The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-04-18
FORMER EMPEROR, BROKEN
WITH SORROW TAKES LEAVE
AT TRAIN AND RETURNS TO
ExILE-ALL TRACES OF FOR
MER GLORY DEPARTED FROM
ONCE PROUD RULER OF
FATHERLAND. HIDDEN FROM
VIEW

VIEW
Doom, April 17.-Never was con-
trast between former glory and
present state of humiliation more
accentuated than when Wilhelm, the
former German emperor, followed
the body Of his wife, Augusta Vic
toria, to the station at Maarn where
he entrusted the faithful COM
panion Of his grandeur and his sor-
row to his sons and friends to take
back to the fatherland.
The emperor that was and the
former crown prince and other sons
present were all attired in full uni
form of the Prussian guard their
helmets crepe covered.
The funeral procession arrived at
the little station at Maarn in dark
ness broken only by the light from
few lamps on the railway, embank-
ment. First came huge car with
flowers followed by servants, who
loaded the wreaths into the railway
carriage. About ten minutes later
the hearse arrived, flashing power
full search lights. It was draped in
with black cloth with white cross
and border.
Hidden From View.
From the next automobile Chap
lain Dryander alighted wearing
black robes. immediately behind
came an automobile carrying the
former emperor and his daughter,
Princess Victoria Louise, which
drove on until it reached a shelter
! of shrubs, hiding it from view.
| Frederick William the former
crown prince, and Prince Adalbert
in long gray mantels walked briskly
forward. Other members of the fam
lily alighted from their cars-Prince
Oscar, the Duke of Brunswick,
Prince Fperstenberg, General Won
Gontard, chief of the household,
Countess Won Keller and Countess
Won Rantzau the staunchest friends
of the late empress and ladies in
waiting in the old days, and the
court chamberlain Baron Won
Spitzenberg.
Representatives of Queen Wilhel-.
nina of Holland, the dowager queen
and the prince consort, with repre-
sentatives of the King OF Spain and
the King of Sweden, and number
of such officials closed the process
sion.
When all had knelt around the
coffin court chaplain DR.. Draynder,
his voice vibrating with emotion, de-
| livered a brief Grafton The coffin was
then placed in the railway carriage,
which Wilhelm, Frederick William
and Princess Louise entered, re-
naming for a few moments. Then
the former emperor led the way to
the cars in which the othef members
Of the party were to sleep tonight
and remain during their journey.
He thanked them all and took leave
of them.
Goes Back to Exile.
For brief period Wilhelm be-
came dimly visible to those who had
gathered to watch the ceremony,
his figure that of a man broken by
! sorrow. Princess Louise entered the
automobile with her father the door
closed and the car glided on, carry
ing the exile back to confinement at
Doorn, to face his fate without the
devoted wife who until now has
shared his humiliation.
Soon after the departure of the
former emperor, the ex-crown
prince left the station precincts and
returned to the castle, with the
Duke of Brunswick and others who
are staying in Holland.
The last farewell visit to the fu-
neral car will be paid tomorrow
morning before it proceeds to Pots
dam. Those who remained on the
train to accompany the body includ-
ed Prime Adalbert and his wife,