| Show THE DEATHBED SCENE significant LAST WORDS OF THE emmiott EMmi Olt v the crown prince proclaimed king frederick III BERUK march 9 the emperor died at this morning on wednesday when his strength began to fail the emperor spoke repeatedly peat edly to prince fidiam about the condition cf the crown prince and about political and military affairs on thursday he talked with his daughter the grand duchess of baden about the death of her son prince louis at noon he asked for prince bismarck who came and conversed with him on the political situation the emperor spoke clearly paid thanked the chancellor tor his services to his court increased feebleness soon followed and his voice became weaker and weaker finally sink iulg to a whisper at 5 he was so weak that the members of tho family prince bismarck and count yon moltke and the servants of the household gathered around the bed the emperor supported by the doctors held the hand of his wife on one side and his daughters hand on the other prince william stood at the head of the couch chaplain koegel spoke a few words of consolation to which the emperor whispered occasional responses at he showed extreme weakness death seeming im eminent he suddenly rallied and asked for count yon moltke and prince william with whom he talked about the state of the army and the prussian people entering into minute particulars when speaking of military matters to the astonishment of the listeners heathen referred to ger banys alliances with various coun 1 tries and the possibility of war but during the latter portion of his remarks of delirium were mingled with coherent utterances this temporary recovery of strength lasted until 10 at frequent intervals be conversed in a touching earnest manner with those about him between 10 and 2 he appeared to be asleep at about 2 it was observed that a curious change was beginning to take place in the emperors face although there was again a slight improvement in his condition but at 7 it was seen that his last moments were near and the members of his family were again summoned to his bedside and at the doctors declared he was dead count yon moltke at the closing scene was deeply moved and at last wept bitterly the reichstag Keich stag sitting was an event of historical importance never likely to be forgotten by those aho vho witnessed it prince bismarck controlled hiss feelings only by violent efforts he was only able to force out a few words at a time sometimes he could hardly speak at all and was obliged to take long pauses to suppress the tears which he tried to hide by lifting his portfolio or glass of water the evening papers contain what are reported to be the last words spoken by the emperor Th eyare alexander has promised me that he will not make war against us it is reported the emperor also said 1 am convinced we ought not to go to war with russia with whom the most friendly attitude ought to be adopted during the last thirty six hours the emperor was drowsy delirious and conscious at times excitedly to relative to family or political matters once he mistook prince bismarck for the crown prince and taking his hand pleaded that he would always be kind to the czar during the last moments the emperor did not suffer his face wore a tranquil almost smiling expression A few minutes before his death the emperor exclaimed jaritz JF ritz dear Pritz emperor william left thred hundred million marks in cash the premature report of death created the wildest excitement ohp papers that published the report will be prosecuted at 10 tonight to night the people outside the balaco were wedged together in a dense crowd the people refused to believe the denial of the emperor s death thinking the fact was mu concealed tho emperor died holding the empress hand ho had been in a stupor since 3 lor a brief period at about five during which ho is reported to have exclaimed 1 I am a man of peace but if russia forces me to war I 1 shall faithfully side with my ally austria the emperor will be buried in the mausoleum at charlottenberg Char lottenberg eye witnesses to the scenes at the death of the emperor state that during the last few haars hoars of his life ho suffered no pam shortly after 8 all the members of the family staying at the palace the court dignitaries nit aries generals and the minister of state were summoned to the chamber in which the emperor was dying ahe emperor was in a half sitting position on a camp bedstead all the members of the koyal family took places at the bedside the room was crowded prince william stood nearest est ro to me the emperor half bending over ti L tr t 0 est ro me over ti L tr t 0 tho conch he earnestly watched the face of the dying monarch until he expired the emperors remains lie covered with a cloth on the bedstead on which he died in the imperial chamber tho body is surrounded with candles his expression is extremely peaceful and placid members of the bayal boyal family left tha palace at 10 divine service will be held in the mortuary chamber tonight at the opening of the house odthe prussian diet today to day herr vonn Puit kramer vice president of the prussian ministerial erial and said the sad duty to make a most painful communication to the house jt has pleased god to call ibis majesty tho emperor in the year of his glorious reign from his earthly existence by peaceful death al this morning you will not i expect me at this most solemn mo 0 k w 2 s r r A at sa g T ment and care BO deeply stir conr hearts to attempt to da the feeling with whick the whole nation is through the loss of our most beloved exalted and venerable ruler I 1 may however safely and confidently say on this day of sore trial that the prussian people and their representatives wm now more than ever be penetrated by the consciousness that the sorrows of conr exalted sovereigns house are theirs and that the deeper the universal pain at the decease of our ever remembered king tho stronger and more indissoluble will be the link uniting Trussia fl sovereign house and prussian sias people in good and evil days I 1 leave to yourselves to take such resolutions as are suitable to the gravity of the situation herr yon koeller president of the house closed the sitting with the words god protect the royal house and fatherland the reichstag assembled at 1230 p m amid excitement in the lobbies all the benches and eries were speedily filled prince galleries Sall bismarck soon appeared and after a slight pause said the sad duty devolves upon me of making you an official communication of what you know already that since hia majesty emperor villiam hasteen has been at rest with bis fathers in consequence of this event Prussian the throne this of the imperial constitution the imperial dignity has fallen upon his majesty frederick HI king of prussia tho telegraphic intelligence received by me allows of the assumption that his majesty the reigning emperor and king will leave san bemo tomorrow arriving in due course of time in berlin during the last days of his life I 1 received from the much lamented king a confirmation of his power for work which only left him with his life the signature which lies before me empowers me to close the reichstag at the usual time when its labors are finished I 1 addressed to the emperor a request that he should sign only with the first letter of his name hia majesty replied he believed himself still able to write his name in full in consequence this historical document with the last signature of his majesty lies before me under the circumstances I 1 assume it would be in accordance with the wish of the reichstag as well as of the representatives of the federal gov emment not to separate just now but to remain to assist until after the arrival of his majesty the emperor I 1 therefore do not make any anso of the authorization beyond depositing it in the archives as an historical document and requesting your president to induce thu adoption of resolutions which will reflect the feeling and consideration of the reichstag it does not become me to give from the official place expression to the personal feelings with which the decease of my master and the departure of the first german emperor from our midst fills me there is in fact no need of it for the feelings which animate me livo in the hearts of every german but there is one thing which I 1 believe I 1 should not conceal from you it does not concern my sentiments but my experiences it 18 a fact that amid the visitations with which the ruler enst departed lived to see his house afflicted thero were two circumstances which filled him with satisfaction and comfort one of them was the effect that the sufferings of his only eon and successor conr present sovereign lord had produced throughout the world not only in germany but in every part of the world I 1 received this very day from new york a telegram of sympathy showing what confidence the dynasty of the imperial house has acquired among all the nations this is the legacy which the emperors long reign to the german peo confidence which his dynasty has won will be transferred to the nation despite anything that has happened the stoats published the following proclamation it has pleased god his majesty the emperor and gracious master from life after a short illness and after a richly blessed reign tho whole nation mourns with the coyal house the decease of the deeply beloved and venerable monarch whose wisdom has ruled so long and gloriously over its fortunes in war and in peace signed OF STATE the death of the emperor was announced to the populace by the lowering to half mast of the standard over the palace flags at half mast are displayed on the public buildings an immense concourse of people is gathered outside the palace the multitude is silent and sorrowful |
