The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-06-20
THE FATHERLAND.
The Last Hours of Emperor Frederick
Address of William III to the Army.

Address of William III to the Army.
! BERLIN, June 16.-An official who was
! present in the death chamber during the
i last hours of Emperor Frederick, thus de-
scribes the scene: About 10 o'clock the
crown prince was called in. The emper-
! or's head was raised on large pillow and
his hands rested on the coverlet. The
crown prince stood opposite, and the en-
press was seated at the foot of the bed;
but later she knelt at the bedside and re-
mained in this position during the last
hours, watching her dying husbands
faint grasps for breath. During the night
the emperor had beckoned her to his side;
as she bent over him, he murmured sin
gle word; then a few short sentences,
which she alone understood. At the foot
of the bed knelt the empress daughters.
The chaplain softly murmured the litany;
Prince Frederick Charles, who had streWn
the coverlet with white roses stood with
the rest of the family. At some distance
we're members of the household. The
servants were crowded about the doors
with bowed heads and bated breath, and
from time to time the jitany was inte
rupted by half-restrained sobs, the most
heart-rending sobs being those of old
Wendellin, who had been
THE EMPERoR's TRUSTED SERVANT
since his youth. He is quite prostrate,
and It is not likely he will survive the en-
peror long. At Ii o'clock DR.. Mckenzie
made sign to the empress, who fervently
kissed the hand Of the emperor. At
twelve minutes past, the doctor drew his
watch and declared all was over. The
crown prince gave whispered orders to an
adiutant, who left the room, and at 1915
D. M, while the silent throngs watched
with bated breath the standard on the
castle, it was placed at half-mast. An
other adjutant had stepped into the court
yard and waved handkerchief to the
sentinels. In less than three minutes
hussars had mounted their horses and
galloped away in all directions, taking
possession Of every gate and the outer
door Of the castle.
This effect Of the emperor's death in
Berlin was instantaneous. In a couple Of
hours the brightasummer look of the
streets was changed women appeared
clad in black and men with bands Of
Grape tied about their arms. Many shops
were closed.
Much anxiety is felt regarding the new
empress, whose confinement is expected
daily. The new sovereign calls himself
Emperor William, and his consort En-
press Victoria.
WILLIAM TO THE ARMY
Emperor William III. has issued the
following general order to the army.
"While the army has only just discarded
the signs of mourning for Emperor Viii
liam l., my deeply revered grandfather
whose memory will ever live in all hearts,
it has suffered fresh and heavy blow by
the death of my dear and warmly loved
father. This is indeed a serious and sor-
rowful time, in which Gods decree places
me at the head of.the army. 1t is from
a deeply moved heart that / address my
first words to my army; but the conf
dence with which I step into the place to
which Gods will calls me is immovably
strong, for | know what sense of honor
and duty my glorious ancestors have i'm
planted in the army, and know in how
great measure this feeling has at times
been manifested IN the army. The firm
and invincible
ATTACHMENT TO THE ARMY
| is an Inheritance handed down from
father to son, from generation to genera
ton; and in the same way I refer you to
my grandfather, who stands fresh in all
your memories as the personifcation OF
glorious and venerable leader, such as
could not be more finely conceived or in q
form more speaking to the heart; refer
you to my beloved father, who, as crown
prince, had already won place of honor
IN the annals of the army, and to long
line of glorious ancestors, whose names
shine brightly in history, and whose
hearts beat warmly for the army Thus
we belong to each other, 7 and the army
Thus we were born for one another; and
thus we will stand together in an indis-
soluble bond, in peace or storm, as God
may will it. | now take the oath of fidel
ity and obedience, and swear ever to re.
member that the eyes of my ancestors
look down upon me from the other world,
and that I shall some day have to render
an account to them OF the glory and hon
or Of the army"
WILLIAM.
Dated Friedrichkson.
The Montana Wool Grower