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STREETS OF EAST ST. LOUIS 1
SWEPT BY RAGING TORRENT!
Bt Louis, June 10—Almost two-thirds |
of the territory embraced by East St.
Louis. Ills.. Is under from 2 to 15 feet of :
■water. •
Between twilight last night and dawn
today eleven lives were sacrificed to the :
■mgrv waters and damage which no man
today attempted to estimate has been
done to property.
Not a wheel of industry is turning in
East St tx>uis, but the flooded waters |
whirl and suck at the foundations of
many great buildings that have been de
serted The vast railroad yards can be
located only by hundreds or half-sub
merged cars and locomotives. Huge grain
elevators stand surrounded by running
■water
To tic south beyond the railway yard
fire thousands of cottages owned by la- j
borers and containing their all, sub
merged to the caves.
Tn northern East St. Louis the condi
tio: Is not so bad.
• >n if the city and the
district •.•ntainir.g the better residence,:
is stiii int.net. but for Low long is not
known. Broadway, running from Eads
bridge cast to the city limits, a wide
etreet built of sand and walled wl.l;
stone 15 feet high, divides the city tn
halves. Over i« feet of water is pressing
Bgainst Broadway from the south and tn
many places is seeping through in
streams as tlibk as a man’s body. Traf
fic over certain portions of the thorough
fare has been prohibited. If Broadway
breaks the water will rush over much of
the city until Missouri avenue, running
parallel one block north, is encountered.
How the Flood Came.
Along the river front to the west a
levee of sand bags from 2 to 6 feet high
I ■ keeps the river out.
l ast night the river suddenly began to
rise. T* ed men worked with energy to
Ftrengti on the sand bag levees. The city
was made safe along the river front, but
word was received that the Illinois Cen
tral embankment skirting the river along
the southern boundary of the city, was
■bout to give way. Couriers were sent to
fdi iut warnings to the Inhabitants of the
Bo- them half of the city ami hundreds
of laborers and citizens hastened to
e:re gthen the embankment. Locomo
tives rusln’d car loads of sand bags to the
place and work was hurriedly begun.
A ustomed by this time to warnings of |
Impending danger, the inhabitants did |
i-ot their homes Higher and higher
crept the water until a thick stream lie
pan to pour over the embankment and
suddenly it broke.
The break occurred at 11:40 o’clock. D.
H. Sherwood, a laborer, was swept away
and drowned. A section of the embank- j
ment was torn out and a stream 25 feet
wide rushed through. Another section of |
the embankment went out a few minutes !
later and then that portion standing be- ;
tween the. two streams went dow n and I
the river poured through, it is believed;
that many men, especially negroes, were j
drowned 1
Alarm Spread Like Wild Fire.
The alarm spread like wild fire an 1 |
■M-is'T: were blown, bells rung,shots fire'!
pnd cries or warning were sounded, hut
eve” w’.'h '1 tills pandemonium many of
the Inhabitants failed to leave their
hon.o . Within an hour the houses stood
In water that reached to the roofs of the
or.c-sfory v Wages. Many fled to large
brick buildings. Rescue boats today
so md many people in second stories and
on house tons, but there is grave fear
that when al! the living have been trans
f Tr- d to land, the boats will bear bodies
of dead from the flooded cottages and the
desolated quarter.
In the turmoil it has been Impossible to
verify reported deaths, but from ap- j
y ■ rent!;' n-'lahle sources the Associated t
Press gathered that the following eleven I
persons were drowned last night:
JOHN FOOLISH and three children.]
drowned on north side.
CNII >EXTIEIED J’■ ABY.
E. H. SHERWOOD.
L \ WHENCE DAY.
TWO UNIDENTIFIED WOMEN.
TWO UNIDENTIFIED MEN.
Jt was currently reported today that I
sc*, r-n negroes caught looting houses last !
night were stmt to death. They were al! I
on a raft and v. re surprised by guards
v. shot thum down and threw their
T'- ' ‘ » the water. While this is not
. ■•'••finnol, it is known that there was
heavy firing on the north side last night
v. a'? xiase negroes are said to have been
ki’.icd.
Gave Their Lives for Beer.
The deaths of John Koolish, a Polish
carp'-nter. in I his three children, two
b aged 5 and 7. respectively, and a
g:r of 12 years, were drowned by trying
to save three kegs of beer.
The Koolish home had been surround
ed by water for several days. The fam
! ■ had been living in the second story
ard last night decided to go to land.
Koolish took two sons and his wife ami
: lie
t’u-'n returned for his other three chil
li- n. i>t:.:t; them safely into the boat,
Im stopped as a submt rged house to
take ’ff il ’-ee kegs of beer as requested
It the owner, a friend. In trying to
load i’ ■ lit.'- Into the boat the craft
v. s ox. • ar:: 1 and the occupants were
fi-.'-'-pt heir deaths by the swift cur
rent in • u sight of the mother.
