The times., 1898-07-28
BISMARCK PASSING AWAY
His Strength Rapidly Ebbing
and Death Is Imminent.
RELATIVES FEAR THE W0R I
The Entire Family of the Dying
Prince Gathered at His Bedside-
His Long-Standing Case Ap-
proachinE Its Natural Termina-
tion - Alarming Reports Consist
entity Denied

Berlin, July 27.-Authoritative reports
received from Friedrichsruhe this morn
| ing fully confirm the previous state
ments that the condition of Prince Bis
marck's health is such as to cause the
gravest apprehensions.
The ex-chancelIor has been confined to
his bed for the past three days. He has
| been absolutely without sleep for three
nights and is unable to eat or drink.
Dropsy is rapidly creeping II rom his
! legs and it is feared that he end IS near.
! Prince Bismarck's sons. Counts William
and Herbert, with their wives have been
! summoned TO his bedside.
dispatch received from FrIedrichs-
ruhe at $50 p. m. says that DR.. Schwen-
niger, Prince Bismarck ; chief physician
positively refuses TO make any statement
as to the princes condition. Ii is learn
ed from another source however. that
| his strength is ebDing fast. His feet are
much swollen. The members of the fami-
| ly are all at the bedside.
The editor of the Nachrichten received
a telegram from the family of Prince Bis
marck. at Friedrichsruhe, late this af-
/ lclNDOl, say ilA6 AAleiA liz IA-~Ah4iSSAic4 .
! condition is uneltered-
] II has long been a tradition at Fried
| richsruhe for Prince Bismarck's family
and DR.. Schweuinger. his physician. to alb
! solutely deny all alarming reports con-
I cerning the eX-chancellor. mainly be-
/ cause the prince reads the newspapers In
1 his interval- of Improvement and be-
comes .tncensed upon seeing what he re-
| CARDS as purely private and personal de-
tails spread before the gaze of the public.
The official denials Of his present con-
| dition are, therefore, discounted.
DR.. Schweninger persistently complies
! with his patients desire for privacy, by
stretching the truth practically TO any
length Thus when the editor of the
Tagische Lundschau teleS-aphed TO in
quire as TO the truth Of the Lokal AnZei-
gers serious report, DR.. Schweninger
promptly replied:
1T is all nonsence. Prince Bismarck
sleeps well and his general condition is
/ unchanged
The I.okal Anzeiger publishes an inter-
view with DR.. Sehweninger, in which the
physician repudiates the reports that
Prince Bismarck has developed alarming
symptoms. He especially mentions hat
the prince is losing weight, which indi-
| Gates an Improvement in connection with
the collection OF water in his system
DR.. Schweninger adds that he himself is
about TO go on a visit 10 German Sax
ony.
This certainly will be brief, and mean.
while Prince Bismarck will have the 1T.
tention OF mis- secretary. Herr Chrysan
der. who is q physician OF repute.
The usually well-informed Hamburg
ische Correspondent says this evening
that the reports of the serious illness o
Prince Bismarck are, unfortunately. veri-
fed. As far as can be ascertained, his
I family fear the worst. Yesterday his
highness's condition was alarming. Today
he was weaker. but. as he slept well last
night, it is hoped that ne viii again i'm
, prove.
The whole Bismarck family is now al
FriedriChsTUhe. Despite the undoubtedly
grave condition of the prince. his end is
not necessarily imminent. The fact is
. that his long-standing case Is gradually
approaching its natural termination. Hi:
weakness, loss OF appetite and s!eepless-
ness are naturally the most serious symD-
tom for a man of eighJy-three years, wis
is racked with pain.
The reported swelling of his feet Is ais
an alarming symptom, though 1t doe!
not necessarily involve immediate DANCE
10 life. It being the usual accompani
ment of the disease. Inflammation o
the veins often causes oedemadic swell
ing. to reduce which is now his physi
clans chief object.
These swellings have troubled the pa
tient for months. They have prevente
his walking ard compelled him to use
| wheel chair. There are also open sore
on his legs arising from degeneration o
the veins.
In accordance with orders, all means 0
access u Friedrichsruhe have bee
closed. Park servants closely watch tn
entrance and inform inquirers that tn
prince is doing well.
The Hamburger Nachrichten, whicl
Prince B smarck so often inspired. print
this evening a statement by DR.. Schwen
niger that the prince is in no serious dan
ger. except from his great weakness. HI
weight is now ls5 pounds. He arose abou
23O this afternoon and drank some mill
and brandy and smoked a pipe afte
which he slept for two hours.
He awoke IN good humor. The latte
statement Is made owing to the report
Of the princes constant irritabilit!
through pain.