Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-05-03
A FIGHT IN A PALACE.
A set-to Between the Emperor OF Austria
and the Arohduke Henry-The Three
Warnings from Peasant Seer.

There took place on March 12, at the
Hofburg, the grand palace of the Em-
peror Joseph Of Austria, an event per-
haps unequaled in the recent annals of
European royalty. What gave rise to II
was visit which an old Transylvanian
peasant named Herker Visacky had paid
three days before to the Emperor. The
peasant and his sovereign were old ac-
quaintauces, and a very peculiar link
existed between the two. Their connec-
tion dated from the year in which the
Emperor's second brother, the i'll starred
Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian was on
the eve of his departure for Mexico.
A week or two previous to that event,
HerBer Nisacky, covered with dust and
bearing every trace of extreme fatigue
demanded to see his Majesty without
delay. During the interview the old man
told HIM that he had Travelled all the way
from Transylyania on foot to Vienna be-
cause he had had strange vision in
regard to the Emperor's brother, the
Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian. He
said he had seen. in this vision, the latter
in foreign country, standing up before
a Tie of soldiers, who w.re shooting ut
him. Herker Visacky added that he haG
repeatedly had other visions of Important
events, which had afterwards turned out
TO be literally true. Francis Joseph, like
most of the Hapsburgs, is superstitious,
and the words of the old Transylvanian
peasant made deep impression on him
He thanked Ierker Visacky, made him a
liberal present. and asked him to visit
him again if he had anything further to
communicate.
Whether Francis Joseph communicated
the vision of the old Transylvanian
peasant to his enthusiastic brother or not
Is unknown but certain it is that he re.
ceived u second visit from Herker Vlsacky
in the spring of 1866, Immediately previ.
GUS TO the breaking out of the war be
! tween Prussia and Germany. The peasant
predicted to him Ia the most impressive
| language and with many startling details
the disastrous issue OF the impending
campaign. The Emperor listened re
speetully to the old man, but did moi
! heed his warning. 1t may be imagined
that he looked upon Herker Visacky as {
seer when his predictions a few week.
afterward were verified, and still more 8,
wheu his unfortunate brother Maximilian
in the following year, fell dead under lh'
bullets Of Juarez's soldiers at Queretaro
Amer that second visit Francis Josepl
did not heac anything further from th
peasant until the eighth of March last
On this occasion the old peasant sai
that he had seen in another vision
Prince of the Imperial House, as Regeu
of the Empire, opening the Austrian
Parliament; tnat the Prince bad bee
hailed as liberator of the country, an
had pledged himself to rule it thencefoIt
in tuy liberal spirit. This Prince, h
added, was married to a low-bor
woman, and for some time past had bee
in vienna without the EmperOr's know
ledge. Francis Joseph was startled. II
sent for the Chief of the Secret Police {
Vienna, and asked him to and out whetht
or not the Archduke Henry, who, it
well known, is married to an actress
very humble descent, and who, in cons
quence, is not allowed TO live at the in
perial court, was secretly in the cit.
About II Jon on the nth of March, after
two days search, the Emperor was Il
formed that the Archduke had been I,
several weeks incognitO at private houl
in Wieden suburb.
This added to the Emperor's agitatio
aud he sent at. once for the Archdul
Henry, his cousin. What occurred me-
is not accurately known, but after a bri
and angry conversation between the tV
Hapsburgs the servants in the ante-roo
were startled by noise like that of "
persons engaged in a scutiie, mingll
, with loud curses. The door was su
denly torn open, the Emperor appear
: with his face flushed crimson with angt
, and dragged out the Archduke Henr
p, whose rose was bleeding profusely. The
could be no doubt but that the Emper
and his Archducal cousin had been figl
7 ing. Before the servants were able to
cover from their amazement the Arc
d.. duke had made his exit from the AM
room, and the Emperor had returned
, his cabinet, where he remained for Sc
!, eTal hours aiterward.
Next day the servants who had hitheI
. done duty in the imperial ante-room We
g sent to one Of the EmReror's castles
Dalmaua, no doubt 10 prevent them frC
i, diyulgi1g the scandalous affair. But
= has Leaked out, nevertheless, and t
y people Of Vienna say that ever since
! benyi in $50 woundti 4 the Emperor vi
!, knife in the neck, Francis Joseph h
leen subject to sudden and uncontrolla
!; ebuliitions of terrible anger, and that
!. such occasions he will at once come fr,
words to blows.