A >m;>any of naval reserves from Al
to-. which had rowed down to the city
yostcri.iy in a cutter, rendered splendid
porvi in r -ante work. Rescuers began
work as soon as it was light enough to
fo e .and continued their work far into
the night. Word was sent out generally
for more boats and the government re
st... i’-d through Unite*! States District
A'torncx Dy--r, of St. Louis, who issued
a , order to confiscate temporarily every
boat scon in and around St. Louis re
gardless of ownership and to rush them
to East St. Louis. The St. Louis fire
<1 ■ partment at once tendered their hose
and coal wagons and boats were gath
ered up throughout the city and from
along the river front apd hauled by run
ning horses to East St. Louis. Volunteer
oarsmen promptly manned every boat
furnished and before 9 O’clock scores of
craft were plying back,and forth across
tin flo *ded railroad yards.
When boats were rowed alongside
homes whose occupants were marooned
In second stories and on roofs many at
first refused to leave. They feared river
thieves and would stand guard. Women
were the ones most unwilling to be res
cued. although some of them wrung their
hands and wept in terror. Promises of
militia patr •l*an<l force won the recal
citrant persons to salvation.
Scene Beggars Description.
The scene in east St. Louis beggars
Hundreds of families from
the choicest residence portions of the
city carrying trunks, grips, bundles of
clothing and valuables began to cross
Fads bridge toward St. Louis. Most of
the refugees were scantily clad. Strong
men carried aged women in their arms.
Barefooted children were in the proces
sion which continued steadily over the
bridge. Hundreds of others sought pro-
tection in the second story of the public
library building. As the water en
croached upon the build! g mane dished
through the shallow ov rd -w :■> find i
more secure retuse. In t Tro: of the
rising tide *.f water refugees in hundred?
thronged the street, cr weed lite ears
and beseeohed public offirials. In the
city hall alone stm homete.-s persons wit'.,
scant belonging * as t hey had be* :: able
to seize on short notice were assembled.
■Provisions for the time being was sup
plied them.
Business is totally suspend 1 The
streets ar' filled wil'.i rim st p.-ini?'-
strteken inhabitant Women with chii
dren in firms nt n carrying household
furniture, horses, dogs and other >•■■
mails of once co-fortab.c domestic es
tablishments j.•trade the sir* *• ■'. Ihe
commo i dlrec ion of all m >vem< nt is to
ward tiie bring ■ ov r which he r< ftigocs
are hurrxing t> St. '.*ui- Ad traffic
to cast St. Louis from the west side
hns been suspended. and podeemen
turned back all who attempted lite trip.
Food is needed in east S;. iziuis a.
once. Sec-etary Thomas T. i'eket. of
the relief committee, -aid this afternoon:
■ We need at o. * • trom S.UCO t* I<l,oo>
loaves of bread. We have ten thousand
people to feed, and there is little or
nothing for them to eat.
River Still Rising.
As night drew on another fear con
fronted the inhabitants. The water that
had steadily been pouring through the
Broadway embankment was believed to
be undermining that, bulwark, and it is
declared that the street could not with
stand the pressure without giving way
before long.
The belief that the river was rising
was confirmed by the St. Louts govern
ment gauge tonight. The gauge regis
tered 37.95, a rise of .15 of a foot In 24
hours. No attempt is made to explain
this rise, except that the wind is forc
ing water from the low lands into the
channels of the Mississippi and Missouri
rivers and swelling the torrent which
passes St. Louis.
Denver Side, a. suburb of east St. Louis,
was completely Inundated, and today
Alta Sltta. farther to the east, was half
flooded. If the river should rise even
a little more the water must swamp
Alta Sltta.
News of the inundation excited the
people of St. Louis early today. Rumors
of many deaths started thousands of
sightseers across Eads bridge. But the
authorities prepared to turn back an
Influx of curious people. Al both ends
of the bridge ropes were stretched and
police were stationed with orders to allow
no Ingress into the city of spectators
who only hinder the work of rescue. East
St. Louis was practically shut off. from
the world. Even refugees who wanted to
go to St. Louis were stopped, and unless
they could show that they wero sure
of being taken care of by friends they
were turned back to the relief offered
by the city.
No Pictures for Newspapers.
N .w-spaper photographers and persons
with small cameras were dealt with un
ceremoniously.
Instructions were given the guards by
sh«» mayor todav to p.,,T.,l i:e •‘vt
where furniture is stacked and to patrol
the sand bag Levees. Any thieves or
possible levee cutters are to be shot down
instantly. Martial law has not been
proclaimed officially, but east bt Louis
is .practically being governed under
such condition during tlw flood, and
there is no place for unscrupulous per
sons.
A few hqprs before the break in the
levee early today. New Roberts; a negro
employed as levep builder, was killed by
members of the levee patrol for attempt
ing to tear down a portion of the dike.
His act was caused by. anger because he
was not allowed to draw his pay at once.
