FATAL COLD LEAF.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2693, 24 December 1909, Page 2

FATAL COLD LEAF.

STORY OF THE LAST HOURS) OF KUANG SU.

The “Paris Revue” publishes an inteesting study of tho lde and death of Kuang Su, the last of the Sons of Heaven. After sketching the miserable existence he led after the betrayal by Yuan Chi Kai of his plot to intern the Dowager-Empress, a plot whioh led to his own captivity, in fact it not in name, for the rest of his days, a detailed story is given of his death. This part of the article a fresh contribution to our knowledge of the manners and customs of the Forbidden City. It appears that when she felt her end approaching the old Empress Tzu-hsi convoked the Grand Council, on November 4, and it was decided that as Kuang Su had no male issue the infant son of his younger brother Tchoun should be named successor, with Tchoun as Regent. It had long, before been a fixed resolve of the old Queen that her nephew should precede her to the tomb, and as soon as the Grand Council had broken uo she summoned Yuan Chi Kai, the'Emperor’s most deadly foe, together with Prince Tsing, the head of°the Imperial Family, and the chief of the eunuchs of the palace. As a result of this sinister conclave, it was announced that Kuang Su was dangerously ill from heart disease, and •the offers of the Foreign Legations to send their doctors were courteously but firmly declined. INSTRUMENTS OF DEATH.

Next morning at ten the chief eunuch, with two confidential attendants, entered the Little Palace where the Emperor was confined. After having ordered everybody out of the room he°declared to Kuang Su that the Empress was dying, and that it was needful for him to predecease her. So saying he deposited on a table the pills of opium, the packet of gold leaf, and the yellow silk plaited cord, promising to return in three hours’ time. Tf be found that neither the opium nor tb.e gold leaf had been used it would be his painful duty to call upon the two assistants to strangle him with the silken cord. Meanwhile, th© two executioners would watch the door of the iooijfc. It should he explained that a piece of fine gold leaf is placed over the lips, and, the breath being deeply drawn, it is inhaled and obstructs the glottis, causing immediate suffocation. The news of what was about to happen quickly spread consternation throughout the palace. The women, fearing a similar fate for themselves, set up lamentations, and the favorite eunuchs liastily began to pack and hide their valuables. Outside the palace also the rumor ran like wildfire through the Forbidden City, but all the gates had been strongly guarded by Yuan Chi Kai, and as nobody could escape, a relative calm soon succeeded. THREAT TAKES EFFECT.

During this time the unfortunate Kuang .au remained alone in the room with the two creatures of the chief euuuch. When this official returned at one o’clock the opium had disappeared, and Kuang Su was stretched almost lifeless on his couch, though still •breathing. Yuan Chi Rai, being informed, carried to the Empres s a report of the state of her nephew, the Emperor, and whilst the foreign missions were officially communicated with, the Prince Tsino- was sent to deposit offerings on the Imperial tombs to propitiate their manes iff favor of their descepdant. At five o’clock Kuang Su expired, and the three-year-old Pou Yi was at. once brought to the Imperial Palace and proclaimed Emperor. Tzu-hsi could now die in peace, which she did 24 hours later, after having, as she imagined, .by the murder of her nephew, insured the tranquility of the Celestial Empire after her death. The foregoing story, which the “Revue” states it has procured from unimpeachable sources in Pekin, confirms the worst suspicions that were aroused at the time by the strange coincidence in the deaths of the Emperor and Empress within two days or each other.