Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 142, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 December 1903 — ALEXANDRA'S CLOSE CALL. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ALEXANDRA'S CLOSE CALL.

Bsglvnd’s Qneea Rarely Escapes from Burning Redrobm, Details regarding the lire at Sandringham palace the other morning show that Queen Alexandra and her secretary, Miss Charlotte Knollys, had a narrow escape from death. Fallowing the usual custom at the palace, the report first given" out minimized tlie Queen's danger, but it is now learned that had her majesty’s flight from her room been delayed a moment longer both she and her secretary would have been engulfed in the flames. The Queeta and secretary had just fled when the floor fell, carrying down the bed on which her majesty had slept. The fire broke out .in the room of Miss Knollys, which is immediately below the chamber occupied by her majesty. It is thought to have originated in the chim-

ney flue, where a beam is supposed to have been smoldering, ami before any one had been awakened the flameS had eaten through the ceiling and the Queen’s room was all ablaze. When Miss Knollys was finally awakened by the smoke she rushed upstairs to the Queen's room to find that one end of the large apartment was already in flames, while the smoke that filled the room was- almost suffocating. The Queen had not yet awakened and when aroused by her secretary seemed stupefied by the smoke. There was no time to dress and. clad only in their dressing gowns, the Queen and her secretary escaped to the corridor. As they did so the floor of the Queen’s bedroom fell with a crash that aroused the palace, carrying with it the bed from which her majesty had just arisen. The corridors of the big palace, the favorite residence of the King, were soon filled with terror-stricken guests and servants.

QUEEN ALEXANDRA.