As the noise of the approaching flood
was heard, rhe flight, at. first a rapid re
treat with more semplance of order, as
sumed a panic stage. All i fforts to assure
the Inhabitants that there was sufficient
time to escape unless a gap was washed
through the embankment, failed to con
vlnce them and most of them fled without
any effort to save property.
The Terror Grew Intense.
Messengers were sent to the main por
tion of the city telling of the danger from
the new point of attack and the great
cst excitement prevailed. As the bottoms
filled and the river gained a larger en
trance, the terror in the business section
of the city grew intense It was al! the
greater because of the darkness and the
fear that while guard was maintained In
one direction the torrent, would break
through at another point and engulf the
luckless inhabitants between the two
floods. By the thousands they began to
desert their homes and run vainly up and
down the streets seeking a place of sue
t’ongressman Rodeiiburg estimated that,
thirty lives were lost in the flooding of
the lower portion of East St. Louis early
this morning. While general alarms wero
given by tiie police and retreating levee
workers with shouts and pistols, there
was not time to call at ev< ry house in the
thickly settled district and it is believed
many families in one-story cottages awoke
only to find it was too late to escape-
It is estimated that 10,000 inhabitants are
affected by the district already Hooded
ami that 500 to 60i) are immediately in
danger from rising flood.
Tiie police pressed into service all who
were seen loitering about and these men
were set to work building flat boats and
rafts and assisting in handling the skiffs
already in service.
Think Worst of Flood Is Over.
St. Louis, June li. That the crisis of
the flood situation in East St. Louis has
passed so far as that city is concerm-d
was generally accepted as a fact by the
citizens of East St. Louis tonight. Boat
< rows which yesterday strained their en
ergies to the point of exhaustion in res
cuing the prisoners of the flood today oc
cupied themselves In saving property and
in bringing to higher ground belated refn-'
gees who previously had not been them
selves in immediate danger. The river
tonight is stationary at 37.9 feet.
Since the break in the Illinois Central
levee tiie flood has made no dangerous
breaks, although the flood area was
further increased by seepage today. Some
water has been finding its way into the
territory betw en Missouri avenue and
St. Louis avenue. People in tills district,
however, have not been compelled to
leave their homes, although it is neces
sary for them to use boats to obtain
food.
East St. Louis today, as a whole, was
a scene of disaster. No one could be
found today with anything like a defi
nite idea of the property loss. Vague
mention of “millions of dollars” was the
nearest even tiie best informed citizens
could come to it. There was a great tlis
osltion, however, to accept minimum re
ports of loss of life, rather than the
stories originating in tiie excitement of
tiie moment when the flood poured In.
There were no reports of drownings to
day, nor were any bodies recovered.
The work today has been and wjll con
tinue to be that of earing for the refu
gees, The supply of food seems ample.
THE WEEKLT OONSTITUTIONi ATLANTA. GA.. MONDAY. JUNE 1.5, 1903.
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Snapshots at East St. Louis, from the Viaduct at High Water.
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KING ANO QUEEN OF SERVIA KILLED
' Continued from First Pag».
of the public resentment against the
late royal pair. Home persons even spat
on the remains.
Outside the palace a vast crowd await
ed the removal, not only of the corpses
of the king and the queen, but of the
bodies of nil the other victims, which
were simultaneously burled, being con
veyed la hearses to the Belgrade ceme
tery. In the streets there was a dread
silence, and the onlookers were kept
back by the troops.
The burial service was brief. Two
priests were present, but no high eccle
siastical dignitaries. Inside the cemetery
none was allowed except a strong force
STATEMENT IS MADE
BY THE MURDERERS
S-. • . o
i Belgrade, June 11.—The new min- o
° istry tonight published the follow-
• Ing statement: »
• “Certain differences which arose ®
® at court have led to tTie interven-
o tion of the army and a conflict tn •
r w,.l h the king and queen lost *
i their lives. a
o “Willi a view to maintaining I
t peace and older tn the count v, at - a
4 the present moment, difficult and ®
® fat’-f:il, the representatives of all 7
the political parties have hastened ;
• to come to an understanding and •
® to form a provisional government e
. in order to reeit iblish the const!- •
' ! existing before Ma rch 23. •
1 and to reassemble the rep- ■
• r’sentatives elected under the con- •
6 siitution of April C, 1901. ®
o At a sitting to be held on June •
• 15, tiie national representatives will •
® elect a sovereign and assume con- ?
o t ol of the situation. According to •
2 the reports received up to the pros- *
i er.t from the civil and military an- i
° thorltb's, order has not been dis- ®
£ turbed in any part of the country *
• and the government will take steps •
• t<> maintain It. The government •
. f-,,'1..; convinced that by acting thus .
• It will Insure for the now order of •
things the sympathies of all the *
o European powers." •
-• »-•-®a » »o • • > t>
of gendarmes and a few officers. Not
a single friend or relative of the deceased
was present. The. bodies of the royal
pair were Interred in a valut in the
cemetery chapel. Two wooden crosses
alone di note the spot, marked “Alexander
Obrenovics" and “Draganja Obrenovlcs.”
