PRINCE BISMARCK'S DEATH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2319, 11 August 1898, Page 16

PRINCE BISMARCK'S DEATH.

Berlin*. August 1. Prince Bismarck rallied so strongly on Thursday as to permit of his medical attendant (Dr Schweninger) 'returning to Berlin for luncheon. On Saturday the Prince jocularly discussed polities, especially the relations of Germany with Russia and other Powers. During the afternoon he experienced a severe attack of oedema of the lungs, and was frequently unconscious. Dr Schweninger, who was summoned, arrived shortly before the ex-Chancellor's death. Prince Bismarck died in the arms of the doctor, att the family being present. Some of the accounts state that he had hard suffering in his mortal agony, crying aloud with anguish, while other accounts say that he died easily and painlessly. With his last words he thanked his daughter for wiping his brow. He desired to be buried at Vorzin beside his wife. The Emperor, who was at Bergen, was deeply affected when he received the news, and ordered the flags of his yacht to fly ot half-mast, and directed a guard of honour to be sent to Friedrichsruhe. The Emperor at once returned to Kiel. Profound national sorrow has been expressed throughout Germany. Flags were lowered half-mast everywhere. The newspapers appear in mourning, and eulogise the immortal services to the Fatherland of the deceased Prince. August 2. The Emperor telegraphed to Count Herbert Bismarck : " I mourn the loss of Germany's great son, whose faithful co-opera-tion in the work of reuniting tlie Fatherland won him the lifelong friendship of my grandfather and the eternal gratitndo of the entire Herman nation. I shall prepare a place for his remains in the Cathedral of Berlin beside my ancestors." Count Herbert replied that the Emperor's wishes were commands, but Prince Bismarck had desired to be buried at Saxhsenwabe. The funeral j rites . will probably be of the simplest ' character. -' I Prince Bismarck left a jwritlen epitaph i to be placed on the memorial stone over his j grave. The words are : " A faithful German servant of the Emperor William the First." On Tuesday and Wednesday last Prince Bismarck drank beer ■ and champagne, and smoked arid read the newspapers. When urged to go <o bed at 11.30 p.m. on Thursday he growled at being hurried off. He leaves a fortune of 12 million marks. August 3. Count Herbert Bismarck received the Emperor and Empress at Friedrichsrnhe, and conducted them to the bedchamber of Prim c Bismarck, where a short service was held. The coffin was screwed down overnight. Count Herbert refused to allow his fat her's face to be modelled although the Emperor sent a modeller for the purpose. A State memorial service will be held tomorrow. Private friends have subscribed 300,000 marks for the erection of a Bismarck mausoleum in Friedrichsruhe Park. The Emperor is disappointed at Bismarck's family refusing a State funeral. He has ordered mourning for the deceased statesman throughout the army and navy. August 4. The Emperor has issued a proclamation referring to Prince Bismarck as a man in whom God created an instrument for the realisation of the immortal idea of Germany's unity and greatness. By direction of the late Prince Bismarck, tlw letter which he sent to the Emperor in Maich, 1890, on the occasion of his resigning the position of Chancellor of the Empire, and v Inch contains a crushing rebuke to the Empeior, has been published, and other documents are promised. In consequence, the relations between the Bismarck family and the Empez-or have become strained. August 5. A simple but impressive service was held in Emperor William's Memorial Church in connection with the death of Prince Bismarck. The Emperor and Empress, many members of the Royal families, and the chief civil and military dignataries were present. Doctor Faber delivered an eloquent eulogy on the deceased statesman. The Royal pew was reserved for members of Bismarck's family, but none were present, a fact which is much commented on. Mourning is general, and shops and offices are closed. The Queen, the Prince of Wales, and the Dowager Empress Frederick sent messages of sympathy to Bismarck's family. Count Herbert Bismarck did not inform the Emperor of his father's death. It was the doctor who conveyed the news to the Emperor. The newspapers consider that the Emperor has done all that was possible to honour the memory of Bismarck. August 6. Prince Bismarck remarked some time ago that he had no desire to provide Berlin residents with a fine funeral, which would te half farce and half fair. Lord Salisbury has expressed to Count Herbert Bismarck his deep and sincere .sympathy at the lo&s of a loving father and a splendid genius. Count Herbert Bismarck has instituted a prosecution against Ulicke, a printer, for invading the chateau in daylight on Sundiy and photographing the corpse. London, August 1. The French Pre,«s refer to Prince Bismarck's work a,s glorious, but his methods were infamous aM uiuust»

The Russian Press declare him tlia greatest diplomatist that the world has ever known.