The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-03-14
Emperor William Dead.
EFFECT OF THE NEws-THE SUCCESSION


The Emperor William of Germany died
at half-past eight o'clock Friday morning.
His death had been announced the previous
day, but it was learned that the report was
due to a sinking spell, from which he soon
rallied. Eye-witnesses of the scenes at the
death of the emperor state that during the
last few hours of his life he suffered no pain.
Shortly after eight o'clock all the members
of the family staying at the palace, the
court dignitaries, generals and ministers of
state were summoned to the chamber in
which the emperor lay dying The emperor
was in a half-sitting position on a camp
bedstead. All the members of the royal
family took places at the bedside. The room
was crowded. Prince William stood near
est the emperor, half bending over the
couch. He earnestly watched the face of
the dying monarch until he expired.
When the reichstag met Prince Bismarck,
with deep emotion. informed the members
of the death of the emperor. He also an
nounced that the new king would assume
the title of Frederick the Third. At the
opening of the lower house of the Prussian
diet Herr Won Puttkamer, vice-president of
the Prussan ministerial council, announced
the emperor's death. Herr Won Koeller
president of the house, closed the sitting
with the words, "God protect the royal
house and the fatherland"
The Italian chamber of deputies adjourned
as mark of respect for the dead emperor
The general impression is that there will be
no change in the political situation so long
as Prince Bismarck lives. President Carnot
of France sent Geographic message of
coincidence to Frederick William at San
Reno. The Paris Liberte says: " 1t may he
said to the honor of France that her old
chivalrous spirit has on this occasion
silenced the voice of national passion
Among all classes of society the fate of EN-
peror William and his son is subject of
most sympathetic concern. We cannot long
regard as enemies that venerable monarch,
sinking into his grave, or the prince, in the
prime of life, whose existence is ebbing
away. We are irresistiby touched at their
fate, and, with the sacred volume, we rev.
erently eXclaim, "How are the mighty
fallen!" Other French papers comment at
great length on the accession of Prince Will
lam to the throne of Germany and on the
probability of war. In England flags were
generally at half-mast.
The new king was proclaimed Frederick
III. He signs Frederick without refer
ence to emperor or king. The chancellor
received the following telegram from EN-
peror Frederick:
! deepest sorrow at the deeease of the emperor and
| king my beloved father must express my thanks
and loyalty with which you all served him. / rely
upon the assistance of you all i'll the arduOus charge
row. FREDERICK.
Private funeral services were held in the
mortuary chamber Friday evening. The
public funeral will probably be held Thurs
day The body of the emperor now lies in
state After death, the emperor looked to
be smaller than in life, popularity which
was displayed by his ancestor, Frederick
the Great.
The crown prince Frederick William
who has succeeded to the throne, was born
in 1881. He has sister, born in 1888, who
| is the wife of the Duke of Baden. Frederick
William was married in London January
%. 1858, to Victoria, Princess Royal of Grea
Britain and eldest daughter of Queen Vic
toria. She was born November 81, 1S45
The issue of this marriage was six children
Their eldest son, William, who has been
granted regency powers during the Hines:
of his father, was born in 1859 and was
married in 1881 to the Princess Augusta
Victoria of Schleswig- Holstein. They have
four children.
The remains eff the late emperor hav,
been transferred to the cathedral, Tn,
whole route along Inter Den Linden wa
lined with silent crowds. The throng wa
so dense the police and military, who bor
torches, had difficulty in eifecting passage
The cathedral bell began to toll at midnight
when Emperor Frederick arrived to visi
the remains. Professor Hartmann, assisted
by Drs. Won Lauer, Leuthold and Themann
conducted the post-mortem examination O
the emperor's body. They found calculu
the size of a pigeons egg, which must hav
caused intense pain.
The whole Russian army, by special orde
of the cZar, will wear mourning for fou
weeks, and the regiments of which the dea
emperor was honorary colonel for fv
, weeks. The ear and czarina called at tn
, German embassy and expressed their dee
sympathy on the death of the emperor.
> 1t is now an open secret that the Englis
doctor considers the disease of EmperC
!, Frederick an hereditary scrofula which Ia
= appeared in several members of his famil
and which has made his own son. the he
presumptive, a semi-invald. The imm
date importance of this is that it may pos
/, pone the fatal issue for months If not year