The other bodies lie outside the ceme
tery in rough graves.
Varying Accounts of Burial.
As m everything else connected with
the tragedy, accounts vary as to the In
terment.
The official story Is that King Alexander
and Queen Draga wero buried during the
night in the family vault of the Oberno
vitchs in the chapel of the cemetery of
the St. Mark. An Interment was carried
on with complete secrecy between half
past 1 and 3 o'clock this morning. Tho
strictest privacy was maintained in order
to avoid hostile demonstrations. Two
coffins were brought in by servants and
cai’ri ,1 up to the room where the bodies
of ii. :■ e king and queen were lying,
Tiie corpses were then put In tiie coffins
and the latter were placed in a hearse,
which was hurriedly driven to the old
cemetery, where tiie other members of
the Obernovitch family are interred. In
addition to the attendants, only two
pri. ■ were present at the funeral. The
metropolitan of Belgrade was absent. The
whole ceremony lasted only a few min
utes. The body of Hie late Premier Mark
ovitch will be buried with military
honors.
Another story current is that the bodies
of Ixmg Alexander and Queen Draga
were buried in a. large pit dug in the vil
lage of Rakovica, and that, as a mark of
ignominy, the bodies of their murdered
relatives and those of the military killed
were placed above them and then the
common grave was filled witli earth.
Corpses Vilely Treated.
Manx horrible stories are afloat In re
gard to the tragedy, tho most revolting
of them being that the soldiers outraged
Queen Draga and mutilated the body of
King Alexander and that those who wore
admitted to the jiala.ee yesterday to view
the remains spat and stamped on them.
Tiie backbones of both King Alexander
and Queen Draiga, it is announced, were
broken in consequence of tho violence
with which tiie murdered sovereigns were
thrown from tiie windows of the palace.
Colonel Naumovics, who was killed
while forcing an entrance Into the pal
ace with dynamite, is described in the
official notice of his death as “dying on
tho field of honor fur his fatherland."
It. is now confirmed that only Queen
J naga's two brothers were killed. Her
sisters were taken to Panavosa by some
of the conspirators.
it is said that the massacre lasted three
quarters of an hour. The assailants de
clared th® tilling of King Alexander was
unavoidable. If the queer alone had been
murdered or removed the court clique
would have Incited the long to persecu
tion. A windoxv of the Russian legation
at Belgrade was shat.tr: -d by a bullet
during the fusillade at ’ palace.
Assassin Tells of the Massacre.
In on Interviexv with Colonel Michies,
who was one of the leaders of the mili
tary party which burst, into the palace,
the colonel is quoted assaying:
"There was a number ■■■ us. Whether
It w'as I or another who fired the first
shot is simply conjecture. The chief
point for us Is that our work was suc
cessful. We have rendered the father
land a tremendous service and we are
highly satisfied at our success. The
first shot was from the r-volver of Cap
tain Risties. who is a n m-d marksman.
Petrovltch was hit in th” forehead and
fell dead instantly."
In the course of an Interview today
Premier Avakumovics said "We minis
ters only accepted office In order to avoid
the country falling into . state ot an
archy. As soon as a king Is elected he
will have to appoint a ■ nite cabinet.
Tho skupschtina • an dec' !■■ the fate of
tiie country qui.” ladej>< leutly of the
army, although ar agro meat seems
jirobable. In i ; ' '■'■■ill ■ : the ■-.ectiou
of Prince Farage : n.< h. a s-’i ■ u
will go to Geneva, inform him of his
election and Invim him to come to Bel
grade. He will be Peter ta- firs’
“The constitution of 1.901 will be the
basis of the future governmental sys
tem. As to the present position of the
country, calm pr vails everywliere. There
have been no di >turbances and the si u
ation promises to become better in the
future. Those who speak of excitement,
popular sentiment ani predict turther
changes are entirely wrong.
Alexander’s Friends Marching.
Berlin, June 12 —A dispatch to The Lo
kal Anzelger from Budapest says the
garrison at. Nish, where the late Fing
Alexander was m- st popular, is, according
to a railroad official who has arrived at
Budapest from !;■ -'.grade, marching on
the Servian capital with full w.-ir
nient and artiilei .
Draga Ready To Flee.
Belgrade, Servin. June 13.- Although the
people remain qn- : hire, but little Is
talked of save tho murder of King Alex
under. Queen Draga and the friends of the
royal couple.
It is now known that the late king
lived in a. state of terror during tho last
weeks of his life. Nightly soldiers be
longing to the Pioneers’ division searc.ied
the palace from r- of to cellar, peering In
to all dark corners ' bombs Each night
the king was securely locked In his bed
chamber by the adjutant In the presence
of the palace commander.
it 1s also stated that for several weeks
the late Queen liras-' hail prepared for
flight independent of the king, who is sup.
posed to have been gradually growing
conciled to the project of his divorce trom
Draga and his marriage with tho princess
of Xenia of Montenegro. The conspira
tors are reported to have learned this and
fearing the marriage would prove a con
tinuance of the Qberr "Vltch dynasty, hur
riedly commenced the task of extermina
tion.
