HISTORY OF THE ILLNESS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 837, 10 May 1910, Page 3

HISTORY OF THE ILLNESS.

TIIIC QUEEN'S LONG VIGIL

LONDON, May 8. The i rouble over (lie Kind’s health was lir.-t, manifested in I’aris. where aente indigestion shortened his visit, to tin; theatre to wifne.-tj the performance of M. Kokand’s “('hanteeleer.'’ The King passed a. bad nielli, and afterwards a, chill developed. 'i'lm bronchitis, which mime on at Biarritz, was not dangerous, but. suggested the necessity of extreme care. Motor excursions during the ehwing days of bis stay there made him bronzed ami exceptionally well-looking when Sir George Reid ami others welcomed him on bis return to London on April 27tb,

lie visited tiro opera, lit fee lion ns after ids arrival, and on the Thursday gave audience to Lord Kitciieiier.

J lunched at the Palace with the Duke and Duchess of Fife, and with a large Koval party he attended the Koval Academy.

On the Friday he gave an audience to several Ambassadors and Viscount Morley and Mr Haldane, and took leave of Viscount Gladstone.

On Sunday be attended the Sandringham Ghnreb, but the east, wind and rapid changes of climate became trying after the mild atmosphere of Biarritz. On Monday then; was nasal catarrh and bronchial irritation ami a slight increase in temperature. On Tuesday night a violent attack ol coughing with iieart failure occurred. Tills was the lirst ala l ining symptom. The doctors, including Sir U. 0. Powell, who. with Dr. Thus. Barrow, the greatest English specialist on the heart, were hurriedly summoned, and for an hour the King had great dillicully in restoring his breath, but this attack at length yielded to treatment. Queen Alexandra, was} warned of the King’s condition. Ills Majesty was better on Wednesday, but his heart became weaker on Thursday, and the Queen was again warned. A storm had delayed the Royal yacht, by which the Queon was returning, but the accompanying destroyer reached Dover in advance and gave orders to tiie port railway antliorilies, who arranged for the speediest, departure of Queen Alexandra’* train to London.

Tlio violent coughing of tiie King on Thursday afternoon neee.srhtated a public announcement’ o f the fitate of bin health, lie passed a comfortable night- in a room iu the north-east corner of the Balace facing Constitution Hill, where Ik- was not disturbed by the tralhc.

Alexandra only took brief rests on a couch in a sit,ling room nearby, Princess Victoria. sharing her vigil. Thenceforward the Queen only saw her relations, the physicians ami Nurse Fletcher.

On Friday early the callers, including Mrs Asquith and Lord Rothschild, brough away hopeful tidings, but it was feared that unless (he bronchitis abated tiie King would have insuliicieut strength to withstand tlio spasms. Before issuing the 10.30 bulletin, the doctors consulted the Prince of Whiles, who was greatly surprised and distressed concerning it* terms. The public then realised tlio seriousness of tlio .situation.

The King insisted on seeing Lord Knollys, ids private secretary. During the morning ho hud intervals of coughing lits and in the afternoon the coughing was somewhat, less frequent. The Princess of Wales returned to Marlborough House, it being understood that tlio King was able to sit up and take lea with his relations, but symptom* of heart failure then developed. Tlio lirst evidence o£ a crisis was when the Princess of Wales was hurriedly recalled at 1 o’clock to say farewell to the King. A special messenger was sent to the Hon. Winston Churchill.

Tiie bishop of llipon, Clerk of the Closet, left, at 8.30. On being questioned lie said the King's condition was very critical. Sir Francis Laking and Sir James Reid at 10 o’clock informed the. Royalties waiting in an adjoining room that tiie end was only a. matter of time.

Queen Alexandra ;iud the I’rince of Wales thou returned to the sick room. The Kin;- was able to recognise (lie Queen anil Prince, but at 11 o'clock, when (lie rest of the family gathered at the bedside, ho was, rapidly sinking, lie was free from pain. Tho Arclibishop of Canterbury said special prayers and conducted a .short service at the bedside.

