The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-06-26
BURIAL OF FREDERICK
The Sad Procession Marching
From PotSdam.
Funeral Services at the Chapel Formation
of the Procession and Scenes Along
the Route.

49, AAoSSVi, SourG Cuupidlll, OInClateQ. I'm
peror William and tho empress and the
Dowager Expresses Augusta and Victoria, all
members of the German imperial family and
household were present. At the conclusion Of
the service the coffin was closed and was then
placed on the same state bier used at the
funeral of Emperor William.
AT 9:15 o'clock this morning Potsdam was
in mourning and emblems of grief were to be
seen everywhere. All the way from the castle
to Freidichskirche, where the funeral was to
take place, torches and crescents were seen.
Everywhere there rose huge flagstaffs and
poles bearing banners with mourning divices.
The troops which were to take part In the
funeral ceremonies were already mastering.
they comprised the entire garrison at Potsdam
and portion of the Berlin and Spandau gar
risons. They consisted of one combined in.
fantry battalion, two combined cavalry
squadrons. two combined batteries of artillery,
regiment of guard and similar combined bat
talions and batteries from Spandau. At 8
O'Clock the bells tolled, and ministers who
were to oflieiate at the emperor's funer al took
their places around the coffin in the palace.
AT 80 o'clock the troops assumed their po-
sitions and various dignitarics, deputation s
and various associations proceeded to their
lac es.
The procession was then formed and
moved to the church. Upon arriving at
the church this morning the mourners took
the seats assigned to them. After the
service, Chaplain Koegel pronounced the
benediction. There was no sermon
After the firing of volleys and minute guns
by the troops. the mourners took their depart
ure. Before leaving, the widowed empress
bent over the coffin and took q solemn fare
well look at her dead husbands face. Court
Preacher Hersius repeated the closing PRAYER.
choir intnnnH Iirnn Tn fha
cession from the castle to tho church, the
Prince of Wales walked with the emperor and
king sof Saxony. Among those who took part
IN the procession were Prince Henry, second
son OF the deceased emperor, heriditery
prince OF Sake Meining, and generals of the
army, headed by Count Won Moltke who car
rled q marShaPs staff bodies Of the Prussian
corps of guard, and dragons guard brought up
the rear of the procession. The funeral cere-
monies ended shortly before one o'clock Bis
marck did not as he intended doing, attend
the funeral of the emperor lie is SO exhaust
ed by excitement, which he has recently under
gone, that he IS compelled to t,and Emperor
William expressly commanded him to spare
himself from attending the funeral
In spite of the hurried preparations the
uneral was not merely military display wor-
by of great soldier, but ceremony graced
by every evidence Of public grief and affec-
ton. A heavy rain fell throughout the night,
but as the hours wore on the rain gradually
hot. The scene when the impe-
rial family emerged from the gloomy
hall with its Pickering lights to
the exquisite summer building in the park was
in striking contrast with that on the occasion
of the late Emperor Williams funeral. An
hour and half elapsed before the procession
was ready to start, yet the time seemed short.
The emperor gave the signal after having
watched every movement made in arranging
the hearse and coffin, which was placed very
high.
Victorious wreaths hung at the foot of the
coffin and others lay on the platform around it.
The golden helmet of the Hohenzollerns was
placed at the head Of the coffin. Eighteen
guards boro a canopy of velvet Military
bands, stationed at intervals along the route,
played the glorious funeral marches of Chopin
and Beethoven, never ceasing until tho pro-
cession passed. In Potsdam garlands of oak
leaves had been laid upon the ground on either
side of the road for a mile or more, and the
oak leaves. Behind lines of veterans
and members of trade societies, stood
the patient spectators that had been waiting
for five hours to see the procession pass. The
best view OF the spectacle was obtained in the
town, where every window and roof was
thronged. General Won Hamiloak led the
procession. The brilliancy of uniforms glitter
ing III the sun presented q picture
very different from that present.
ed on the occasion Of tho funeral
along every head was uncovered and there was
hardly q dry eye. The clergy came first, fol-
lowed by the court officers. Then came sixty
young pages, dressed in black hose, scarlet
coats and black heads with ostrich feath
erS n feature Of the cortege was
the eighteen physicians walking side
by side. The central figure was tho
new emperor. Count Won Moltke walked
with difficulty, the eXertion being great strain
upon him. The service in the church was
mo als ri =,
say that although toGsly's ceremony was much
less grand than the obsequies Of Emperor
William, there was much more in this that
appealed to the heart.
Fronting the church was q largo cross Of
fOrget-me-nots, and there were tall palms and
ferns on each side OF the archway. The
princess OF Wales, the young empress and
several Of the other princeSSes~ bad driven by
Sans Souci to the church and were there in a
retired corner before the procession arrived.
Emperor William ii has issued an address
to the Prussian people, assuming the imperial
office.
LONDON, June 18.-The English papers
think the proclamation of William / TO the
army was out OF place. The French and Aus
trian papers criticize it severely.
BERLIN, June 10-An extraordinary rumor
is current in the city Which causes the most
intense sensation. 1t appears that, notwith-
standing the urgent entreaties and protest of
the widowed empress that no autopsy should
the new emperor, disregarding the appeals of
his mother, caused post mortem examination
to be made. The widows feelings were adj
outraged by the fact that Professor
Won Bergman, the very surgeon who had
been forced by her to withdraw from attond-
ance ON the late emperor, was called upon to
perform it. The post norton has revealed the
fact SO long denied by Sir MOrel Mackensie
and other surgeons, namely, that the malady
with which the late emperor was
afflicted was cancer in its most malignant
and incurable form. This being
the case, Emperor Frederick was de-
barred by certain clauses in the Prussian con-
concerning princes afflicted with in
durable maladies from succeeding to the
throne, and according TO the letter OF the law
his accession vas an illegal act.
The rumor which is now current Is TO the ef-
feet that, In view of the above fact, not only
the legality Of certain acts Of the late emperor
are about to be called into question, but that
even the rank and position Of his widow as
dowager, are seriously compromised, especially
as regards her appanages and title.
While it is almost impossible 10 believe that
the new emperor's dislike for his mother will
lead him 10 tile preparation OF SO incredible an
act, yet there is no doubt that the untruthful
denial Of the existence Of cancer at the time of
Frederick's accession in March last enabled
him to become emperor and his wife empress
in direct defiance Of the terms Of the constitu-
ton.
Some appearance of truth is lent to the rumor