Lately King Alexander tried vainly' to
become reconciled with exiled Servians,
which also increased the anxiety of tho
conspirators. Queen Draga’s sisters were
permitted to have a : st look at the bodj
of the late queen. They say the corpse
was shrouded in whl ■’ silk. The young
est of Draga’s sisters was carried away
unconscious.
In the late king’s d- sk there was found
in addition to variou: interesting private
papers about SIO,OOO.
It Is claimed the draft of a bill xvith
marginal notes, written by tile late Kmg
AI-X.IH ler. has been found in the palace.
It provides for the proclamation of Queen
Draga’s brother as heir to the throne.
This, the dispatch adds, is held by the con
spirators to be complete justification for
their action.
The palace is guarded by a cordon or
infuntrv and all the ministerial residences
in th-"vicinity of the palace are closely
guarded b\’ detachments of troops.
Th- minister of commerce. General
Genshics In an interview, said he con
sidered that if there was any republican
tendency in the cabinet It was insignifi
cant. The election of a ruler, he said,
could not occur before Tuesday, but it
was almost certain Prince Peter Kar.s
georgeovitch would be elected. Prince
Mirko, of Montenegro, had no chance
whatever.
Murder Was “Accidental."
Paris, June I:l.—At. the council of mln
isters today. Foreign Minister Dclcasse
gave out to his colleagues telegrams from
Belgrade saying that the provisional gov
ernment had communicated to the Servian
ministers abroad a formal notification of
tiie new regime’s assumption of power and
that Servian authorities were determined
to give the skupschtina complete liberty
of action in the choice of a king.
The Servian legation here has received
a number of dispatches from Belgrade.
They say no woman, except Queen Draga,
was assassinated, and declare that it was
not intended to kill her but to compel
the royal pair to consent to a divorce.
When they refused it was proposed that
the king abdicate and depart with the
queen. He answered by shooting Colonel
Naumovics, which brought on e. genera!
melee, resulting in various deaths. The
queen's sisters have been conducted to the
frontier.
The Patrie quotes M. Georgeovltch, sec
retary of the Servian legation, as saying
that Queen Draga was the cause of the
uprising, which was also due to popular
resentment of Klug Alexander’s course In
establishing a legislative body without in
cluding In it any representatives of the
opposition.
Prince Alexis Renounces Claims.
Vienna, June 12.—Prince Alexis Kara
georgeovltch, a. nephexv oif the newly pro
claimed king of Servla, who has hereto
fore been a pretender to tho throne, dur
ing the course of an Interview here today
announced that he had abandoned all
claim thereto and welcomed tho advent
of his uncle ns the best solution. The
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? Map showing Servla and the Bal- •
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♦ •
«o ® ••• ® ® e ■•■••■•■••••••••••• ■•■
prince, like other well Informed persons,
attributed the ievolution to dissatisfac
tion at the late King Alexander's mar
riage, to the attendant scandals and to
the king’s hostility to the radicals.
SHOULD AVENGE MURDERS.
LONDON, June 15.—The Geneva cor
respondenet of The Daily Express
asserts ithat Prince Peter Ka.ru
gcorgeovitch. in an Interview, declared
emphatically that the nation ought to
avenge the crime of the assassination of
the king and queen of Servla.
“A king," he said, “who would receive
a crown from the hands of assassins
would be their accomplice."
A5777-J if he would punish th® assassins,
he replied: “I have no power."
To a question, “But xvhen you nre
king?" Prince Peter gave the answer;
“That may never be."
King’ To Be Elected Today.
After tiie election of the king tomorrow,
the Skupshtina will draw up a pro
gramme of procedure for tiie new sover
eign, and will then adjourn until the ar
rival of the King at Belgrade. Tho
sovereign will then form a new ministry
and dissolve the Skupshtina.
The provisional governor yesterday par
dored all persons Imprisoned for political
offenses and ordered their Immediate re
lease. No arrests have occurred, nor have
any sentences been passed since the tragic
events of last Thursday. The court of
cessation and the appeal court suspends 1
their sitting from tnat time.
Prince Karageorgeovitch, although little
is known of him among the people goner
ally here, seems to have caught the public
fancy, and his election will be a popular
one.
EUROPE STANDS AGHAST
London, June 11.—The possibility of In
to mention u I eomiplocations growing out
the sensational crime In Servla has thrill
ed all Europe. Every development of
international politics in one of tho Bal
kan states is fraught with menace to the
equilibrium and the peace of southern
Europe, involving, as it does, the ever
present determination of Russia to domi
nate ihose states eventually, drive Tur
key out of Europe and assume control
the coveted Constantinople, and the
■qa ilix persistent determination of other
European powers that Russia shall not
h the coveted goal. The crisis precip
itated 'by the coup at Belgrade has com
pktely eclipsed the tariff struggle which
but yesterday was convlusing all Eng
land. Is this dynastic change in Servla to
ma,\e the spark which will set all the
Balkans afire, forming pretext for outside
interference? This is a question being
asked <>n all sides, and the only possible
reply is speculative.
