The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-03-28
EMPEROR WILLIAM I.

Emperor William, of Germany, passed
away in Berlin at $50 A. II. on Friday.
The end had been momentarily expected
since Thursday morning, and around the
bedside of the venerable monarch were as.
sembled all the members of his family, ex-
cept the Crown Prince and Princess
Without was a multitude standing in the
avenues leading through the grounds to
''Unter den Linden"-a mighty crowd, but
silent, expectant, fearful for the worst; all
eager to hear the first news of the climax in
the great crisis which should decide between
Life or death for their beloved Kaiser; all
breathless in the dread that the first news
might be the news that they least wished to
hear Never in this century has multitude
profound stood in the thoroughfares Of the
German capital. A platoon of cavalry was
on guard about the palace, but their
task was light: no rush Of the anH-
ious watchers called for check or hin.
drance, no disorderly or unseemly
outburst had to be repressed. Many Of
the vast throng had been there since mid
nearly all since long before dawn of Thurs
day. A thin, cutting drizzle fell for hours
early in the day; the wind was sharp and
bitter, yet the great crowd stood their vigil
through; most Of them bareheaaed, some
shivering with the ague of long exposure
all speaking, when they spoke at all, in tones
subdued, and with their faces drawn behind
their hands This was the scene without.
Within-no chronicler was there to draw
the picture Of monarch's deathbed. At the
bedside however, were Prince William and
the Princess, his wife; the Crown Prince Of
Sweden; DR.. Koegel, the Court Chaplain: the
Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Baden,
and all the other members of the royal family
now in Berlin.
At noon all the members of the imperial
family, except the Crown Prince and the
Crown Princess, who were at San Reno,
Italy, had been called into room adjoining
that occupied by the Emperor At 1925
o'clock Chaplain Koegel administered the last
sacrament, though for some time the En-
peror had been delirious by fits and starts.
Prince Bismarck had been at the Emperor's
bedside nearly all the morning, but at 2:3O
O'Clock he withdrew, and visited the Reich
stag, announcing that the session of the
IReichstag would close on Friday.
By $50 o'clock it was generally believed
that the Emperor could not survive the
night, and at Gas false report of his
death was sent broadcast.
The physicians in attendance had declared
IN DullleCln CnaC tendency 10 SOHlnO-
Ience, evinced by Emperor William during
the preceding hour or two, was not the re-
suit of the injections of morphia which
had been administered. From this on
till the end came the waiting multitude hoped,
but knew that they were hoping against the
inevitable. And when the Jews came that
all was over they went away, some weeping
aloud, some silently; all heavy with sorrow
for their ruler they had loved.
Sketch of the Emperor's Career.
Frederick William Ludwig second son OF
Frederick William I'LL, King of Prussia, and
the celebrated Queen Louise, was born on
March %, 1897.
As child William was very weak and del.
iicate. His brother, the Crown Prince and
heir to the throne, was much the stronger OF
the two, and no one dreamed of the circum-
stances which eventually placed the younger
brother first upon the royal and then upon
the imperial throne.
Prince William and his two brothers re-
ceived military instruction together when
they were very young from an old sergeant
named Bernstein. William knew the drill
pretty thoroughly when he was eight years