Omaha daily bee., 1895-06-22
LAYING OF THE LAST STONE
COnsecrated by the Emperor to the Honor
of United Germany.
CONCENTRATION OF EIGHT YEARS OF Toll
BE fore tho Ceremonies the Kaiser Paid Il
Visit to the Russian Warships-Im-
menso Throng witnesses the
Closing Scene.


Russian cruiser Rurik at $3.50 this morning
Emperor William laid the last stone of the
Baltic North sea canal in the presence of
many thousands Of spectators. The weather
was brilliant and the ceremony took place
in the open air and not in the lighthouse ad-
joining the sluice, as at first contemplated.
The scene Of the ceremony was embellished
by handsome designs in landscape gardening
and the lighthouse standing close to the spot
showed the three bronze reliefs of Emperor
William l., Frederick III. and William H.
Under the relief medallion of Emperor Will
liam I. is black marble tablet, on which is
engraved in gilt lettering: His Majesty, En-
peror William l., laid the corner stone Of the
Baltic canal on June 3, 1887 and accompanied
his blows with the hammer by the words In
honor Of United Germany to her perfect vel
fare, in token Of her might and power
The lighthouse and the block of masonry
into which the emperor placed the finishing
stone were surmounted by enormous scaifold-
ings rising in a semi-CirCle and afording
seats for about l5 600 people.
AS the emperor approached the stone
Baron Won Buol-Berenberg president of the
Reichstag, addressed him as follows:
May it plcace your majesty to consum-
mate an enterprise the grandeur of which
from mechanical and Industrial point OF
view has never been euualled on German
S0il After eight years labor it has been
accomplished with Gods help and without
hitch. We now see the completed structure,
which has long been planned and the accom-
plishment of which has been arlently de-
sired by the German hearts. This structure
was at fret intended to Increase the de-
fensive strength of the nation, but will now
promote German trade and commerce. We
may thus be permitted to indulge in the
hope that the successful accomplishment Of
the work VIII permanently aid and in the
fullest measure fulfill the further OBJ
ject of providing a profitable opening for in
ternatOnal trade.
MAY your majesty gracously deign to
take the malet | have the honor of present
ing in the name of the German national rep
resentatiVeS and give the finishing stroke by
COnsecratng the enterprise. May Gods rich
est blessing accompany this action"
His majesty then tapped the stone three
times with mallet saying, In the name Of
the triune God in honor of Emperor William
and to the veal of Germany and to the wei
fare Of nations"
The most elaborate arrangements were
made for today's ceremony. The enormous
covered grand stands were filled to their
utmost capacity. In the center of the semi
circle was n brick tower and a high flag
staff, the first surmounted by the German
flag AMI the latter by the heraldic eagles and
the German standard. Behind the spot
where stood the commemorative stone a
dais upholstered in crimson and gold. BY II
o'clock all the stands were filled with on
lockers and military and naval officers. The
emperor, accompanied by the empress and
his four sons, arrived on shore from the
Hohenzollern in barge flying the imperial
standard. His majesty wore a garbe du
corps uniform and the empress was dressed
in heliotrope costume and carried a prim-
rose colored parasol The crown prince wore
the uniform Of the First regiment of foot
guards ani Prince Adelbert wore naval uni
form.
PARCHMENT IN THE STONE.
After Emperor William had tapped the
stone, parchment was placed inside of it, de
Claring the circumstances of the building. and
completion Of the canal. The chancellor,
Prince Hohenlohe, in full official uniform,
read the document aloud before depOsitng ii
in the stone. 1t was as follows: THE work
of which the foundation was laid by our
grandfather in the name of the emperor, the
connecting link Of the German seas, stands
completed before our eyes, eloquent testimony
of the German energy and national industry
by which it has been achieved, attended by
the joyous hopes and sympathes Of all the
members of the empire and under the visible
protection of heaven whose grace has warde
off all disturbances of peace from the father
land during the period of construction
"As we this day, with supreme satisfac-
tion see approaching the fulflment of the
the creation of this waterway, sufiicing for
the purpose of a naval and commercial fleet
II is a matter of rejoicing that 1t is sur
rounded by an illustriOus circle of allies.
In the presence of the representatives of
the nations and with the thankworthy par
ticipation of the ENJOYS of the foreign
powers, whose squadrons we bid welcome to
our first naval harbor now thrown open to
them in all hospitality, we are enabled ia
hand over this waterway to traffic.
Even as we regard 1t as the foremost
duty of our imperial office devolving on us
from our fathers to ensure the preserva-
tion of peace and the possessions gained to
the German fatherland in the domain of ma
tonal prosperity, liberty AMI culture, so also
We hold fast to the endeavor to provide free
course for the labor of the father
land in the hot race Of competition and pro-
tect it from the dangers of its calling.
OPEN TO ALL PEOPLES.
But not only is the canal a profit to the
fatherand in its trade, navigation and de.
fensive power, but we place It at the service
of the worlds commerce, throwing it open
ungrudgingly to all seafarng people to share
! in its advantages. May 1t be a work OF
peace and through all time serve only in the
| rivalry of nations for the benefits Of peace
At the same time We wish a memorial t
| the opening of this new channel of inter
| course to be erected and desire by this me
moral to renew portion of the thanks
| which the German people owe to the grea
| emperor, who twenty-five years ago uniteC
| the German races in eternal bonds ana will
wise foresight began the work now com
pleted.
May the rich blessing which attended tn,
| rule of the emperor of undying memory res
! also upon this work.
| The guard Of honor was furnished by th
| First foot guards and Marine artillery
| The artillery soldiers were a singularly fin,
! body of men. As the emperor empress anC
| the young princes, kings and grand dukes
stood in their places they formed an EN-
inenty picturesque group, with the back
| ground Of var!egated colors, white and rec
| plumes, glttering swords and bayonets nava
uniforms with gold epaulertes, the whole con
/ trolled with military precision, and in tn
| distance the many thousands Of holiday at
| tired spectators, the scene thus presented wal
| remarkably effective and not one easily t,
| be forgotten
The actual ceremony for the great mass O
onlookers was a mystery, and outside tn
| inner circle not one of Prince Hohenlohe'
words was audible. There was a royal SALUTE
| from all the warshps as the emperor CAV
the first tap, and other important parSOndges
I bageheaded, tapped the stone three times 1t
accordance with German tradition. Th
! bands played different airs as the various per
sons touched the stone. The emperor and tn,
imperial party, as We'll as all the foreign Of
| lCers and other persons, then returned &
their respective ships In the meanwhile tn
| stCus was built in with bricks by the maste
| builders Cf the canal, the people pressing il
! as the work was going on and seiZing scrap
| OF brick and mortar as souvenirs