The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1869-04-16
An Austrian Officer Meets with a Vio>
lent Death in Missouri.

! +
| lent Death in Missouri.
F rom the St. Louis Dispatch.
About six months ago there cfths to the
v est, IRON New York, an ex officer OF the
Austrian army, who had letters to General
Harvey, p. Choateau. A Meier, aud other
gentlemen here, acrrediting him as Count
Auguste de Polier.' Before coming West
he had stopped Tor a month or two in TINT
lefty with letters of introduction aud recon
incubation to General Magruder, and oth
ers III the East, which were given him in
Europe on the occasion of his departure tor
America.
His reason for leaving Europe was stated
TO be the lnsutt1clency of his pay as first
Lieutenant in a regiment of Cuirassiers of
the Guard. corps Il elite in the Em peror 8
service, the officers of which We're mostly
wealthy aristocrats, whose social position
reqllred them to expend much more than
their salaries. Finding that his lnheri>
lance, which was originally very moderate
one, would son reach an end by such ex>
pensvc living, and that the bait lie of Sad
owa, in which he participated, had made
the army unpopular with the nation, thus
rendering the chances of increased pay or
promotion still more remote, he resolved
to resign and come to the new world, with
the idea OF preserving his pecuniary indie
pendence by getting farm somewhere in
the West.
La furtherance Of this intention, he has
resided alternately in sBelleville and St.
Louis, awaiting leisureIy and favorable
time for buying the wished-for land. He
was much la society here this winter at the
Home Circle ball, and and at the most
fashionable private parties, learning En-
gllah meantime with remark able facility
, and making many friends by his amiable
character ana manly, straig tforHard dem
. eauor.
Finally he was invited by General Harvey
to accompany him to Fort Randall, on the
Missouri River, whittier the General had
been ordered by the Government on a miss
SION to the Indians. He wrote the Count
recently to 60 by railroad to Omaha, and
thence by coach to rOrt Randall, for which
he himself W. uld take boat as soon as Ma
vlgatlon opened In the spring. In pursu
auce OF this request the Count started from
st. Louis on Tuesday week, and, unhappi-
ly, found the journey fatal one before he
had proceeded more than one twentieth
part of the distance. The occurrence which
proved fatal has been but partially explain
ed up 10 the present tune, and leaves a
question whether the unfortunate gentle
man died by accident or by suicidal de
sign.
Mr.. Meier was called upon yesterday by
reside Ut Bellevllle, who had received a
note FROM the sheriff at Warrento ton, inform
ing hin OF the , cunts death. The sheriff
learned the address of this Belleviile gen
ticman f.om seeing his name In tn note,
oouk OF the deceased. 1t Was the only
paper On the person OF the Count which
contained the address OF IA friend. On re-,
celylng the sheriff letter he went t. War
renton, where he learned substantially the
following IN relation TO the event which
summoned him to that place
About SIX . clock In the evening the
Count Went on ie rear platform Of the
hiudLioot Cal and Shot himself III the head
In falling he graeped the IRON railing and
was dragged some distance before dropping
oil 10 the ground. He then rose and walk
ID III the direction Of Warrenton, until
met by Il negro, who finding him in a
loody and exhausted cont,tion, carried him
o the house OF German near by. lie
was able TO ask tor something to eat at first,
but then became speeches, and remained
) In that concltlon three OF tour days (prob-
ably until Saturday,, when he died
An Inquest Was held at Warrenton. The
J Counts watch, cham and money were
: found upon his person. The only things
missing were the checks for his trunks, and
the Whereabouts of the trunks, Is un
Known. They contain all his private pa.
pcrs. lie was buried al Warrenton, and
whatever money there was about bini
went to dctray the expense, o. lie Inquest
and fun raj Mr. Meier has written t. a
house in New York, from which the C0unr
bore introductory letters when &c CANT
n t,,
friends III Europe. Unti news from Eu
rope arrives, the body will be permitted TO
rest where 1t is now buried.
The physical ooRdltion Of the deceased
and all his actions previous to leaving St.
Louis, forbid belief that he could have
fallen into state of mental alteration
which woull prompt Linn 10 commit suici e
Ii had tail commanding person, vigur-
Gus physique, and such thorough healt b
that any disorder of mind seemed scare, ly
possible. Before leaving the city, he called
on his most intimate friends to make ad-
ieux, and did 80 politely, pleasantly, and
with manner which bespoke perfect self
; possession and equanmity. He was also
particular to leave messages OF thanks to
, gentlemen and ladies who had in
vi,cd him to their homes
upon whom be could not call in person, fol
want of time. At the Missouri Club
where he was visiting guest, he called to
say good bye to the members he knew, and
finding very few of them in, however, he
humorously posted card on the bulletin
r board -"Auguste de PoHer z. P. Co.
1t is probable that the proceedings al
tho inquest will be received before
long, and that al accurate account
) of his untimely fate may then be obtain
ed.
Poor IAND--PoOR FARMERS. - Mr.
Lawes used to say that in England The bes
!. farmers were found on The poorest land aut
! the poorest farmers on the best land. Thus