HOW THE SAD TIDINGS WERE RECEIVED.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 11663, 24 January 1901, Page 2

HOW THE SAD TIDINGS WERE RECEIVED.

. . ' BREAKINQ THE NEWS. IN . LONDON. ' THE KING'S MESSAGE TO THE : LORD MAYOR.

United Press Association.— By Electric Telegraph. — Copyright., ' Received January 22, 1 L.24 p.m. London, January 22. — The room in which the dying Queen lay was at -the north-west angle of Osborne House,- overlooking the Solent. Wearily and expectantly, and in heavy silence, throughout the morning and afternoon, the saddened crowds waited and watched till the daylight gave place to twilight. • - ' / •. •_ r In the darkness crowds watched the lighted windows. At a quarter to seven p.m. a Royal servant appeared and reverentially placed on the gate a* board bearing the'last sad medical bulletin that the Qtieen breathed her last at half past six, surrounded by her children ' and grandchildren. The crowd read the bulletin,' -and-, except 'fora wail of anguish, silently departed to hide their grief, the Whippingham bells tolling. There was great tension throughout ! the country on Tuesday. When the bulletin was posted in r the morning at the -Mansion House stating"that the Queen's strength was diminishing, the crowd struck up theNationalAnthem, hundreds singing and uncovering their heads. Passehgers ! 6n the passing omnibuses also bared their heads". • ,

When the sad news reached London a huge, earnest, breathless- crowd' -was in front of the. Mansion House, the window ■ opened and" the Lord Mayor appeared.' 'The great crowd bared their heads as the Lord Mayor, leaning for support on the ! window and sill, said in a voice at first' [•broken, but'soon audible to thousands of citizens:' — " It' is with "the deepest distress I announce the following telegram from | the King: ' My beloved mother passed to her rest.' " Tho crowd were speechless with sorrow; then the great bell of St. Paul's boomed forth at intervals of a minute. Mr Balfour, representing the Government, with the Duchess of York and Duke of Connaught's children,' left London "for Osborne early in the afternoon., Yesterday' the King of Greece started for Osborne.