New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-30
Mutsuhito, Sovereign Nearly
Half a Century, Dies and
Crown Prince Yoshihit0
ASCendS Throne.
FOUGHT DEATH BRAVELY
Marvellous Vitality Enabled
Monarch TO Prolong Life After
Hope Had Fled-Empress
Dowager Begged That
He Be Spared.

Toxic. July S0-Mutsuhito, for forty
four years Emperor of japan, died at
I243 o'clock this morning. Yoshihito
Haru-no-miya reiGns under the for
mula provided by the constitution pro
mulgated by Mutsuhito. The King is
dead. Long live the King!"
Mutsuhito, who was the 121st En-
peror Of Japan. passed gently away.
He had been unconscious for many
hours before his death, and the En-
press. the Crown Prince and the most
prominent officials of the household and
government were at the bedside.
Haruko. now Dowager Empress,
Yields to Princess Sadako, the young
Empress, who is the mother of three
sons. of whom the eldest is Hirohito
Miti-no-miya. Haruko has won uni
versal sympathy because Of her untir-
ing vigil in the sickroom, where she re-
mained continuously for ten days.
Even on the last day she pitifully
begged the physicians to secure a
short respite for the dying Emperor.
Everything known TO science was
done TO prolong the life Of the SOY
ereign. The whole nation watched pa
thetically. because the death of the
Emperor would establish a new record
in the history of Japan and the peo-
pie clung almost fierccly TO the tradi
ton with which the dying monarch
appeared indissolubly linked
Fright Disease Killed Him.
The Emperor had been suffering from
diabetes for eight years, and in 1906
chronic kidney trouble developed. The
outcome was inevitable from the first
acute developments on July 10 last.
Death vas due 10 acute nephritis. or
Brights disease. complicated By dia-
betcs and an intestinal affection. As
is usual in such cases, the patient on
occasions showed marked signs of inn
vrOvement, followed by a relapse.
Since July % the condition Of the En-
terror gradually became worse. with
high fever, weak and irregular pulse
Ind shallow respiration.
His strong constitution enabled his
majesty TO make a firm resistance to
the nroads tho disease. He was,
however, almost entirely unable to take
.oIrshment, and the continued fever
pldualIy broke down his strength.
lesterday he showed marvellous
Vitality in resisting the approach Of
death. Although ne had been uncon-
scious since dawn, his heart continued
10 beat and he made an occasional
feeble movement with his hands or
tongue whenever his lips were moist
ened, while his breathing. feeble and
rapid, showed that he was making a
supreme struggle.
Nation Prepared for the End.
When the physicians recognized the
hopeleseness Of the case every prepara-
ton was made for the end. The i'm
perial princes, the ministers and nota-
bilities were summoned 10 the palace
and remained in the outer rooms for
twenty hours. A few Of the Oldest who
have been closely associated with the
empire, were permitted to see the En-
peror, while the public, contrary to
custom. was taken into the confidence
Of the physicians who issued bulletins
hourly. giving details Of the progress
Of the disease. Even the last announce
Continued on fifth page, seventh column.