Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-08-04
VERY SUDDEN RELAPSE.
Princes Family Summoned to Hi
Bedside Early Saturday Evening
and Present at His Death.
"Thanks, My Child" Were His Last Words
Talked Politics ic the Morning and Ate

as Countess Rantzau Wiped His Lips-He
Talked Politics ie the Morning and Ate
Well Mt Lunch -
Friedrchsruh, August 4.-Pince Bis
marck died of congestion of the lungs
Saturday night at eleven o'clock. The
end came peacefully. His last words
were:-"Ich danke dir, mein kindw
addressed to Countess Won Rantzau,
who wiped the perspiration from his
forehead.
Immediately after his death, the
windows of his room were thrown
open, and the household could see
from the garden their master lying n,
rest on the pillow of his bed, covered
with a white cover and Herbert Bis.
marck bending grief stricken, gazing
into his fathers face.
The elements, as at the death of
Napoleon l., seemed to participate In
the tragic occurrence. A storm rag-d
that night along the North Sea, anc
there was bitter autumnal cold next
morning.
Bismarck humbled Austria and mad !.
the North German Union. He con
quered France and founded the Ger
man empire. His shadow lay over the
states and statesmen Of the Continent
Tor full thirty years. In 1t regulations
withered and powers waned, small
men grew great and nations were ere.
ated. The 1Inpsburgers We're thrust
aside and the Bonapartes We're de.
throned. The laurels of the Meter
nichs and the Schwarzenbergs died
away and the Gagerns, Manteuffels
and Camphauseus were forgotten.
Mere association with him, mere op-
position to him was fnme, and the
names of Crisp, Gortschakoff, Kalno-
ky, Andrassy and Gicrs We're known to
all the world. His heavy hand was
felt in every Cabinet and Court. His
life became the history of modern
Europe.
From the beginning of the present
year Bismarck was constantly under
the surveillance of his physicians, and
whatever ii may have been called,
his life was that of an invalid Few
persons We're allowed to see him, AMI
every precaution was taken to prevent
any disturbance of his rest and quiet.
This was in a measure the result of
the experience Of a Hamburg reporter
who went to FriedIfchSruh to inquire
after Bismnrck's health and was re-
ceived by Count Rantzau in such
way that the reporter won n suit for
damages from the Count. He contrib,
uted only two articles to his organ, the
hamburger Nnchrichten, during the
past year. These were dictated to the
editor, who came to his house. He
sent many memorandums to the edi-
tor, however, and these he usually die
tated to his private secretary. DR..
Chrysander used to read the papers to
him, and learned Russian for the pur-
pose of translating to him articles
from the two principal newspapers of
st. Petersburg. In addition to these
which he sometimes through his small
knowledge of Russian was able to
read in the original-Bismarck regu.
larly read three London newspapers
He usually rose late, ate hearty
breakfast without the accompaniment
of tea or coffee, but frequently includ-
ing as much as n pound of meat. He
always took this alone, reading some
of his mail at the time. He was able
to ride only a few times last spring
and then for only brief period. Last
January he undertook what was for
him an unusual eXertion He stood as
godfather to twins born of one of the
workmen in his sawmil. This wns
done in order to show the other work
men, who are largely socialists, how
much he appreciates the service of his
more faithful employees. The dinner
hour was with him the principal event
of the day, although the number of
guests was limited. One glass of Mo.
selie wine at dinner and two of beer
after dinner constituted his allowance
in recent months. He obeyed the re-
striction generally, but on one occa
sion SO far broke his regimen as to
drink five bottles of Moselie and MS
much beer as he wanted.
His political interests during tbe
last years of his life We're almost Who'll
ly confined to his own country. and
the war between Spain and the JTni
ted States, as well as other questions
of foreign politics, are said to have
had but little interest for him.
Bismarck left two sons. Count vii
liam is country squire. Count Her
bert has tried public life and failed
With the death of the Iron Chancellor
the political dynasty of Bismarck be.
came extinct.