The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-04-26

[ BERLIN. April 2o.-flclu Marsnal Coun'
Won Moltke died in the study of his off
cial residence ON the Konigsplatz. He
appeared to be in his usual health early
yesterday evening. He walked home yes
terday from the reichstag and ate hearty
| supper. After supper he went down and
listened to some musical selections, which
were played upon piano. He then took q
hand In game of whist, but during the
game he complained Of not feeling we'll,
and, laying his hand of cards on the table,
left the room. Later In the evening, when
it was noticed that he did not return to the
room, some one went in search of him and
found him in a very weak state. He was
Immediately put to bed; but, in spite of
all efforts to relieve him. he soon expired.
All the officers Of the general staff
were informed of his death, and they all
assembled at the dead soldiers house be-
fore daylight. His death was not gener-
ally known until published in the special
editions Of the morning papers, and it
caused deep and universal sorrow. The
empress visited the death chamber at 10
O'Clock this morning, and laid magnifi-
cent wreath of roses on the bed on which
the great general rested. She spent a
quarter of An hour in trying to console the
bereaved family. A great many of the
business houses are closed out of respect
for the dead soldier The lower house of
the diet adjourned until Monday out OF
respect for the memory OF the count. In
the upper house laurel wreath entwined
with black and white satin ribbons hung
over the deceased's chair. The house. after
listening to a letter from Major Moltke
announcing the death of the count, ad-
journed until next Monday.
The emperor, who was at Wartzburg
was promptly informed of the veteran
field marshaps death, and Immediately
telegraphed expressions of sympathy to the
family of the dead soldier. The will of the
count statss that he desires to be buried at
Kroisau, Where his wife and child are
buried. It is also his desire that his funeral
be strictly private; but it is probable that
the emperor will override the dead soldiers
wishes in this respect, and that the funeral
will be made the occasion for grand mill
tary display.
A handsome oak coffin was taken to the
official residence of the dead field marshal
this afternoon. The remains will lie i'll
state until Thursday.
Emperor William arrived in Berlin at
8:l5 O'Clock this afternoon. having inter-
rupted his visit to the Duke of SAKE
Weimar as soon as he heard of the death
of Gen. Count Won Moltke The empress
and Chancellor Won Caprivi met his
majesty at the railroad station and they
then drove direct to the residence of Count
Won Moltke. A consultation was held at
funeral arrangements, and the suggestion
that the body be taken on Tuesday to the
Won Moltke family estates for burial, in
accordance with the wish expressed by the
count was approved.
Religious services will be held in the
hall of the general staff department on
Tuesday morning. The coffin will then
be carried with imposing military honOrs
to the railway station for conveyance to
kreisau. The remains will lie In state
between the hours OF II and 8 tomorrow
The public will be admitted to take q last
look at the well known features OF the
dead, The body is being embalmed to-
night. Apart from the general demon
stration which will be held here, and
OF the dead soldier, and in consonance
with the desire of the nation to show re-
spect to his memory, the funeral will be a
simple ceremonial.
The cause of the counts death was
lesion of the heart. He was not known
to suffer from any pronounced cardiac
trouble The clock work of life had
simply run down. After the embalming
process is concluded tonight, the remains
eral staff under guard. The emperor ac-
by the empress visited the
mortuary chamber and looked on the face
of the dead. Both were deeply affected.
LONDON, April 25.-Mr. Poultney Bige-
low, who accompanied Emperor William
during last years maneuvers. gave to an
tonight interesting reminis-
cences of Gen. Won Moltke, who WAS also
a guest of the emperor at the time. Gen.
Won Moltke," said Mr. Bigelow, among
other things, always believed that war
between Germany and Russia was inevit-
able. Repeatedly after the Franco-P Prus-
sian war he urged the old emperor to take
the initiative. l have nothing to do with
politics, he would say, but the army is
ready. We are in better condition to make
war against Russia than we may be later
We are at the zenith OF our strength, and
Russia is daily growing strongern