The herald., 1898-08-01
LAST MOMENTS OF GERMANY'S
GREATEST SON
HIS END SUDDEN AND PAINLESS
Mentally Bright, When Conscious, Un-
til the Last-The Emperor Said
to Be Profoundly Grieved

only generally known this morning. a
number of papers, including the Post. Vor-
waerts and the Deutches Zeitung. did no-
contain the news of the princes demise
The Kreuz Zeitung and some others had
only a brief notice.
The Tageblatt this morning issued Bis
marck supplement. The Lokal Anzeiger
prints the fullest details from its special
correspondent at FREDERICKSBURG, but the
other papers, msled by DR.. Schweninger's 3
and the familys statements regarding the
princes condition, made no provision to OBJ
tain news of his death. A majority Of the
provincial papers did not contain the news
This morning no news Of any kind regard
ing the funeral arrangements was obtain
able.
The Hamburger Correspondent and the
Nachrichten appear with mourning borders
and publish long obituaries.
The Princes Last Hours
The Nachrichten gives the fullest details
of the last days and the death of Bismarck.
II says: "On Tuesday evening" an improve
ment set In, the princes condition, in which
repeated changes for the worse had oc-
Cured since Octiber last, being improved,
and he was able to appear at the table and
take part In the conversation, drinking
champagne and afterward smoking several
pipes, which he had not done lately.
His condition was so satisfactory that DR..
Schweninger. after the prince had gone to
bed, left with the intention of returning on
Saturday. His condition was kept very.sat-
isfactory throughout Friday and Saturday
morning. He read the Nachrichten and
rti RI
to Russian affairs. In the forenoon he took
luncheon, grumbling tucularly at the small
proportion of spirits in his drinking water
Then sudden change for the worse oc-
Cured in consequence of an acute attack
of pulmonary oedema, and In the course
of the afternoon he frequently became un-
conscious
Recently after brief periods Of his usual
mental cearness the prince had had Inter-
walls of drowsiness, falling Into long, sound
and beneficial sleep, on awakening from
which he would be completely refreshed.
His Last Words
On Saturday evening grave symptoms ap-
peared Death came easily and painlessy
and DR.. Schweninger was able, to some ex-
tent to tighten the last moments, wiping
the mucous lTOHl tHe pdlleiil ihodth duo
enabling him to breathe more freely.
The last words Prince Bismarck uttered
were addressed TO his daughter, Countess
Won Rantzau, who wiped the perspiration
from his forehead. They were: Thanks,
my child"
The whole family were assembled at tho
bedside at the time Of his death and DR.
Schweninger, DR.. Chrysander and Baron
and Baroness Merck were also present. AS
no breathing movement was perceptible for
three minutes, Dr. Schweninger declared
quietly and simply that the prince was
dead.
The prince lies as he used to sleep, In an
easy position, with his head slightly in
clined to the left. The expression on his
face is mild and peaceful. 1t is remarked
that his head remained warm for an un-
usually long time.
In accordance with Bismarck's wish, he
will be buried upon the hill opposite the
castle in the vicinity of Hirschgrupe.
The French Press
PARIS, July 31.-The French papers ex-
press the belief that the death of Prince
Bismarck will have no effect upon Euro
pean politics, as the deceased retired from
public life about eight years ago.
Grief of the Emperor
BERGEN, Norway, July 31.-The news
OF the alarming change in the condition of
Prince Bismarck reached Emperor William
late yesterday evening. When the empero,
was informed of the princes death early
this morning he was deeply affected and
ordered his yacht TO return Immediately.
The Hohenzollern. with the emperor on
board, win reach Kiel tomorrow evening.
The flag on the yacht is flying at half-mast
y WASHINGTON, July 31.-By direc- 4
\ tion of the president, the following dis 4
\ patch was sent tonight to Hon. An 4
\ drew White, United States ambassa- 4
\ dor to Germany:
Guarding the Dead
HAMBURG, July 3l-A dispatch received
rom FREDERICKSBURG correspondent states
that Emperor William has sent telegram
from Bergen, Norway, directing that the
Grofbose infantry regiment, No. 81, sta
toned at Altoona, send a guard of honor tc
Fredrichsruhe. The guard arrived to-
rived tonight.
BERLIN, July 31-A special dispatch to
the Lokal Anzeiger from Friedrichsruhe
says:
"The death chamber is on the ground
floor of the castle. The prince died on an
oaken bedstead, made specially for him of
wood from Sachsenwald. The end was
preceded by a severe death struggle and
terrible pain. AS he lies, his head is slight
ly fallen forward on his breast and the
hands are folded on the counterpane. At
the foot of the bed stand two watchers
The city looks hardly different from its
wont, except that flags are at halfmast."
Americas Message
United States Ambassador White at noon
today sent the following dispatch to Count
Herbert Won Bismarck at Friedrichsruhe:
"On behalf of the whole American people,
whether official or unofficial and Of what
| ever birth or descent, I tender coincidence
upon the mighty career now ended and as
surances of the most sincere sympathy for
yourself and your mourning family"
| At the office of the mareschal of the court
| 1t was said this evening that DR.. Won Lu-
| canus, chief of Emperor williams civil
cabinet, is hurrying home from Hortz,
where he has been spending the summer,
with view of putting himself in communi-
cation with the Bismarck family, and Dr.
Schwennger, in order to arrange for the
funeral, which will probably be delayed un.
til the emperor's return.
Bismarck's VIII
1t Is significant that Prince Bismarck
directed an interment near the colossal
bronze monument presented by the Loyal