The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-09
AT THE DOOR OF DEATH.
EMPEROR WILLIAMS LIFE FIT
FULLY FLICKERING.

William His Representative.
BERLIN, March S-The Following bull
letin was issued at 10:40 o'clock this morn
ing: 1.-The Emperor had very restless
night and is very weak this morning.
Signed Won Lauer"
Drs. Leuthold and Tiemann remained
with the Emperor through the night
The Grand Duke and Duchess of Baden
and the Crown Princess of Sweden arrived
this morning in n special train.
The National Zeit,mg says the Emperor
was in a half waking and half sleeping con
dition yesterday. He showed a slight in
ing nourishment, which appeared to be
maintained. The Emperor has recognized
his daughter, the Duchess of Baden.
Prince Bismarck and Count Won Stolberg
Wernigerode, the Court Chamberlain, We're
at the palace all the morning.
A TOUCHING INCIDENT.
This morning the Emperor tried to sit up
in bed. He shook hands with the Empress,
who was seated by his bedside, but was
unable to speak to her. The courage and
devotion of the Empress are admirable.
Ill and weak herself, and broken with sor-
row and grief, her efforts to cheer and con-
REMEMBERED A DRILL.
At O'clock this morning the Emperor
spoke few words to Prince William about
the impeding drill Of the Guards, but in a
wandering manner.
Prince Bismarck tried to speak to him,
but it was useless. The Emperor soon fell
into a swoon and his pulse, which is usually
81, rosa to 10S and he had fever
About midday he became conscious
The Emperor this morning was able to
sign an order proroguing the Reichstag.
Otherwise signing functions have been as
sumed by Prince William. All the troops
are kept in the barracks in readiness for
the contingency of taking the new oath of
allegiance.
AT noon all the members of the imperial
family except the Crown Prince and Crown
Princess were in room adjoining that oc-
cuped by the Emperor. At 1928 o'clock
Chaplain Koegel gave the last sacrament to
the Emperor. The Emperor was occasion
ally delirous before noon.
AT DEATHS DOOR.
At o'clock this afternoon the Emperor
was not able to recognize even the Empress
and was apparently gradually sinking. An
immense crowd was standing near the
palace, Notwithstanding the fact that a cold
rain was falling. The palace was guarded
was virtually suspended and the theatres
were closed.
During the afternoon it was reported
throughout the world that the Emperor
was dead. This report, however, was pre-
mature.
The Emperor fell into a swoon at O'Clock
this afternoon and remained unconscious
until o'clock. He afterward fell into a
quiet sleep, which lasted until o'clock.
nd al
administered to him occasionally after his
revival.
PRAYERS IN THE PALACE
Divine service was held in the palace at
O'Clock this afternoon. All the members of
the Imperial family, the court dignitaries
and the members of the household were
present Hundreds of people stood bare
headed in the rain outside the palace and
joined in the prayers offered by Chaplain
Koegel The Emperor was continually
growing weaker. The doctors tried to in
lect camphOr and ad minister stimulants
mechanically.
At $50 o'clock the physicians in attend
ance upon the Emperor published an assur-
ance that his somnolent condition was not
the result of the injection of morphine.
This confirmed the belief that crisis was
imminent.
1t is stated that just before the swoon the
Emperor was talking with the Grand
Duchess of Baden, and that he suddenly fell
backward in a faint upon the bed. All of
forts to revive him were in vain, and even
the doctors for time thought that he was
dead.
The Emperor was perfectly conscious at
2 O'Clock, when he sent for Prince Bismarck,
with whom he conversed for twenty
minutes. Prince Bismarck, reassured by
the Emperor's display Of vitality, then
drove TO the Reichstag, and pre-
sided at the Council of Ministers,
which was followed by a meeting of
the Bundesrath, whence he returned direct
TO the palace at 5 o'clock. 1t w then that
the Emperor had the worst attack and the
whole family was summoned to his bedside.
The ringing of church bells TO announce the
administering of the sacrament led the pub
lie to believe that the end had come.
An official bulletin, issued at 8 o'clock
this evening, announced that the Emperor
was alive, and that on the whole his condi-
tion was more tranquil. The bulletin reas-
sured the people, who had been intensely
excited by the reports Of his death, which
had been published in newspaper extras.
Between and 10 o'clock TO night the
Emperor greatly improved. He repeatedly
partOok of soup and drank one glass Of
champagne. He spoke 10 the doctors and
expressed desire to get up, but was not
allowed to rise, except partially, 50 that
his bed might be rearranged. Prince Bis
marck and Prince William paid the EN-
peror short visit at 8 o'clock.
SILENT CROWDS.
Silent crowds stood outside the palace
throughout the day. The scene was a
deeply impressive one A pin could almost
be heard drop. Whoever came TO the door
of the palace was mutually interrogated by
thousands Of anxious eyes. The Emperor
fell into such a state of collapse at o'clock
that the end was believed 10 be near, but
he rallied at O'Clock and took nourishment
and wine.
The report Of the death of the Emperor
created the widest excitement The papers
that published the report will be prosecuted.
The telegraph offices tonight were thronged
with people obliged TO revoke previous mes
sages announcing the Emperors death. At
10O'clock tonight the people outside tue pal
ace were wedged together in dense crowd.
Even foot travel was impossible. The
people refused to believe the denial Of the
Emperor's death, thinking that the fact
was being concealed. Some stated that q
telegram had been sent 10 the Crown Prince
asking his consent TO the publication of tho
death of the Emperor.
AN IMPERIAL DECREE.
Following is the text of an imperial
decree which was sgued Nov. IL and pro-
mugated to-day, declaring Prince William
to he the representative Of the Emperor in
state affairs:
Considering the uncertain state Of my health,
which cofupels me temporarily TO abstain from