The record-union., 1891-04-26
GERMANT'S SORROW.
Lamentations Over the Death of
Count Won MOltke.
THE COUNT DIED IN THE ARMS OF
HIS NEPHEW.
In His Will He Asks That His Funeral
be Unostentatfous-HiS Death Was
Wholly Unexpected, and He Was
Looking Well just Before Disso-
luton.
Special to the SUNDAY UNION.


BERLIN, April Pin his will, Count
Ven Moltke, who died yesterday after
noon, states that he desired the burial to
take place at Creisau, where his wife and
child are buried. The funeral, if the
Counts requests are followed, will be
strictly private, but it is thought possible
the Emperor will override the dead
soldiers wishes and that the funeral will
be made the occasion for a grand military
display. All the officers of the Generals
staff were informed of his death and
assembled at the house before daylight.
The Counts death was not generally
known until the fact was published in
special editions of the morning papers.
1t caused deep and universal sorrow.
The Emperor, on account of the death
OF Count Won Moltke, will return to Ber-
lin this afternoon. The Empress visited
the death chamber this morning and laid
a magnificent wreath of roses upon the
bed upon which the great General rested.
The Empress spent quarter of an hour
trying to console the family.
Splendid floral offerings are arriving
at the residence from all parts of Ger
many. Great crowds of people, respect
tul and sympathetic, surrounded the
Counts residence and thronged the
streets. Many streets and leading thor
oughfares are closed and the city through
out is commencing to display the em-
bIemS OF mourning.
In the lower house of the Prussian Diet
to-day the President of that body, in an
nouncing Won Moltke's death to the
Representatives said the high value of
the Counts services to the Fatherland
would cause universal sorrow and
mourning throughout Germany. In the
upper house a laurel wreath, entwined
with black and white satin ribbons, hung
over the Count Won Moltke's seat The
President read a letter from Major
Moltke announcing the Counts death
and then he delivered an address extoll-
ing the merits and services of the dead
soldier as a member of the upper house.
Both houses adjourned until Monday
next.
Late last night the Emperor telegraphed
his sympathetic condolences to Won
Moltke's family, saying the Field Mar
shaPs death was a greater loss to Ger
many than the loss of an army corps
would have been.
The Emperor has summoned all the
Princes and the crowned heads of the diff
ferent German States to attend the funeral,
which will take place Thursday next, and
which will be attended by imposing mill
itary ceremonies. The body will be es-
corted in state from Won Moltke's resi-
dence to the railroad station, whence it
will be taken to Creisau for interment
The ceremonies at Creisau will be quiet
and without display, in accordance with
the late Counts wish. A handsome oak
coffin was taken to the official residence
of the dead Field Marshal this afternoon.
The remains will lie in state in the apart
ment in which the Count died until
Thursday morning, The coffin will be
surrounded with battle-fags, and be in
charge of guard of honor until it is
finally placed in the family vault at Crei-
sau.
In the course of the morning, by the
Emperor'S orders, the imperial standard
was conveyed from the Palace to the
room in which the great soldier will lie in
state. This was done as a special mark of
the Emperor's favor, and as showing how
deeply he feels the loss.
This afternoon Lessing, the SCULPTOR,
took plaster cast of the dead Fiell Mar
shaPs face.
Details regarding the Count disclose
the fact that during the last few days he
worked with wonted regularity. He had
no premonition of death. He had nearly
completed the plans for the fortification
of Heligoland, and had sent q report to
Emperor William on Tuesday last. The
work that passed out of his hands showed
no trace of any abatement in his con-
IL.
He walked to his home yesterday after he
had finished his labors in the Reichstag.
He dined with the Swedish Minister, and
during the evening was very animated.
Later, while playing his evening game
of whist at home, he was attacked with
slight asthmatic spasm, and rose from the
table and left the room.
1t was supposed by the others present
that he would return in short time, but
as he did not come back, his nephew
went after him.
Major Moltke found his uncle in sit
ting position gasping for breath. On
seeing his nephew, the Count attempted
to rise and for moment appeared to have
mastered his weakness. He got UP and
then fell in his nephew's arms, seeming
to faint.
In a few moments he breathed his last.
a doctor was hurriedly summoned, but
when he arrived he declared life extinct.
The cause of death was lesion of the
heart. He was not known to suffer from
any pronounced cardiac trouble. The
clock-work of life was simply run down.
Friends of the dead General who were
permitted to see the remains to-day say
the features bore the placidity of a deep
sleep. The Emperor, accompanied by
the Empress, visited the mortuary cham
Der and looked on the face of the dead.
Both were deeply affected.
The speech made by Herr Won Vevet-
zew, President of the Reichstag, an
nouncing the death of Won Moltke,
deeply impressed the House. All the
members rose to their feet when the an
nouncement was made and remained
standing.
During part of the day on which the
funeral viii be held there will be gen.
eral suspension of business in Berlin and
other leading cities of the empire. The
Emperor has given directions that the
Royal theater be closed. and doubtless it
win be decided to close the other theaters
in the city as mark of respect All the
papers join in eulogiZing Moltke.