Paris Shocked by Tragedy.
Paris, June 11.—During tiie afternoon
the Servian legation received an official
despatch in cipher, signed by a member
of the new government, which confirmed
the deaths of the king and queen and
specially emphasized the fact that perfect
quiet prevailed at Belgrade and through
out Servia.
The presentation of many messages of
condolence brought out the peculiar
CAREEROFALEXANOERANDDRO
Alexander aeoended the throne In 1989.
He was then a boy of 13. Ho is the son
of King Milan, who was the most noto
rious of European monarchs. Milan
reigned twenty years, during which time
be succeeded in making a record for
proSigary and dissipation which has sel
dom been equaled in history. W*hen, in
1E99. he abdicated In favor of his son.
he had succeeded in earning the contempt
of all his people as well as of all decent
people throughout the world
The boy king reigned for a few years
Enough regents, high officials of state,
and during this period his rule was not
bad. because he wai a mere figurehead.
When lie was 15 years of age he fell into
the clutches of tiie wife <>f a colonel in
the Servian army. Madame Draga Mas
chin. She was a brilliant and very
ambitious woman, who had no idea ot
letting a little thing like morals stand
in the wax ot her ambition. Her rela
tions with'the young king were so scan
dalous that her husband was compelled
to get a divorce from her. Sim lived n
the palace witii the king, and despite all
of the efforts of his queen mother, lie
fell eompie.tely under het sway.
Twice His Age.
Madame Draga was at this time at
least twice the age of tiie king, but Im
was completely fascinated by her Win n
Im had been on the throne about four
years she determined that, for her own
interests, it was necessary to get rid
of the regents. It was a battle for po
litical life between them and her. and she
won. The king had the regents throxvn
Into prison on i trumped-up clt.-irge of
treason and pr*?-laimed liimsel:' king. th»
teal thing. Since then. Draga’s swax
has been absolute. In all his acts th*'
king has been influenced by her He is
described as a degenerate and tiie scan
dals about the court at Belgrade are
the most nauseating in European court
circles. So nasty have these been, so no
torious, that Alexander ami his queen
have ever been unable to secure social
recognition at the hands of the royalty.
In 1900, after he had vainly endeavored
to make a respectable match with some
prlficess, but had been uniformly reject
ed, Alexander married Draga.
Fight for the Throne.
They have not had a child Servia, be
ing one of tiie little states between the
Russian frontier and the Mediterranean,
plays an Important part In the politics
of Europe. The fight for control is be
tween Austria and Russia. Th'e Austrian
Influence has been the strongest with
the Obremjvitch dynasty, just deposed,
while the Russian influence is largely
allied with the Karageorgeovitch family,
in whose name the present coup was ac
complished.
The fact that the queen had not fur
nished an heir to tho throne has caused
the question of the succession to be a
verv live one in Servian affairs. Alex
ander had made overtures to Russia to
let Russia select the heir apparent on
condition that the Russian empress would
recognize and receive Queen Draga. but,
although th*' Russian statesmen regarded
it of the highest importance that they
should dominate in Servia, the Russian
empress, who is a good woman with oid
fas'hloned ideas of decency, would not
consent.
Wanted Her Brother Chosen.
Queen Draga had a little plan of her
own in this emergency, which was to pro
claim her brother, Nikoden Lunjevitza, as
heir apparent. He and she were children
of a respectable horse dealer at Belgrade,
and the boy. who is said to be a very de
cent sort of a fellow, had absolutely no
claim upon the throne and itad no sup
porters except his sister. B hen a year
or more ago it became known that she
had influenced the king to a favorable
consideration of her brother's claims, tho
ministry decided that it was their patriot
ic duty to stand in the way of the i on
summation of any such plan Tiie cabinet
called upon the king at his palace and
asked for an audience. When tiie king
appeared it was xxith the queen up n it *
arm. To the suggestion of the prime
minister that his cabinet desired to con
status of the present Servian government,
which is receiving condolences tn the suc
cess of its own acts.
The tragedy at Belgrade was tiie uni
versal theme for discussion in tin- lobbies
of the senate chamber and general horror
or surprise were expressed at the unfore
seen events, which, it is believed, will
not have a serious effe* t on European pol
itics.
Public sentiment is intensely wrought
up over the bloody event in Servia.
