Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-03-16
KAISER WILLIAM DEAD.
HE PASSES QUIETLY AWAY FRI
DAY MORNING.
Pathetic Scenes and Incidents at the End
The Question of Imperial Success
sion-Prince Frederick Becomes
Emperor Frederick III.

BERLIN, March 9-Emperor William
died at $50 O'Clock this morning. AT
O'Clock this morning the following bulle-
tin was issued After a slight pickering
up of his vital powers yesterday evening,
the emperor's weakness increased during
the night and has now attained a high de.
gree.
Eye-witnesses of the scenes at the death
of the emperor state that during the last
few hours Of his life he suffered no pam.
Shortly after S o'clock all the members OF
the family staying at the palace, the court
dignitaIies, generals and ministers OF
state were summoned to the chamber in
which the emperor lay dying. The EN-
peror was in half-sitting position ON II
camp bedstead. All the members OF the
royal family took places at the bedside.
The room was crowded. Prince William
stood nearest the emperor, half-bending
over the couch. He earnestly watched
the face of the dying monarch until he
expired.
In his last hours the emperor seems to
have but one wish, and that is to see his
invalid son once more. The crown prince
was notified that his father was ill, but
was not given to understand that it WAS
serious, much less fatal. His doctors tele-
graphed back that he would be able to be
brought here on Saturday unless unfavor-
able symptoms which could not be fore
seen should set in. The emperor tried to
look pleased when this information was
given him, but his smile was sad, as
though h knew that Saturday will prob
ably be too late, and that he will never see
his boy again on earth.
When the Reichstag met to-day Prince
Bismarck, with deep emotion, Informed
the members of the death of the emperor.
He also announced that the new king
would assume the title of Frederick III.
The Emperors Career.
Frederick William Louis, emperor of
Germany, was born March %, 1877, the
second son of King Frederick William
III, and Queen Louis, a princess OF Neck
lenburg He served in the campaigns OF
1913 and 1914 against Napoleon Bona
parte. On the accession of his brother,
Frederick William, to the crown of Prus
sla in 1910, he was made governor of
Pomerania, He afterward sat in the
Prussian diet, supporting the absolutist
party. His consequent unpopularity
obliged him to flee to England in 1913,
but he soon returned to take a seat in the
national assembly. In 1891 he was
appointed regent of Prussia, owing
10 the insanity of his brother and sue
ceeded to the throne on his brothers
death, January 2, 1861. The king resisted
the constitutional party controlling Par
Lament, and asserted the prerogatives of
the sovereign. In this COntt St he was ably
supported by Bismarck, who became
prime minister September %, 1862. The
reorganization OF the army was the kings
effective method of consolidating and pre-
pairing for the expansion of his power.
his minister succeeded in turning public
at entlOn from the constitutional question
by raising the Schle,Wig Hoisreln dispute
IN 1868, and forcing Austria into the
Danish war. The next step WIS TO
drive Austria ont of the confederation
and secure the leading place among the
German states for Prussia. This was at
fected by the war of 1866. The kingdom
was now prepared Tor the war with
France, which the growth of German
power, as regarded obviously by Napoleon
III. and his mn SttrS, made inevitable.
The result was the triumph of the Ger
man arms and the establishment of the
German empire. William was crowned
German emperor at Versailles, January
Is, 1871. The emperor married June II,
1929, Augusta, daughter of the late Grand
Duke Kari Friedrich or Sake Weimar, by
whom he has one child beside the crown
prince, Lou 50, the present Grand Duchess
of Baden. He was at the time of his
death the oldest monarch on the globe.
The New King.
The new king was proclaimed Frederick
III He signs Frederick" without re-
ference to emperor or king. The Reich
sanzeiger announces that the chancellor
has received the following telegram from
Emperor Freder rick
SAN RENO. March o.
At this moment Of deepest s,rrow at me
deccase OF III emperor aud kim, nv be-
loved father. must express my IN, INKS Il
you ana to the ministers ct State for the de-
vntiOn and Loyalty with winch you Ill served
him. rely upon the assistance Of you an
IN the arduuus chaIg" which has dcNolVed
upon me- | leave here lo-mOrrt W.
FREDERICK.
The Last Words of the Emperor.
Preparations Tor the reception of new
sovereign are actively going on at the
palace. He will travel to Berlin by special
train which will reach Tlrin Saturday
night and Munich at Sunday morning.
1t is expected that one of his maiestS's
first steps will be the granting of amnesty
to political offenders. The evening papers
contain what are reported u be the last
words spoken by the emporer.
They are Alexander has promised me
us 1t is reported the emperor also said
II am convinced that we ought not to 20
10 war with Russia, toward whom the
most friendly attitude ought to be adopt
ed"
The Remains of the Emperor Taken to the
Cathedral
BERLIN, March, ll.-All the members Of
the ministry left by special train at 3:l5
O'Clock tails afternoon to meet Emperor
Frederick on his return from san Reno
The special train conveying Emperor
Frederick and Empress Victoria arrived
at Munich at $50 "A. m. and their males
ties met with a sympathetic eception at
the station. Dowager Empress Augusta
last night received Prince Bismarck who
had previously spent some time beside the
body of the dead monarch. After the IN
tervew Prince Bismarck visited Prince
william. The latter with the Princess Of
Sake Meiningen arrived in Berlin at 9