The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-11-24
AGED EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA
DIES At STORED CASTL +
OlG Francis Joseph Yields to Deaths
,hill Hand.-CharleS Francis
Will Follow Him.


Joseph died last night at 3 o'clock
at Schoenbrunn castle according to
Reuter- dispatch from vienna. Dy
way of Amsterdam.
Archduke Charles Francis, grand
nephew of Emperor Francis Joseph,
became lle:;r to the throne o. Austria
Hungary by hte assassination of arch
duke Francis Ferdinand prior to the
outbreak of the war He has been
in command of the Austrian armies
on various fronts during the past two
years.
Archduke Charles Francis was born
on august II, 1887. His wife was
Princess Zita of the Bourbon house
OF Parma. His father was the Arch
duke Otto, who was the younger
brother of Francis Ferdinand.
Reports of Illness.
London, Nov. 21.-The first intima-
ton received here that Emperor
Francis Joseph's health was again
the subject of solicitation was con-
tanned in dispatch dated November
-, emanating from the Vienna news
agency, which reports that the
emperor had been suffering some
DAYS from a slight catarrhal affec-
ton. Subsequently reports from yarl-
Gus sources, more or less conflicting,
represented that his condition was be-
coming worse but none Of them in
dicated that his illness threatened
to reach a critical state and from
Vienna came assurances that he still
was able to give audience to one or
more ministers daily.
What gave some credence to the
suspicion that his condition was much
graver than the official bulletin in
dieated was the report, which still
lacks official confirmation, that It
has been decided to associate the
heir to the throne, Archduke Charles
Francis, in the government OF the
country and that he was to assume
the position on December 2 on the
6S anniversary of the emperor's as
cension to the throne.
So far as is known here ArchduKe
Charles Francis still is at the front
in command of the army.
Climax to Tragedies.
With Francis Joseph's death in the
midst of this great conflict there is a
remarkable climax to long list OF
tragedies in the Hapsburg famlly-a
list unparalleled in any other reign1nS
house in Europe-including the as
:sassination or violent death of seven
near relatives.
The fortitude with which the en-
peror bore each blow and in later
wears withstood the inroads Of Ill
health himself was the wonder of his
people. Fears that the shock Of the
assassination of his heir, the Arch |
duke Francis Ferdinand, and his con-
sort while on state visit to Bosnia |
On June %. 1914, would kill the en-
neror we're answered in characteristic
manner.
Francis Joseph, then nearing his
84th birthday, recuperating at Ischl
from a catarrhal affliction which each
spring had borne heavily upon him. I
strength to return to Vienna
imnediately and take q firm grip on
the confused state of affairs.
with the royal funeral rites oo-
served and the new heir, the young
Archduke Carl Francis Joseph, recos-
nized. the venerable emperor and his
advisers turned to Servia with de-
mands which startled all Europe.
From the ultimatum of July %, de-
the anti-Austrian propagan-
s1a and demanding prompt punishment
of the assassins of Archduke Ferdl-
nand, according to items supposedly
dictated by Francis Joseph hlmseh'
practically dates the war now raVag-
ing Europe.
In his manifesto of July %, the day
of formal declaration OF war upon
Servia. Francis Joseph said:
"The intrigues of malevolent op-
moment compel me in defense OF the
honor of my monarchy and for the
protection of its dignity and the Sc
acurity of its possessions to grasp ehe
sword after long years Of peace
"The hope that Servia would keep
Its word has not been fulfilled; the
fame of its hatred for myself and my
house are always blazed higher.
I'm this solemn hour l am fully
conscious of the whole signlncance
of my resolve and my responsiolllts
before the Almighty. have examined
and weighed everything, and with Sc
rene conscience, set out on the pain
that duty points"
With the war on. communication
with Vienna was practically cut on.
eRumors of the emperor's assasslna- !
Sion. or his impending death from
shock over the great war he had or
dered, were wide circulated, with de-
malls fGllowing.
~ Aro,,cf . when the Germans |