The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-12
FORMER EMPRESS
 OF GERMANY DIES
 INEX|LE AT DOORN
Augusta Victoria Succumbs Exaettv Year After She Suf- ? 4 a''' first Serious At-
 tack of Heart Disease
By Associated Press

ease Since her attack in November, last, when it was expected she would die the former Empress had not left l her room. Dr. Haesner declared today that the end would have come sooner but for the devoted care of her nurse and two old friends, Countess von Rantzau and countess Won Keller. 1 Augusta Victoria had expressed Tor ging to die since she learned of the death of Prince Joachim She ire quently suffered spells of profound melancholy
 STRICKEN LAST APRIL
 It was while she was preparing to enter the house of Doorn, the present home of the former Emperor of Ger many. after her long residence at Am erongen that she was stricken with what at that time was believed to be a fatal attack. That was on April II, 1920. For few days there were re- ports that her death was momeutarily 1 lexrected, but she rallied and accom- panied her husband to Doorn on May Is, last.
 Attacks of her fatal maiady re- cured at frequent intervals, each sap ping her vitality and nullifying the store her health When her son. for mer Prince Joachim, committed suicide in Berlin last July, she was in such serious condition that the news of hiA death was kept from her for long time. and it is said She never learned her son killed himself.
 Late last autumn, the former Elm ] press condition gradually became worse and on several occasions her lchildren were called to Doorn, but her strength was such that she rallied bravely when the end was believed imminent Since the first of this year, lit had been known that she was grad ually sinking. < The former Emperor and Prince Ad- ebert were at the bedside when the former Empress died. They had been called by Haesner who attended the former Empress throughout her resi- dence in Holland.
 SON ARRIVES AT DOORN
 Fortner Grown Prince FredsricS William arrived during the day at IDocrn in the company of the burgo- master Of Weiringen and Adjutant von Jena. J. B. Kan, secretary gem Ieral of affairs of the Dutch govern ment, met Frederick William in the village.
 Telegrams of coincidence in large numbers were receievd today at Doorn castle. Numerous beautiful wreaths frc cm members of the nobility living in the vicinity of Doorn were sent to the castle. Count yon Bentinick of Amerongen, in whose home former Ern peror William resided after he came to Holland, from Germany, paid a visit of coincidence to Doorn. Faster Weiss. an intimate friend of the for mer Empress, has arrived at Doorn and is staying at the castle.
 The German flag today was hoisted at half mast over the tower Of the castle
 SHOCK TO JEWELLERS The death came as shock to the dwellers in Doorn Castle as during last week the patients condition had seemed less serious. Nevertheless last Satur- day Dr. Haesner after consultation with Professor Hymans, the Dutch heart specialist, thought if> advisable to send a message to Princess Nicto-.a Louise, the only daughter of the former Elm peror and Empress, calling her to lDoorn, The Princess, who then was in Vienna, had not reached Doorn when death came to the ex-Empress this morning. .A
 Last night the patient was only semi conscious. She was kept from suffer- l ing by frequent hypoderlnic injections but her breathing appeared to become hourly more difficult. At o'clock this morning pr. Haesner assisted the at- tending nurse and Countess won keiiar' an old friend of the former Empress, to adjust the patients position, so that She might become more comfortable.
 As the day broke breathing became l still more difficult for the failing patient and her pulse grew weaker.
 WARNED END NEAR 1 It then was evident to the physicians l that the end was near and Dr. Haesner warned former Emperior William and Prince Adelbert of it's approach. l The ex-Empress became unconscious and her breathing became fainter ana fainter until at o'clock life left her frail body.
 The ex-Emperor stood at her bedside with bent head as death came to his consort and he remained in the room for some time afterward
 The quiet lit..a village Of Icoru was greatly affected by news of the ex- Empress death which spread repidiy early in the day as the artisans were goingSto work. As the death bells tolicd, sthe streets filled with little groups of villagers, discussing the event. sl- Augusta Vicl ,ria had livel in Dccr1 less than year. coming here with the I ex-Emperor from Amerongen last May. During the first months of her residence she visited the village two or three times but afterward her malady grew more serious and she was only occas- licnslly seen by the people driving in the park in a pony cart
 FUNERAL SATURDAY 1 Berlin, April 1.-The funeral of for I mer Empress Augusta Victoria will De Eeld in Potsdam Saturday morning. t was announced here today. The body will arrive in the Wild Park railway sta | ton there, once the private station or the former Emperor William. Friday night. and will remain in the reception room until Saturday morning under an honorary guard of officers formerly at tached to the imperial body guard, who will wear full dress uniforms T Dr. Ernest Won Dryander: the former court chaplain, left here for Doorn last night He will accompany the body of the former Empress to Potsdam and will preach the funeral service at the temple tomb. Princess Eitel Friedrich. Oscar and August William. who are residing h 1 Potsdan, were uncertain this morning whether. they would go to Doorf. but It l was announced it was improbable thek would go. x.
 The funeral arrangements were made Six weeks ago by close friends of the ex- Empress and there will be no ostentatious |