The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-06-22
laying THE LAST Stone
Emperor William Completes the
Baltic Canal
THOUSANDS OF SPECTATORS
A Truly Royal Welcome Accorded His
Majesty
THOUSANDS OF SPECTATORS
The President Of the Reichstag congratulates
the Emperor and Germany on the
Completion Of the Work


the Russian cruiser Rurik, at 8 80 today,
Emperor William laid the last stone of
the Baltic and North sea canal IN the
presence of many thousands of specta-
tors. The weather was brilliant and the
ceremony took place in the open air and
not in the lighthouse adjoining 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 |, Frederick III and
William II. Under the relief med Allon
of Emperor William l is black marble
tablet on which is engraved in gilt letter.
ing:
His majesty, Emperor William l, laid
tn is corner stone of the Baltic canal on
June 8, 1887, and accompanied his blows
with tho hammer by these words: In
honor of United Germany to her perfect
welfare, in token of her might and
power
The lighthouse and the block Of mas
onry into which the emperor placed the
finishing stone were surmounted by enor-
nous scaffoldings rising in a semi-circle 9
and affording seats for about Is, 900 peo.
pie. AS the emperor approached the
stone Baron Won Buol Beienberg, presi.
dent of the reichstag, addressed him as
follows:
May it please your majesty to con-
summate an enterprise the gram
deur of which from mechanical and in
dustrial point of view has never been
equaled on German soil, We now see tn
complete structure which has long been
planned and the accom- plshment of
yy in hoo hon Il InnfI a raI h,,G
man hearts, this structure, which was
at first intended to increase the defensi We
strength of the nation, but which will
now promote German trade and COM
merce. We may thus be permitted to in
dulge the hope that the successful ac-
com plishment of the work will perman-
emily and in the fullest measure fulfill
the further object of providing a proiita-
BILE opening for international trade.
May your majersty graciously deign to
take the mallet have the honor of pre-
senting in the name of the German ma
tional representation and give the finish
ing stroke by consecrating the enterprise.
ton.
Taking the mallet, the emperor said
I'm memory of Emperor William the
Great, 7 christen this canal the Kaiser
Wilhelm canal.
His majesty then tapped the stone three
times with the mallet, saying: 'In the
name OF the Triune Cot, in honor of
Emperor William to the veal of Ger
many and the welfare of nations"
The most elaborate arrangements vera
made for today's ceremonies. The enor-
nous grandstands were filled to their
utmost capacity. In the center of the
semi circle was brick tower and high
Flagstaff. the first surmounted by the
German flag and the latter by the herald C
eagles and the German standard. Behind
the spot where stood the commemorative
stone was dais upholstered in ciim son
and gold. By II o'clock all the stands
were filled with onlookers and military
and naval officers. The emperor. accom-
panied by the empress and their four
sons, arrived ashore from the Hobenzol-
lern in barge flying the imperial stand
ard. His majesty wore a guard 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 and Prince Adelbert wore
naval uniform.
After Emperor William had tapped the
stone parchment was placed inside of
it, declaring the circumstances of the
building and completion of the canal.
The chancellor. Prince Hohenlohe, in
full official uniform, read the document
aloud before depositing it in the stone.
Nao Ivy oulpuc nun All tuS
warships as the emperor gave the first
tap. and other important pers onages.
bare headed, tapped the stone three times
IN accordance with the German tradi-
tions. The bands played different airs as
the various persons touched the stone.
The emperor and the imperial party, as
well as all the foreign officers and ether
persons, then returned to their respective
ships.
In the meantime the stone was built in
with bricks by the master builders or the
canal, the people pressing in as the work
was eoihe on ana selzing scraps of brick
and mortar as souvenirs.
The review OF the feet began at 3 u. nj.
The imperial yacht, with the imperial
family, kings, grand dukes. princes and
mayors of the chief cities, ETC.. on Joard,
lett her mooring ana at the same moment
the crews of all the vessels in the harbor
manned the yards in their full strength,
presenting grand spectacle. The Ho-
henzolern proceeded slowly down the
line. the emperor in an adrnirai's uniform
alone on the bridge, the crews
of all craft in the harbor greeting his ma
jesty with loud cheers.
The great banquet which practically
wound up the ceremonies of opening the
North Baltic sea canal took place this
evening, in the much discussed structure
the old German warship
Niobe. One thousand guests partciI ated
in the entertainment, including the
diplomatic representatives of various ma
tions. The banquet hall was fac smile
of huge vessel of ancient construction I
as was in vogue in the seventeenth
century. The whole structure was Alb feet
long and 132 feet wide. The banquet
hall measured 334 by 67 feet.
The French admiral, Menard, sat on
the emperor's right and the Russian ad-
miral, Skrydloff, sat on his LETT.
AT the conclusion Of the banquet the
EN- peror said:
st IS with delight and pride that
look around this brilliant festal gather
ing, and in the name of my high allies,
bid you all hearty welcome.
"We express our heartfelt thanks tor
the good feeling shown toward us on the
Of the work which was
planned in peace and in peace achieved
ana today opened to general traffic. Far
back in the middle ages we find PROPOSE
lions and plans to carry out this under
,aking, and in the last century the Eide
canal was built, bearing glorious testi-
nony to the productive power of that
lGe.
"We have not however, labcred for our
,wn home in this alone. In conformity