The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-06-22
Historic Document Read by Chaneel-
Tor HohenIohc and then Placed
Inside the stone.
REVIEW OF WAR VESSELS
IMPOSING NAVAL DEMONSTRATION
IN THE HARBoR OF KEEL.
Banquet In n Unique Building. af
Which Emperor william Made the
Final Speech of the Fetcr.

HOLTENAU. June 2l.-The formal cere-
monies attending the opening OF the Baltic
and North Sea canal closed this evening.
The day was. another great one for the
Emperor. who was again the central figure
in all the exercises.
After visiting the Russian armored cruis-
er Rurik at $50 o'clock this morning. En-
peror William laid the last stone OF the
canal In the presence of many thousands
of spectators. The weather was good, and
+. the ceremony took place in the open air,
and not in the lighthouse adjoining the
suice, as at first contemplated The scene
of the ceremony was embellished by hand
some designs and landscape gardening. and
showed the three bronze reliefs OF
William !. Frederick III and William III.
Under the relief medallion OF Emperor VIII
liam 1 is black marble tablet. on which
is engraved in gilt lettering: His Majesty,
Emperor William /. laid the cornerstone OF
the Baltic canal on June 3. 1887. and ac-
companied his blows with the hammer by
the words: In honor OF united Germany.
to her perfect welfare, in token of her
might and power
The lighthouse and the block of masonry
int which the Emperor placed the finish
ing stone was surrounded by enormous
fording seats for about l5.Ooe people. AS
the Emperor approached the stone Baron
von Buol-Berenberg. President of the
Reichstag, addressed him as follows:
May il please your Majesty TO consum-
mate an enterprise the grandeur Of which,
from mechanical and Industrial point OF
view, has never been equalled on German
soil. After eight years the labor has been
accomplished with Gods help and without
a hitch. We now see the completed struc-
III -
accomplishment of which has been ardent
ly desired by German hearts, a structure
which was at first intended 10 increase the
defensive strength of the natioli--but which
will now promote German trade and COM
merce. We may thus be permitted 10 in
,s,,lh duIge IN the nope that the sneeesstua ae-
ly and in the fullest measure fulfill the
further object of providing profitable
opening for International trade. May your
Majesty graciously deign TO take the mallet
1 have the honor of presenting In the name
OF the German nation, and give the finish
ing stroke by Gems -crating the enterprise
May Gods richest blessings accompany
this action
i. CHRISTENED BY THE EMPEROR.
Taking the mallet. the Emperor read:
I'm memory Of Emperor William. the
great, christen this canal the Kaiser VIII
helm canal" His Majesty then tapped the
stone three times with a mallet. saying,
''In the name OF the Triune God in honor
of Emperor William. to the veal of Ger
many and the welfare of nations"
After the Emperor had tapped the stone,
a parchment was placed inside OF IL. de-
claring in sonorous language the circum-
stances of the building and completion OF
the canal The Chancellor. Prince Hohen-
lohe in full official uniform. read the docu-
ment aloud before depositinS IL In the
stone. II was woried as follows:
'"rhe work of which the foundation was
laid by our grandfather I'm the name OF the
Emperor. the connecting INK OF me Ger
eyes, eloquent testimony OF the German en-
ergy and industry, by which IL has been
sympathies of all the members OF the en-
pire and under the visible profecsOl or
heaven. whose grace has warded OF al
during the period Of construction
las we. this day. with supreme saiisfac-
tion see approaching the fulhllment of the
anticipations which the empire attached 10
the creation OF this waterway, sufllcing for
the purpose of naval and commercial fleet. IL
is matter OF rejoicing that II Is SURROUND
ed by an illustrious circle OF our allies. In
the presence of the representatives. OF the
nation and with the thankworthy partici-
patton of ENJOYS OF the foreign powers.
whose squadrons we bid welcome 70 our
first naval haI'oor. now -thrown oIfn 70
them In all hospitality, We are enaDfed 10
hand over this waterway 10 traffle Eyen
as we regard il the foremost duty OF our
imperial Office devolving on ns from our
fathers TO insure the preservation OF peace
and the possession gained by the German
race i'm the domain Of national prosperity,
| liberty and culture. so also we hold fast 10
the endeavor TO provide free course Tor
| the labor of the Fatherland I'm the hot race
Of competition. and protect II from the dan
| gers OF its calling. But not only Is the
| canal a profit TO the Fatherland I'm its
| trade, navigation and defensive power. fn-
asmuch as we place i at the service OF the
| ingly 10 all seafaring peoples snare In It's
! advantages. May IL be a work OF peace
| and through ali time serve only in the
rivalry OF nations for the benefit OF peace.
At the same time we wish memorial TO the
| opening of this new child OF intercourse 10
be erected and desire by this memorial TO
| renew a portion OF the thanks which the
| German people owe TO the great Emperor
man races In eternal bonds. and with
whose foresight began the work now COM
pleted; May the rich blessing which at
! tended the rule OF the Emperor OF undying
| memory rest also upon this Work.
A PRETTL SHOW.
| The most elaborate arrangements were
| made for the ceremony. The enormous
| crimson-covered grand stands were filled
| 10 their utmost capacity. In the center
| Of the semi-circle was a brick tower and
| a high flagstaff. the first surmounted by
the German flag and the latter by the
heraldic eagles and the German standard.
| Behind the spot where stood the COM
memorative stone dais upholstered
In crimson and gold. BY II o'clock al
the stands were filed with onlookers and
! military and naval officers. The Emperor.
accompanied by the Empress and his four
! sons arrived ashore from the Hohenzol-
| lern i'm a barge flying the imperial stand
ard His Majesty wore Garde du corps
uniform and the Empress was dressed IN
! a heliotropc costume and carried prim-
rose-coiored parasoL The Crown Prince
wore the uniform OF the First Regiment
| OF Foot Guards and Prince Adelbert wore
| naval uniform.
The guard OF honor was lurnlsnea on @ ,he
| First Foot Guards ana marine arthlery. the
former wearing the traditional mltre head
/ dresse and red facinss. uniforms ornaniented
xith silver. worn by the Prussian guards
| uron state occasions. The artillery sol-
| diers were fine body OF men. The whole
| scene took place beneath brilliant sunshine
and With a nice breeze blowing. Ae fhe
Emperor. Empress and the young pr'ee4