Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-06-21

PoTsDAH, June Ij.-Emperor FREDERICK
died at eleven O'CLOCK this morning.
OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED.
BERLIS, June 15.-The Rs,chsd7Eeiger
(oficial organ) publishes the following
announcement of he death OF Emperor
Frederick:
The royal sufferer has ended his earthly ca
reer BY G. IDS desire the Emperorking. our
most gracious master. passed 10 his eternal
rest shortly after eleven o'clock this morn
ing. after long and grievous suGerings, which
were borne with admirable fortitude and sub
mission TO Gods will. The royal house and the
German people have been twice bereayed
within a short time. They deeply mourn the
alltoo-esrly deeease OF our nuch-beloved En-
peror.
iSignedl MINISTRY OF STATE
WILLIAM PROCLAIMED EMPEROR.
BERLIN, June 1j.-The Bundesrath as
sembled at noon to-day. Prince Bis
marck, Chancellor OF the Empire, formal
ly announced the demise Of Emperor
Frederick III, and proclaimed the access
sion to the German throne Of Emperor
William III.
THE DEAD EaPEROR'S LAST HOURS.
LONDON, June 16.-The story of the
Emperor's last day OF life is thus briefly
told: When Prince Bismarck took what
proved TO be his final leave of his imper-
ial master Thursday, the Emperor with
great effort placed the hands OF the En-
press in those Of the Chancellor, his eyes
the while Enthusiastically expressing an
appeal to the man of blood and iron to
protect and uphold the rights of the de-
voted wife and prospective widow. Prince
Bismarck signified in words his interpre-
tation of the Emperor's otherwise ex-
pressed desire. He bowed low to the
Emperor, then TO the Empress, and kiss
ing the hand Of the Kaiser, promised TO
faithfully obey his mute injunction.
At midnight the Emperor was assisted
from his bed and placed in a chair. The
change brought a slight relief to the pa
tent, whose respiration was labored and
pulse futtering. The members OF the
the Emperor's family, with the exception
the Empress, then retired for brief
sleep, leaving the faithful wife perform
ing at the husbands bedside the weary
vigil prompted by love and duty.
Meanwhile the doctors, with the eXcep-
ton of DIR. Hovall, who sat in a chair to
the left of the bed. paced up and down the
large front room communicating with the
study il which the Emperor was lying.
DR.. Hovall repeatedly examined the pulse
OF the sick man, and at one O'Clock was
asked by His Majesty through the medium
OF note written on the leaf Of a pad:
Chow is my pulse; are you satisfied with
it,"
From this hour there was n gradual de-
crease of the Emperor's strength until
three O'Clock, when a marked change for
the worse set in. The patients face
blanched, and his eyes seemed to recede
in their sockets until they appeared to be
but half their normal size. The condi-
ton of the Emperor alarmed his watch
ers, and the members of the lmperl al
family were summoned. Prince Henry
was the first to appear, closely followed
by the Crown Prince, soon to become
Emperor. Both princes stationed them
selves at the bedside, most Of the other
members oe the family, who came soon
after them, standing near the door.
The moribund Emperor rallied slightly
after the arrival OF his children, and
maintained his improvement until five
O'Clock, when the final decline set in.
From that hour to the end the sinking was
gradual and steady. Last nights dis
patches do not confirm the reported eff
forts of his Majesty To speak and write
during his last hour OF life. At eleven
O'Clock all of the dying mans family were
present at the bedside. The Crown Prince
stood near the head of the bed, his form
erect and his gaze never once withdrawn
from the face of his father. His counte-
nance was sorrowful, yet stern, and his
manner betokened full appreciation of
the burden of responsibility which was
rapidly being transferred to him to bear
while he should live.
tl,a oI, iric 90
ment to the dying Emperor, Chaplains
Persius and Roege offered prayer. All
present were intensely affected. When
the final moment arrived, and DR.. Mac
kenzie announced the end, the Empress
knelt and kissed the forehead Of her dead
husband. The other members Of the fam
lily advanced to the bedside, kissed the
Emperor's hand and slowly retired, each
one expressing grief by unrestrained
sobs. The Empress bore up bravely.
She fingered for while after the others
had withdrawn. She shed tears less
copiously than did her children, but con-
vulsive sobs which shook her frame and
awakened the compassion OF all near, be-
token ed an agony of pent-up suffering
which none could share or relieve.
The body of the dead Emperor will lie
for the present on the small iron bed
stead upon which he died, clothed in a
white night-dreSs and covered by white
bed-covering. The troops guarding the
body will remain under the command of
Major Natter, who was attached TO the
person of the dead Emperor.
After the death of the Emperor the new
Kaiser, William Ill. instantly assumed
personal control of matters within and
without the castle. His first act was to
order the Hussars and Uhlans attached to
-sle castle to rigidly guard the house and
grounds, allowing no one to enter or to
leave without a special permit All
applications for permission 10 leave the
palace were refused, and passes except
those countersigned by the Emperor him.
self, in his own hand. were Cancelled.
Passes issued at the instance of DR.. Mac
keuzie were rigidly and somewhat con-
spicuously repldiatel, especially those
which had been given TO reporters. The
strong Gordon of troops surrounding the
castle excited much curious comment and
criticism both within and without the
schloss. AS an Illustration Of the trans
fer of power, and the new Emperor's. de-
termination to exercise his authority, DR..
Bergman was telegraphed to yesterday
afternoon to perform an autopsy on the
body of the dead Emperor. and it is ru-
mored that Dr.. Mackenzie has made
preparations TO leave IN consequence. 1t
was the wish of Emperor Frederick that
his funeral should be as simple and pri-
vate as possible. only his Immediate rel
atives being present. A mourning serv-
ice will be held at six o'clock this after
noon over the bier in the schloss The
funeral proper will likely take place on
Monday.
RIOERAPHrCAr