The San Francisco call., 1897-03-23
.GERMANY'S GREAT
FESTIVAL BEGINS
Berlin Alive With Prancing
Steeds and Glittering
Soldiery.
The Kaiser Unveils His Grand
fathers Monument With
Much Pomp
Many Mishaps Among the Multitude
of Spectators, but No
Fatalities.

| BERLIN, GERMANY, March % = The
celebration OF the centenary OF En-
peror William /, who was born March %
| 1897, which began to-day was observed
throughout Germany as a national holi-
day. The day opened dull and cloudy,
| threatening rain, but early in the forenoon
the skies frightened and the remainder Of
the day was sunny. In the early hours of
the day Berlin presented the aspect of
Sunday. The stores were closed and the
streets were filled with people in holiday
attire. Every body was astir by day break,
and by O'Clock crowds were hurrying to
the best points of observation of the prin-
cipal sights of the day.
While the people were assembling eigh-
teen regiments of the Berlin garrison,
horse and foot were marching from diff
ferent points to the rendezvous at the
at the Brandep burg gate. The programme
as outlined in yesterdays dispatches OF
the United Associated Presses was carried
out without alteration.
At 10:30 O'Clock the Emperor on horse
back, wearing the uniform of colonel of
the Guard du Corps, with black cuirass
on his breast glittering with insignia of
various orders. left the castle, and at the
head OF the guards marched To the OLD
Kaiser Wilhelm Palace, where the guard s
received the keys which were deposited
there yesterday.
From the palace the guards with the
| Emperor still at their head, marched to
the Brandenburg gate in front OF the
| troops of he garrison, which were aligned
from the Lustgarten to the Brandenburg
gate. At tEis point .he Kaiser with the
! guards headed the troops and marched 10
the monument, where the troops were
massed to the right and left. Upon arriv-
ing at the monument the Emperor saluted
the Empress, Empress Frederick, the
Pence Regent of Bavaria, the Kings OF
| Saxony and Wurtem burg and the Grand
Dukes of Baden and Hesse, who were
seated under canopy in 1roat of the
monument.
Drums and bugles then sounded the
| signal for prayer, after which Chief Inten-
dant Faber delivered an Grafton. An
/ other prayer followed, when the EN-
peror, in .en;orian voice, gave the troops
the command. present arms" Then,
turning toward the monument, where
! mum ber of marines with the unyeiling
cords IN their hands were waiting the sig
nal, the Kaiser shouted: "Unveil! I'm
| veiii'
Down came the canvas coverings. and
the colossal monument to old Kaiser Will
1
salute Of 100 guns began, the bells through
out the city were rung, the bands played,
and the vast crowds everywhere Assem- bled
cheered tremendously for many minutes
| After the unyeiling the Emperor ad-
kvanced and saluted the monument and
was followed by the Empress, Empress
| Frederick, the Prince r gent of Bavaria,
| the King OF Saxonv, the Grand Duke of
Baden, the Grand Duke OF Hesse, etc., in
| the order named. all of whom deposited
wreaths at the foot of the monument
Alter this ceremony an evolution was per-
formed by the troops. The Empresses
the sovereiens and the Grand Dukes
returned to the canopy, when the review
OF the troops began. the Emperor standing
at the foot of the monument.
! The spectators were greatly amused in
the course OF the review at the spectacle of
the young Princes, the Emperor's sons,
| trotting along in the rear OF the foot
guards. The crowds in the vicinity of the
| monument were so great that mum ber OF
accidents occurred and a number of
women and children tainted, but there
were no fatalities.
After the unveiling cere emonies the civic
/ and military parades and other obser-
! vances of the day, the streets remained
packed with people awaiting nightfall
that they might tness the illumination
| of the public and private buildings.
The illumination of the city tonight
was indescribabiy brilliant. The castle
was q most beautiful sight, the whole
structure being outlined with dazzling
| light. Bontires were blazing in the open
Espaces anu many searchlights were used