO the palace stories GO.
One of the last utterances attribu
ted to King Edward was:
"WelI, it is all over, but | think
have done my duty"
He seemed then to have reached ;
full realization that his end was fas
approaching.
The Queen and others of the roya
family and four doctors had bee
constantly in the sick room through
out the day. Several hours befor
his death, the King was in a coma
tose condition, but he rallied slightl
before and 10 O'Clock and appeare
to recognize his family. Then b
lapsed into Inconsistencies whic
ended in his passing.
A summons to the Privy Council
lors has been issued by Sir Almeri
Fitzroy, Clerk of the Council, conve1
ing the Council in the Throne roo1
of st. James Palace at O'Clock thi
afternoon, when the Councillors wi
0 with one voice and the consent {
tongue and heart, publish and pre-
claim that the High and Might
Prince George is now, by the deaf
of our late sovereign of happy men
: ory, become our only lawful an
, rightful liege Lord, George ', by th
grace of God, King of the Unite
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ir'
land, defender of the faith, and En-
l. peror of India, to whom we do a.
knowledge all faith and constan
obedience, with all hearty and hun
BILE affection, beseeching God, b
: whom kings and queens do reign, t
bless the Royal Prince, George \
with long and happy years to reig
4 over u.s."
The new King, after this proclams
! ton, will address the Council an
promise to reign as constitutions
] sovereign. At the conclusion OF I'll
meeting King George will issue b
j first proclamation requiring all of
cials to proceed with their duties.
When Edward VII breathed h
last there came to a close the life of
unique personality. He was love
] almost universally, first OF all as
man whose natural attributes mao
4 him dear to the hearts of his subject
q and next as a monarch whose abilit
8 to fuIfill the role which he was calle
! on to assume was demonstrated col
j spicuously. Edward VII, by tt
grace of God, of the United Kingdom
Great Britain and Ireland and OF tt
British Dominions beyond the sea
King, Defender of the faith, Emperc
q of India" was his title.
s. Subject to fierce criticism in b
q youth, because OF his manner OF iii
he lived down rather unenviab
reputation through long years
more careful conduct, and succeeds
! in winning the confidence of all tt
people as almost no other sovereis
OF Great Britain, except his mothe
Queen Victoria, had done. As state