The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-02
BIG SCARE OVER BISMARCK.
LONDON PAPER FALsELY REPORT
ED HIM As DEAD.

Great Excitement Caused by tbc
story at Berlin ana DeninIs Re
ccivcd with SuspiciOn-Decp Crirr
Expressed On Every Hand at the
German Capital When the Stor,
Appeared to he ConGrmed-Nn Of
ficiaI Agency at Berlin Sends Out
IA Denial at Night nnd Reports No
Change in the Princes Condition.
London, Jan. 2.-The usual quiet of New
Years day was disturbed yesterday af-
ternoon by report that Prince Bismarck
was dead. This rumor, so emphadcauy
made by the evening News and shouted
throughout London by the newsboys. Gre
ated deep sensation in the minds of the
general public and great excitement in
newspaper circles until a denial was re
ceived by the Reuter- Telegram Company.
Most Londoners, however, went to bed
last night In the belief that Prince Bis
marck was dead, as the dispatch to the
Reuter- company from Hamburg was the
only one published III this mornings news
papers.
Inquiries made in London bore out the
denial. Baron dEckardstein, attache of
the German embassy, said no news had
beeen received at the legation. and the
officials were convinced that the rumor
was untrue, because apart from the alb
sence of official news a close personal
friend of Baron d d'Eckardstein was staying
at the home of Prince Bismarck and would
certainly have telegraphed had the rumor
been true.
AT the British foreign office it was also
said no news of Prince Bismarck's death
had been received and the rumor was dis
credited there.
A denial has also been received here
from Berlin.
The feeling is one of profound reticeuce.
The actual source of the report is not
known, but the rumor was readily credited
in view of the fact that the eX-chancellor
has for the past fortnight been in bad
health and worse thhn before, though it
was not thought his life was in positive
danger.
Inquiries made by both telegraph and
telephone have ELECTED the reassuring
statement that the prince is alive and that
there is no reason to believe that his con-
dtion is any worse to-day than it has
been of late.
There is no doubt, however, that Prince
Bismarck's health has been greatly shall-
en- during the past few days, owing
to insomnia, which is due to want of open
air exercise and the agony he suffers from
the Gout.
Or. Schwenninger has ordered Prince
Bismarck to abstain from all mental eX-
ert.on.
a dispatch from Hamburg says that the
rumor of Prince Bismarcks death orgi-
mated in Berlin, and was treated in Ham
burg with scepticism, further inquiry at
Friedrichsruhe proving this action to be
justified
according to the Evening News there
is great excitement in Berlin. The News
stated that the report was confirmed from
several sources, but was discredted in
some quarters.
A later edition of the Evening News
printed a dispatch from its own corre-
spondent in Berlin, saying: '"The one re-
mark on the lips of everybody is Prince
Bismarck is dead
Although expected for months the event
has caused a great shock. II is the sole
topic of conversation i'm the hotels, cafes,
and streets. To-day being a holiday every
body about the streets was talking OF the
sad event When the news was first re
ceived in Berlin 1t was generally discred-
tied, and when confirmation was received
from various sources there was the deep
est grief everywhere.
at is uncertain whether death was due
to apoplexy or gout of the heart Tele-
phoning to Hamburg could not obtain
confirmation, but here it is generally be-
lieved."
At about a quarter of O'clock in the
evening an official agency in Berlin sent
the following: Count Herbert and Count
William Bismarck and DR.. Schmennger
are at present with Prince Bismarck
There has been no change in the Princes
condition during the last few days. He
appears regularly at meals"
This was followed by a dispatch from
Hamburg saying: "The report that
Prince Bismarck died to-day is unfoundod
The prince to-day received no personal
feff