IN HARNESS TO THE LAST. LONDON, May 7. The Times, ia describing the last hours o£ his Majesty, says that lie died as he lived —iu harness. His Majesty refused to stay la bed on Friday morning, faced his illness with courage and determination, and, except during the attacks of coughing and choking, he conversed as usual. There was a bad paroxysm of coughing in the forenoon, and tho paroxysm recurred in the afternoon, till, in the evening, it look the tonn rather of failure of breath, and his Majesty became comatose, but throughout he remained up, declining to go to bed. Oxygen was freely administered, and the air of the room was thoroughly oxygenated. The family was summoned, ami nearly all arrived by 7.30 p.m. His Majesty’s condition was not improving, and it was then arranged that all stay tho night, and rooms were prepared. The Duke of Connaught learned the news at Suez, and steamed immediately to Naples, whence ho will travel overland to London. Queen Emma of the Netherlands has arrived on a visit to tho Duchess of Albany. Tho Archbishop of Canterbury was at the bedside, and administered the last rites.

Four physicians were present, also Nurse Fletcher, who had attended his Majesty at the operation in 1902, and again attended him at Biarritz when he suiferod from bronchitis early in March. Her Majesty Queen Alexandra and the members of the family were constantly to and from the sick room. King Edward recognised anyone [iresent in a flicker ol consciousness about 10 p.m., and then relapsed into coma, and peacefully expired at 11.45. The departure of the I’rinee and Princess of Whiles at 12.15 a.in. caused the crowd waiting iu the drizzling rain to fear the worst, and soon afterwards a number of pressmen made a hurried exit from the Palace.

Tite crowd eagerly thronged around them, questioning. “What is the news'; Do tell us.” “The King is dead,’ was tho reply. The crowd was stunned, and doubted the statement. “it is quite true,” the pressmen replied. Half an hour later motor ears brought special editions of the morning papers announcing the deatii. Ea rlier in the evening the crowd round tho Palace had been intensely thrilled when the buglers at the Wellington Barracks blew I lie retreat.

The Royal Standard (lying from its stall' on the roof of the Palace was gradually lowered in accordance with custom, and the crowd watched iu awed silence, fearing that it would slop at half-mast, breathed again as it disappeared from sight. The Primate was present when King Kdward passed quito peacefully and quietly into eternity. Queen Alexandra watched her husband with the utmost devotion since her re-

turn. Princess Maud alone ot the children was absent. She arrives on Sunday.

EROGRESS OK IUS ILLNESS. On arriving at Sandringham on tlio Satnrdav, after a heavy rainfall, King Edward'fell so well that he. declined to romam inUoortL Ho inspected the alterations being made in the grounds, being anxious to have all in order before Queen Alexandras return. lie again caught a chill. Returning on Monday, ho dined privately at Cirosvenor Crescent. The chill developed, and on returning to liuckiiighani Enlace lie was novoE again in the open air. The asthmatic cardiac affection, gradually increased. Oxygen was administered at intervals since Thursday night. The medical examination was at first directed to possible complications in the throat. Hr. St. Clair Thomson, on being summoned. declared that an operation was unnecessary. The Erince ol Wales and Queen Alexandra were deeply moved by the unfavourable morning bulletin on Friday, and both visited the sick room for a few minutes, but the relatives did not make a prolonged stay, the doctors stating that ijuiot and repose wore essential. Throughout the day King Edward eat in a chair.

There were frequent paroxysms of and two fainting (its. Ho* tueen tiio attacks lie? insisted on transacting public business, including tlie arrangements for the reception of Prince Kudiimi. the Mikado’s representative to the opening of (lie Anglo-Japanese Inhibition, and insisted on several alterations. During the afternoon conditions became steadily worse. The constant strain of coughing affected the heart, the left ventrkJe failing to act. The oxygen gave no relief.