Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1853-04-16
Rev, Eleazer Williams,


quite famous oflate. 1t has become the theme
of quite a thrillingly interesting romance, if
not of veritable history, which often presents
facts stranger than any fiction. The Rev. Mr..
Williams is now about sixty years old, and for
the last twenty.six years has been an obscure
missionary to the Indians, formerly in the ives.
tern part of New York, but more recently in
Wisconsin. Yet a mass of evidence has been
lately brought before the public so direct, va
We'd and cireumstantialas to make it extremely
probable, if not absolutely certain, that this poor
missionary is the son Of Louis XVI, whose fate
has been involved in so painful a mystery and
been the subject of so much discussion. What
became of Louis XVII, a mere child at the time
his royal father was beheaded and when the
French Revolution of 1893 was in the height
of its madness and folly! 1t is certain that in
Dec, 1894, the Convention passed a decree
shat the Committee Of government should de-.
wise the means of sending the son Of Louis out
Of the territories of the Republic" On the 9th
Of June 1895 it was reported to the Convention
that he was dead. But a variety of circumstan-
ces render this report, (though testified to by
three surgeons and his sister, the Duchess d.
AngoulemeO very questionable, and make it al
together probable, if not certain, that the Dau-
phin was removed 10 the United States, and
placed among the Indians in the western part
Of the State Of New York, whore he was pass
ed off as the child Of one of the Indian families.
A French gentleman who died at New Orleans
in 1s4S, named Eelanger, confessed on his
death bed that he had been the agent in this
transaction. 1t is no less certain that the French
ambassador (Genet) to the United States ae-
knowledged that the Dauphin had been reno
we'd to this country and was alive in the State
of New York in 1917. 1t was the belief of
Col. de Ferrier, one Of the body guard of Lou.
is XVI, and who married and resided among
the Indians at Oneida, that member of Louis
XVIth's family was in an INDECENT condition in
America. Other facts and circumstances con-
firm the fact of the removal of the son of Lou.
is XVI to the United States and particularly
to The western part Of New York. Now, the
Rev. Eleazer Williams is from that portion of
country. Though reputed to be an Indian or
half breed, he has more of the characteristics of
an Indian about him; and the Indian woman, his
reputed mother, does not acknowledge him to
be her child. He is said to resemble very close
ly in personal appearance Louis XVIII. Many
things go very strongly to prove that Rev. Mr..
Williams is the Dauphin, but we can state only
the principal fact which attests this Identity
In Oct, ls4l, Prince de Joinville visited the
west and went to Green Bay in search of Mr..
Williams. In a long interview with him the
Prince revealed to him, on the condition of Sc
erecy, the fact Of his being the son of Louis
XVI, and offered him considerable inducements
to resign the crown of France in favor of Lou
is Philippe. Afterthe Princes return to France
Louis Philippe wrote with bis own hand to
Mr. Williams. Although the main authority
for this statement respecting the interview and
offers of Prince de Joinville is Mr.. Williams
himself. yet, he would hardly venture to fab
ricate such an account when he knows full we'll
the Prince can very easily expose the
Here is something Wonderfully strange!
A direct descendant Of the Bourbons and
legitimate heir to the throne of France now a
poor missionary to the North American Indians!
The complicated web Of treachery, deceit and
has, most probably at length been
.disentangled. But beyond knowledge of the
fact, of what avail is it to Mr.. Williams?
For happier is he in his humble Iabors to con-
vert Indian savages to the truth than ever he
would be on imperial throne!