A QUEER STORY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3911, 12 September 1891, Page 2

A QUEER STORY.

Tho Slim "William.

[by telegraph.]

(United Press Association)

[PER B.M.S. ALAMEDA

San Francisco, August 20. I The following story has been wired I from Berlin and printed in some of the ' Paris papers on Ist August:—The Kaiser iB physically and morally sue- ! cambing to the morphine habit, and he has been put on a strict regimen * by Dr Leuthold. His allowance of morphine has been stopped, and he has put on a limited amount of mild \ "bier do Nuremburg" as his only \ stimulent. His mania, according to report, broke out at sea. He got wildly druuk, and assumed command of the yacht. H* took the vessel at her maximum speed *ut into the open ocean, and caußed every flag on board to be displayed. He ordered v repeated salvoes with the yacht's guns, while the band played vigor* ously. The scenes were kept up all night, the Kaiser in the meantime changing his uniform, wearing in ; succession those of German, English, -' and Italian admirals. In the coarse \ of a drunken row he struck Lie>A Schroeder, who | below and blew out his considered himself irretnfefaoly dishonored. Some sailors who revolted \ at the Imperial caprices were unmercifully flogged and pnt in irons. Next morning the Kaiser, renewing his mad " drunk," was thrown, as it accidentally, from the bridge of the vessel to >. the deck, his feet being badly injured '• by the fall. Another version in the -> Pariß Le Clair of 16th August, which :' is not given to sensationalism, piinta \ the following as confirmed by unquestioned authority: On the night fol* .;, lowing the departure of the Imperial '• yacht from England, the crew were j beaten to quarters, and were surprised to find the quarter | deck brilliantly illuminated. An J altar had been erected on deck bearing ■'•, the Old and New and the _) Kaiser stood by, wearing a white chasuble, with a crozier in his hand, and a black and white mitre on his J head. He read the most warlike passages from the Testaments, and invited the crew to respond. He ; then preached a long sermon on to duties of sovereigns to the people, the j whole service lasting from eleven ; o'clock at night till two o'clock in the morning. The crew were then piped below. At five o'clock 'in the morning the Kaiser appeared on the bridge in the uniform of a High Admiral, looking extremely haggard, and, addressing the Commander, said —"Sir, retire to your cabin. I shall take charge." The Oammander replied—"Sire, permit me to observe that we are in a dangerous passage and it is advisable for your Majesty's - safety, as well as that of the crew,—vj that a sailor remain in charge,", The Emperor responded— "Never mind j God will inspire me." The Gomnaan- j der bowed and retired. The second officer remaining, the Emperor him retire. The officer respectfully protesting, the Emperor said; "You resist, wretched creature; you trouble the spirit of God that is within int. This is the vengeance of God upon you," dealing the officer a heavy blow t on the cheek. The officer turned crimson, but remained passive, until t the Emperor seized him by the throat and tried to throw him overboard. / In the struggle that followed the , Emperor fell and brpkaJus knee-oajpt A He howled -with' protruded from the sockets. 4 foamed at th 6 mouth and swore j terribly, displaying symptoms of mad- \ ness. The officers, after consultation, j carried him into a cabin, nobody being admitted exuept the doctor, the Em- """"j press, and men to restrain him till his leg was bandaged, and he encased in 1 a strait jacket. The crisis lasted three days, These stories in the French papers give the Emperor much annoyance, aud Chancellor Yon I Caprivi proposes to remonstrate with 1 the French Government on the subjsot, j They are denounced as mere ~\ " sensational inventions." Dr Leuth. old has officially declared (accor. I ding to a Berlin despatch 'of the 1 13th of August), that he Con«,J siders it incompatible with his oath of \M responsibility veoted in him to conceal \-1 the true physical condition of the i Emperor William. He says further j that he could not defer publishing , buletins to this effect, nor could he omit making reports that the Emperor iB of his full moral faculties, and states that after >the declaration had been made, Professor Esmarch was ap- j pointed medical attendant on the Em- fl peror upon his consenting to withhold flfl from the publio all information con- V cerning the Emperor's real condition, ■ It is now proposed to establish a r&r*T i gency for the Empire, consisting of J Prince Henry of Prussia, Grand Duke'"""■ of Baden, and Chancellor von Caprjvi. | The Council for the Kingdom of Prussia is to consist of the present Empress, Prince Henry, Duke Earnest Gunther, of Schleswig Ho'stein, Chancellor von Caprivi, and Count Wicdell Fiesdorf. In order that fto necessary steps shall be takep tq ensure the appointment pf the Begepoy, thejourney of Prince Henry to Engi- '' land is made with a view of holding A _ family council, in which the Queen and I Empress shall be first consulted, and J then the matter will be placed before I other members of the family.