The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-03-15
The Venerable Emperor William
SurrendsrS His Royal Reign.
Death Succeeds Life at $50 O'c,cCk
This Morning.
The SOrrOwful Tidings Conveyed to
the Anxious Populace
By Displaying the Standard at Half
Mast Over the Palace.


vital powers yesterday evening, the
emperor's weakness increased during
the night and he has now attained a
high degree. (Signedl
VoN LAUER.
LEUTHOLD."
Emperor William died at half-past
o'clock this morning.
The death Of the emperor was an
nounced to the populace by the lower
ing to half mast, the standard over the
palace. Flags at half mast are dis
played on all public buildings. An
immense concourse Of people is gather
ed outside the palace.
Eye witnesses of the scenes at the
death Of the emperor state that during
the last few hours Of his life he suf-
fered no pain. Shortly after 8 O'Clock
all the members of the family staying
at the palace, the court dignitaries,
4 ,nerals, and ministers of state were
summoned to the chamber in which the
emperor lay dying. The emperor was
in half sitting position on a camp
bedstead. All the members Of the
royal family took places at the bed
side. The room was crowded. Prince
William stood nearest the emperor,
half bending over the couch and he
earnestly watched the face Of the dy-
ing monarch until he expired.
The emperor's remains lie covered
with white cloth on the bedstead on
which he died in the imperial chamber.
The bed is surrounded with candles.
The expression of the face is extremely
peaceful and placid. Members of the
roayal family left the palace at 10
o'clock. Divine services will be held
in the mortuary chamber tonight.
The cathedral choir will perform the
choral parts in the service.
OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION.
The Staats-Arzieger publishes the
following proclamation:
It has pleased God to call his mai
osty, the emperor and king, our most
gracious master, from life after a short
illness and after a richly blessed reign.
The whole nation mourns with the
royal house the decease of the deeply
beloved and venerable monarch, whose
wisdom has ruled so long and glorious
ly over its fortunes in war and peace.
[Signedl The Minister of State.
THE REICHsTAa INFORMED.
When the Reichstag met to-day,
Prince Bismarck with deep emotion in
formed the members of the death of
the emperor. He also announced that
the new king would assume the title
of Frederick III.
When Prince Bismarck entered the
reichstag at 1895 o'clock this afternoon
and deposited an imperial order clos
ing the session, the order was the last
official document sighned by the late
emperor. Prince Bismarck informed
the reichstag that Emperor Frederick
will leave San Reno tomorrow and
that he will arrive at Berlin
in due course of time. The house re-
ceived the communication with evil
dent satisfaction, more 80 because Herr
Won Puttkamer in announcing the
death OF the Emperor William to the
lower house of the diet had not al
luded to the new emperor. This omis-
sion had created painful i'm
preston. Prince Bismarck de-
clared that from what he had
observed during the last few days
Emperor William had found consola-
tion in his trying hours in the sympa-
thy the whole world showed in the suf-
ferings of his son, and in his conscious
ness the consolation of national unity
which found expression in the unani-
nous passage of the military bill. The
reichstag then adjourned for an indefi-
mite period. After the adjournment
Prince Bismarck descended from the
elevated seat occupied by members OF
the bunderath into the body of the
house and greeted Count Won Moltke.
The members crowded around him as
he showed the order dissolving the
reichstag, all being anxious to see the
last signature of the emperor.
ANNOUNCED TO THE LOWER HOUSE.
Of hn OF
the Prussian diet to-day, Herr Won
Pultkamer, vice president of the Prus-
sian ministerial council arose and said:
IT have the sad duty to make most
painful communication to the house.
1t has pleased God to call his majesty
the emperor, in the twenty-eighth year
OF his glorious reign, from his earthly
existence, by a peaceful death, at $50
o'clock this morning. You will not ex-
pect me, at this most solemn moment,
when sorrow and care are so deeply
astir in our hearts, to attempt to de-
pict the feelings with which the whole
nation is filled through the loss of our
most beloved ruler. I may, however,
safely and confidently say, on this day
OF sore trial, that the Prussian people
and their representatives 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 the decease of our ever-remembered
king, the stronger and more indissolu-
bic Will be the link between Prussia IS
sovereign houses and Prussia's people.
in good and evil days. leave it to
yourselves to take such resolutions as
are suitable to the gravity of the situa-
tion." Herr Won Koeller, the presi-
dent of the house, closed the sitting
with the words: God protect the
royal house and fatherland."
Frederick Ludwig Wilhelm, king OF
Prussia, and, since 1871, Emperor OF
Germany, is the second son of Fredrick
William III, and was born in 1877
He Joined the army at an early age
and was engaged in the campaigns OF
1854 against France. On the acces-
sion OF his elder brother, friedrich
William W., to the throne in 1910
wilhelm became Governor of Pomer
ania, and afterward sat in the Prus
sian Diet, and vigorously supported
the abSolutist party. In CONSEQUENCE
he was so much disliked by the people
that on the outbreak of the revolution
of 1S4S he had to flee to England
though he returned some months after
bly,. In 1857, the king having becom
incapacitated for business, Wilhelm
was commissioned to act as regent,
commission renewed from time to tim
till his permanent installation in 1855
In 1851 Wilhelm assembled the throne
He became the head of the Mort
German Confederation in 1857. A
Ems, in July, 1870, took place til
memorable interviews between Wi
helm and the French ambassador
Beneditt, which resulted in the war {
lS7O-7l. Wilhelm accompanied tn
army aud commanded at the decisiv
battles of Gravelotte and of Sedan. l
1871 Wilhelm was proclaimed EmperC
of Germany in the palace of the Freuc
kings at Versailles. Wilhelm marie,
in 1920, Maria Louisa of Sake Vienna
by whom he has issue Friedrich Wi
helm, the crown prince of Prussia, WI
married Victoria, the princess royal ,
England; and Louisa, the preseI
grand duchess of Baden.