The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-05-28
A FAMOUS SPY.

hOOuI AL uOuI Walk IIOm CIr6s-
bourg, east of the village Of Illkirch,
lies domain known ss Meinau, now
desolate and in ruins. but that was once
celebrated for its grandeur. A proud
castle with stately Greek portals. stood
within the lovely psrk, and the won
derful gardens filed with rare plants
arrested the eye Of the traveller. The
owner of all this bad furnished the pal
ace with everything that was beautiful
and artistic. and eli Alsace talked of the
wonders it contsiued. Aud to whom
did it belong. you ssks A man whose
name disturbed and alarmed half Eu-
rope-Carl Louis Schulmeister, the head
spy and Chief Of the Secret Police of
Napoleon /. He was the grandson Of
Polish noble who, having killed his
opponent in Q duel. fed the country.
went TO Alsace, and lived in q small
village - tsacher. He gave no name.
and the peasants called him Schul-
meister, or schoolmsster. and that name
was handed down to son and grandson.
The son married we'll and prospered.
and the grandson. A. an early age, in
his haste TO- become rich. became a
smuggler then. abandoning that. he
managed to secure the protection Of
Marshal Savsry. aud was intrusted by
him with the transportation OF bital-
lion over the Rhine. and for which sue
cessful operation Savary gained the no.
ticc OF Nspoleoh. and his advancement.
From this time Schulmeister was
brought into intimate relations with
the French Government. Ii is said that
his services we're used in the affair Of
the unhappy Due dEnghein, but it
was in the year 1905. in the war with
Austris, that he became prominently
known. When Napoleon was in Stras
bourg. he obtained audience with him
sod begged Napoleon to accept his
services as spy.
"Whst credentials have you ?" asked
Napoleon gruffiy.
"Nons. except my own"
Then l cannot use you," waving
him of with an impatient gesture. and
walking to the parapet.
As the Emporer stepped behind the
wall Schulmeister quickly changed his
costume and came forward completely
altered in appearance. AS the Emperor
saw this strange person approaching
him. he said angrily:
Who are you. aud now came you
here uuapnounced
"Sire. forgive me that | did not go
away; ain schuimeister.'
NAPOLEON WAS WON
BY this strategy aud took him into his
service as chief spy. Schulmeister
left Strasbours and went to the COM
mander Of the Austrian forces. the an
fortunate Baron Mack. and, winning
his confidence. was installed rs . spy.
Through the information that he gave,
all the military plans of the Austrian
army were made. He was called Mack's
"Delphine oracle" and WAS trusted
blindly with tho deepest secrets that
were not confded to the other officers Of
the corps. And not alone Mack. but the
other Austrian generals we're completely
deceived by him. He was allowed every
freedom, went among the troops. passed
the post lines. visited the enemy, and
proiited by oil this freedom with the
least mistrust being felt against him.
He continued these practices until he
WAS finally arrested as spy. shortly
after the cspitulation OF Ulm; and
brought 10 Vienna, and upon the ad-
vance Of the French, transported to
Koniggrstz. In his trial his defense
was that he had always told Baron
Mack and the generals the truth. and
without doubt he did give them infor.
nation, for he WAS as willing to serve
one % the other, only holding to the
winning side. At any rate, he played
his role with the greatest tact and cum
ming, and must have had some claim on
their consideration. else they would
have hanged him then and there, in
stead Of taking him to Koniggratz for
trial. He certainly understood mas
querading. FOR At . resting station he
suddenly walked through o group Of
tho escorting soldiery. bowing on oil
sides, who let him pass without ques-
tion. never dreaming that the stranger
was Schulmeistcr. Ragged and with
out money. hs begged his way back to
Vienna. went directly to his old pro-
tector, Savsry. who was then General
Commissary Of the French army police
IN Vienna. Here he remained until the
departure of the French army, then was
again arrested by the Austrians. and
only escaped with his life through the
diplomatic iutercession Of the French
Government. After this. in the war Of
France with Prussia, we find him by
the side of his friend Savary, and
through his coolness and courage he
saved tho Generals little corps from
being taken by . strong Prussisn divi-
sion. He had dropped the name Of
Schulmeistcr. aud was then II. dec Charles
also, n. deMeinau. and. riding in front
of the corps with forty cavalrymen
through the city Of WeimSr. called upon
them to surrender to the advance
guard Of great army" and the strong
guard of Prussians stationed in the vi
cinity, fearing to be overPowered BY
Savsry's corps. quickly resreated. FROM
this moment his fame was made. Ma
poleon took him into his private service
and gave him the most difficult mis-
sions. Iu 1907. when Savary was Gov
ernor Of Konigsberg n. deCharles was
Perfect Of the same, and in the war
With Austria he was war commissary.
But during the battle of Wagram the
Austrians were upon his track, aud he
found himself in the garden of peas
ants house and . detachment Of Aus
trian troops approaching to arrest him.
Hastily changing clothes and the ex'