The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-26
AN EMPEROR'S BLACK EYE.
NEW VERSION OF THE ACCIDENT TO
WILLIAM IL

Z, rs said ne was Rkuockcd Dswn en- Hais Yacht
iuGly or the Ladies' or the Lieutenant,s
Tauiiy-The suicide or the Eeuns n1an.
Special cabts DsspatoA to THE srx.
LONDON, Sept. 25.-It 10 q piece OF personal
rossip moro than serious Affairs Of state which
ia most discussed just now in circles usually
Interested in international politics. Ever since
the German Emperor received q mysterious
black eye during his summer yachting cruise
q variety of stories have been aloat about the
circumstances Of the so-called accident.
1t has been known in welinformed circles,
ever since the week following. that the death
Of Lieut. Won Hahnke, shortly after the inoi-
dent, was the direct sequel Of the AFFAIR. Ho
unquestionsbly committed suicide. despite
~ sSi H1ASal1nl h0rtt GRNt5AHMApa
that no was technically responsible for the
mishap which made It possible for a disloyal
block to swing from aloft and door the imperial
master Of the yacht. The Emperor had de-
uounced him before the crew In unmcasured
language. Tho young ohlcer had taken his
disgrace 90 much to heart that he rode on on
bis bicycle next day and killed himself.
But another and more serious version Of the
affair Is now accepted a. the truth by persons
in Berlin and elsewhere whose sources Of in.
formation Are Of the very best. Ono Of EN-.
peror williams peculisrities Is o certain con.
tempt for women, which he often makes no at
tempt to conceal, and even seems rather proud
Of hin a~ispafaGemSnt q women A. interior b
men. ThiS has been the cause Of moro than
one unpleasant Incident.
The Emperor was In an unusually supercili
Gus mood on the day Of this incident. He We,
talking Nith . Group Of officers on the deck d
hs yacht Among than was Lieut. vor
HaAnke. b Was q son Of Gen. Won Hahnke
enc u The most prominent officers In the Ger
man Army. The Emperor. without thu slight
ct regard for the young mans feelings, possi
bly, forgetting his presence. made Q brutal re
mark about the mother and wife Of the General
The young man was terribly incensod. and with
out Q moments hesitation confronted his GOV
sreign md knocked him down with o terrih.
blow with his 1st In the eye.
There vas awful consideration Cor the ime
hut tho detaals a what happened have not beel
learned. except that no attempt to punish tn
young oflcef was made. 1t was speedily real
issd thas It would be impossible TO deal witt
him BY ordinary legal q military methods with
cut the result that Europe would fing with d
scandal. In which the sympathies Of the publ
would b entirely with the chivalrous Lieu
tenant. Nevertheless. his prospocta Of coufst
were ruined. and no soon learned thas hiS fnthe
and family were also to b involved In the In
perinl vengeance. 1t Il not surprising that undo
the oiroumstancss b decided 10 TAXA his ow
life, as ho undoubtedly did do This ssnsi
ttonal story. Of course. would b denied II q
tempts were made to gubstantiats It In Il
hiRhest quarters u II accepted. however, wit
full credence BY those who have the means
knowing the facta. end oonsidsrinR the mar
minor points Of oonnrrnatien which ere curreu
there II Q strong probability that &c Il substs,
tally true.