Throughout the da.'.’ the tragedy was *.ils
cussed at the foreign office, in govern
ment circles generally, on the bourse, at
the clubs and in the cases and public
thoroughfares. As the details of the
atrocity became known a feeling of in
dignation arose over the calm, systematic
method of carrying out the murders. A
few-of tiie newspapers seemingly justi
fied the radical measures adopted against
the late Queen Draga. holding iter chiefly
responsible, but the more serious papers,
like The Temps and The Journal Des
Debats, sound a note of warning. The
Des Debats purti uarly voiced the wide
spread feeling of indignation, saying
there was "no parallel for such t drama
except in the days of barbarianism or
among barbarians."
Tiie belief is rapidly gaining ground
here that the new dynasty will have a
dangerous task in attempting to overcome
the recollection of its bloody entrance
into power. The Debats chara* terlzes the
dominant Servian element as ’the pttr'.y
of regicides."
Attitude of Germany.
Berlin, June 11.—The German govern
ment cannot be said to have taken any
attitude as yet regarding tiie provisional
administration of Servia. Horror was
expressed at the foreign office at the
bloody coup d’etat. I lie immediate fee*-
ing Is one of antagonism to the ni‘W
ministry, and there is an Indisposition to
make its path easy. lite foreign office
for the present is simply' waiting t ill
information from its legation at Belgrade
and is also sounding other chancellories.
The fact that King Alexander was not
allied to any European reigning family
is regarded as simplifying the situation.
Germany lias no special jjolitical intel *'st
In tiie events in Servia. That an intrigue
looking to the dethronement ot tiie late
king was on foot had been known to
the German government and also to th*-
government of Servla for some time, but
no importance was attached to the mat
ter The late king seems to have looked
upon the hints of Hie existence of a plot
•xs having no special significance. Re
ports to this effect have been cir.'Ulated
in the Austrian and German newspapers
and have been cabled to the I'nited
States but as the Balkans are so pro
ductive of baseless rumors, those con
cerning the plot against the late king of
Servia were treated lightly.
News Shocked Vienna.
Vienna. June 11.—The startling news
from Belgrade disturbed the solemn cer
emonial of the annual Corpus Christi
procession In a manner unprecedented
In Emperor Francis Joseph’s long reign.
Men attempted to throw bulletins an
nouncing the news over the heads of
the soldiers to the crowds watching the
procession. While the procession was
o*pposite Ilofburg court Chamberlain
Monte Nuovo informed the emperor that
Foreign Minister Goluchowsky desired to
make a statement to him and when noti
fied of the occurrences at Belbrade his
majesty was visibly affected and Imme
diately communicated the news to the
heir presumptive, to the throne, Arch
duke Francis Ferdinand.
A dispatch received by the Austrian for
eign office this afternoon announces that
tho Servian parliament, which had been
summoned for June 15, will only elect
Prince Peter Karageorgevitch king in
the event of Austria and Russia not op
posing such a step. Austria would not
object because, although the prince was
suit will: him upon a matter ot state,
Alexander declined to dismiss the queen,
but insisted that she be present. The
ministers suggested that, before any steps
were ta.ken toward the selection of the
heir-apparent it would be wise to consult
with the lenders of parliament because ths
approval of that body' was necessary un
der the constitution. According to the
stories printed at the time, Alexander in
| terrupted. declaring: “I shall carry out
Imy will." “The will of the people must
I also be considered,” was the response. At
I this the queen motioned her husband to
be silent, and brought the audience to an
end by declaring that “The will of tho
monarch 's >iie more Important.” Thon
she almost dragged the king through the
audience chamber.
It was her settled plan to hax'e her
brother named, hot a few’ days later sne
received a message from tiie leaders of
parliament to the effect that If she tried
that sort of a game it would be very dan
gerous for h<?r and trial there would be no
| guarantee of her personal safety. Since
then she ha- said little, apparently, on
th<- subject of her brother’s selection, but
his return to the palace xva.s the excuse
of the killing of king, queen and the lead
ing members of the king’s cabinet.
The New King.
Peter Karageorgeovitch, who has been
! proclaimed king, has been the recognized
] pretender to the throne as the descend
ant <*f the great Karageorge, who was
the liberator of Servia. Peter Far.*
georgeovit*h l*;.s been living quietly in
Switzerland for a good many years, en
gaged In scientific pursuits. He is an old
man and ii is not considered probable that
lie had any direct hand in the plot for
tiie overthrow of Alexander, though ii®
anti tiie followers of his family have been
bile leading opponents of the Alexander
dynasty. He married tiie daughter of
Prince Nicholas of Montenegro and his
relations with Russia a.e very close. Hi.-;
three sons are either officers of the Rus
sian army or in the military school in
Russia
The history of Servian politics Is a
story of rivalry between the two fami
lies founded by peasants. The greatest
hero of Servian history, the man who was
the real liberator of his country from tho
dominion of the Turks, was George Petro
vitch, called Karageorge as a nickname
becau:?“ of his dark complexion anti black
hair. “Kara" means black. He was the
first king of Servia, having organized a
liberal monar hy after he had driven out
the Turks. He was a man of great
strength, but seems to have been ahead of
his times in a good many ways. Because
the public would not sustain all of his
reforms lie abdicated after having reign
ed nine years. He was succeeded by
Milos Obrcn, who was tiie son of a house
servant, but who had risen to become an
influential man. Milos was afraid of n
popular movement which would recall
Karageorge to the throne, so he con
veniently had that patriot assassinated.
