, 1888-03-10
THE EMPEROR'S DEATH.
Mourning Universal for the
lllustrious Dead.
Messages of Condolences From
ALI Nations.
Last Hours of the Dead
Emperor.
The emperor 8 Death.


BERLIN, March 9.-The death of the
emperor was announced to the populace
by the lowering IL halfmast of the stand
ard over the palace. Flags at half mast
are displayed on all public buildings. An
immense concourse of people is gathered
outside the palaces The multitude is
silent and sorrowtul.
Eye witnesses of the scenes at the death
of the emperor state that during the last
few hours of his life he suffered no pain.
Shortly after 8 O'Clock all the members of
the family staying at the palace, the court
dignitarles, generals and ministers of
state were summoned to the chamber in
which the emperor was dying. The m
peror was IN a half sitting position on a
camp bedstead. All the members of the
royal family took places at the bedside,
the room being crowded. Prince William
stood nearest the emperor, half bending
over the couch. He earnestly watched
the face of the dying monarch until he
expired.
When the reichstag met to day Prince
Bismarck with deep emotion informed
the members of the death of Emperor
William. He also announced that the
new king would assume the title of Fred
erick Ill.
A PROCLAMATION.
The Stats Angeiger publishes the fol.
lowing proclamation: at has pleased
God to call his majesty the emperor and
king, our most gracious master, from life
after a short illness and after a rich and
blessed reign. The whole nation mourns
with the royal house the decease of our
deeply beloved and venerable monarch,
yphosa ~igl,,,, 10, ,,lal 10 -u l.
rlously over its fortunes in war and in
peace.
(Signed) MINISTER OF STATE.
Bismarck informed the reichstag that
Emperor Frederick will leave San Reno
tomorrow and arrive at Berlin in due
course of time. The house received the
communication with evident satisfaction,
the more SO because Herr Won Puttkamer
in announcing tie death of Emperor
William to the lower house diet had not
alluded to the new emperor. This mis-
sion had created a painful impression.
Bismarck declared that from what he had
observed during the last few days En-
pcror William had found consolation IN
those trying hours in the sympathy of the
whole world shown in the sufferings of his
son and in his consciousness of the con
solidation of national unity, which found
expression In the unanimous passage of
the military law. The reischstag then
adjourned for an indefinite period.
After adjournment Bismarck descended
from the elevated seats occupied by the
members of the bundesrath into the body
of the house and greeted Count Won
Moltke. The members crowded around
him as he showed the order dissolving
the roiohstag, all being anxious to see the
last signature of the emperor.
When Bismarck entered the reichstag
this afternoon he deposited the imperial
order closing the session. The order was
the last official document signed by the
emperor.
ANNOUNCING TUE SAD NEWS.
At the opening of the lower house of
the Prussian diet to-day Herr Won Putt
kamer, vice president of the Prussian
ministerial council, arose and said:
Il have the sad duty to make the most
painful communication to the house. 1t
pleased God to call his majesty the en-
peror, in the twenty. eighth year of his
glorious reign, from his earthly existence
by a peaceful death at $50 this morning.
You will not expect me at this most
| solemn moment, when sorrow and care so
| uCCDlN Dull Jul hNallG " 4 pl W Ut
pict the feeling with which the whole nd
ton is filled through the loss of our most
beloved, exalted and venerable ruler.
II may, however, safely and confidently
say that on this day of sore trial that the
Prussian people and their representation
| will now, more than ever, be penetrated
by the consciousness that the sorrow of
our exalted sovereign's house are theirs
and that the deeper the universal pain at
decease of our ever remembered king. the
| the stronger and more indissoluble will be
| the link uniting Prussia's sovereign house
and Prussia's people in the good and evil
days. | leave it to yourselves to take such
resolutions as are suitable to the gravity
of the situation"
Herr Won Koeller, president of the
house, closed the sitting with the words:
God protect the royal house and father
land"
HOW II EMPEROR DIED.
The emperor died holding the empress .
hand. He had been in a stupor since 8
| o'clock. He was delirious for a brief pc
| riod at 5 o'clock during which he is re-
ported to have exclaimed: Il am a man
of peace, but if Russia forces me to war
| shall faithfully side with my ally Aus.
tria."
The emperor will be buried in the maui
solemn at Charlottenberg.
The emperor''s remains lie covered with
a white cloth on the bedstead on which
he died in the imperial chamber. The
body is surrounded with candles, and the
expression of the features is extremely
peaceful and placid.
The members of the royal family left
the palace at 10 o'clock.