This little affair was the beginning “f
a deadly feud between the Obrenowt*-h
and Karageorgeovitch families, which
has b*?en the dividing line in Servian
I I olitics ever since. Milos was compelled
I to abdicate in favor of his oldest son.
i Milan Hl. who was succeeded a month
after by his brother. Michael. He
was a go.id king, but believed in spending
public money, which did not pleas*' Ins
subjects, who drove him from powt ■ .
electing as king Alexander Karageorge .-
vitch. son of the great Black George
Several years lat< r. although Alexand’ -
bad made an excellent king, he was con:
pdleil to abdicate ami old Milos was call
ed back.
Like Mountain Kentucky.
| Whichever side has been in power *«
had to guard against attempted assa: -i
--nations and little, pleasantriis of that
kind. Milan IV. of the Obrenoviteh t’.inii
ly, was crowned in Is6SJ. and as stated,
reigned for twenty y.ars to 'he injury
anti infamy of his country. Then came
\! ex and e i ■■ ' ■
cut of the way.
Tiie new king. Peter Kartgeorgeo i:” i,
will have no easy : in:’ . Th< ” boles ■
■ killing al the paiaee at Belgrade : mov'd
i tl'e most ;.ggrv=siv, and aetiv. '*!*■:
I tiie I tbrenovitch ranks, however, and t:*”
I descendant of Karageorge will go !>;*. :■•
I to BeLgrade with the populace on h;s si*i
once the avowed enemy of Au.-’-t; *
has sine e given repeat; la uran
In the event’of his coming to tht thr< t
of Servia he was desir<>us living
cably xvitl: Austria.
Tb - fidlowing senii-ofti*•: il sratemen
the view of tl” Austria.. goveri'.:v e
published tonight:
“Austro-Hungarian poll ; *m-*■•*.• ::•■
I plete neutrality as io events in St: . .
and will abandon this slandpoin: ( 'T
in the event, xvhich al present is not
be assumed of being forced to do ” *
through the immediate j- ■;*:*rdizing •
our interest.-'. in conformity with t* •"
i principle of our policx- bx whi.-b xv t’o
sire to promote with all our strength
th** prosperous *!‘ve' *pm* iit o S . ...
we should regard the rev rsi *n of '■ •
Servians to the old Karageorgev! it *.“
nasty as natural ami we would .' qiro
it under th- present circamst.'im,'-. ?s
this step offers the most pr**mi?i:>g S”! :
tion for the peace ami ordc; **f the
country.
PETER NEW SERVIAN KING
SOMEWHAT OF SCAPEGRACE
GENEVA. June 12.—The new ■
.Servia. Peter, r* eh'ed hi- early ■<l -
■ ucation in Belgrade. .Tiring
reign of his fat', r. being 13 ■■ ■ - ”
when the farnny was I’xpeih i from s
vian soil. Later he tvent to school ■*
Pesth and T'-mesvar. ami beside- r* :*”.i
ed visits to Russia, spent -ov. .- 1- '
at the small court of Prince Ni- s ’
Montenegro, at Cettinje. While -.-
1 became the suitor of the latter's ,i:*
* princess Zorka. and manicxl 1 ■
I She died seven years lat'-r. Th: - ma
riage resulted in three children. <
i ter of ]f: ami two sons, aged r.sn
15 and 1::. Since IS9I Prince l'.-t-r
I been resitting in Geneva.
I Because of his dissipated, qiendtl. "
| habits Prim’** Peter quarrelled with '
I father in law of Montenegro and
j lost tiie good graces of Alexander HI
: R - - : m whom h
lof money on several oct asi >ns Sine*
I accession of the prese:.. *-zar. how* vc
. there has been a sort of rei'on.-ilia: !■
I witli St, Petersburg and the finance
Prince Peter were put and kept on t
sound basis, but he -has been notorious"
poor. It is saiii that the Emperor Ft
cis Joseph of Austria a-sisted ni:*’’
in this financial rehabilitation. S’.n.'c - *
Prime I’.’ti-r, never wealthy, has n
theless been living in mod,-st ■ omfort at
Geneva.
His younger brother, Arsenins, serve',
for a number of years as an offic* : n
the Russian guardstand married, sirii-c lilt
retirement, Princess Demidoff di San De
fato, a very xvealthy Russian ini: xxith
: whom he is living hi Paris
A special dispatch from Zurich s.ics
l Prince Peter Karageorgeovitch studied at
i the university there for eight years. H ‘
i Is described as a zealous socialist ami ■
I being the companion now of the German
socialist leaders, Win W’olnmt . Fisher and
Tattsky. The prince at Zurich was c:*ll
! cd "Red Peter." or "The Rod Prince.’’
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