The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-09-15
ONCE A KING, NOW A MINER.

ONCE A KING, NOW A MINER.
at Pueblo, Colorado, there Is a man who
once reigned as a king. This royal person
age came to the State penniless a few months
since, and, strange to relate, here he met an
old companion who was with him when he
ruled kingdom and held dominant sway
over one OF the richest little principalfties in
the world. He is an American by parentage
Col. A. B. Steinberger-and has relatives
living here.
His old cOmpanion-in-arm is Mr. SvI
Wright, well known in Denver, and a wan
derer who has visited all the Inhabited Dor
tions of the globe. The story of steinberger,
as told by Mr.. Wright to a Tribune reporter.
forms chapter uneouaIled in fiction. and
shows what man can do when he is blessed
with plenty of self-assurance and reliance.
Some twenty years ago Steinberger, then in
Chill, which he had reached from San Fran
cisco, sailed in a yacht across the smiling
Pacific, intending to reach New Zealand
and Australia in the frail craft Directly on
their route were the Samoan Islands, one of
the largest and most important groups in the
vast expanse of water. There they landed
to supply their larder with provender and
make necessary repairs before proceeding
further on their hazardous voyage.
They were so Kindly received by the ma
tives that their stOppage was prolonged, and
ere long they had grown so attached to their
new quarters that they refused to 60 further.
The natives, from sailors who had previous
ly landed, had learned of the republic be-
yCnd the seas, and had a faint conception of
its power and grandeur, and they wished to
place themselves under the protection Of so
great a country. They feared they would
meet the fate of their more barbarous neigh
bOrs, the Fiji islanders, and be placed under
British rule, and such condition Of things
they did not at all relish. They communica-
ted their plans to Steinberger, who. Of
course, heartily approved OF them, and at the
same time saw be might become the repre-
sentative of great government. as also the
real ruler Of one of the garden spots of the
earth
Before these plans were fully matured,
however, Steinberger had been in the coun-
try over three years, and had taken unto
himself wife from among the natives. and
had greatly increased his power and prestige
III tAt ldAltAs llidll1 It commenced his
preparations for a return to the United
States. His yacht was rebuilt and enlarged,
and it was not long before he was once again
in his native land, and was presenting his
claims to General Grant, who was favorabIv
impressed with the idea, and the necessary
credentials and papers of authority were
made out and given to him.
Armed with them, he returned to the
Island Paradise and his wife. Arrived there,
he placed the islands under the courted pro-
lection Of the republic-tbat is, he pretended
to co so-but in reality he assumed complete
control Of the islands, and ere long. he was
crowned king, and his power was supreme
He made a great many improvements in the
islands, all of which were greatly admired
and appreciated by his subjects. However,
it must be said that these benefits were in
trOduced merely from selfish motives, for as
the kingdom increased in wealth and pros
Derity, so did his Golfers grow heavier with
gold, and his affiuence became more and
more felt. An unlucky day came, however,
day fraught with political disaster and f.
nancial ruin. One day there sailed into the
harbor OF the capital an English man-of- war
with orders to take possession of the islands
and convert them into marine stations for
that great maritime power. In short order
Steinberger was deposed, his kingdom up
set and bis treasures taken from him. The
English took possession, and history tells
what has since occurred in the island
However, that was not the last Of Stein
berger. Insult was added TO injury on the
island, and when, finding things too hot for
him, he sought to make his escape, he found
that his yacht had been stolen, and nowhere
could he find it, though he went to the sew
eTai islands ass listed by bis native friends
He remained on the island for some time
from necessity; but finally trading vessel
came along, on which be took passage for
Melbourne. There ne strayed about fer
some time, and one day while stroniDg on
the docks with one of his old trusty lieuten-
ants, Mr.. Syl Wright, mentioned above, he
saw his yacht anchored out at some distance.
As several men could be seen on board, no
effort was made to retake It. After a time
he again returned to America, where his
identity was for time lost. The next heard
of him, be was in Leadville. during the early
days, engaged in mining. He made some
money there, and has since been engaged in
mining in different parts Of the State, and is
now east, negotiating for the sale Of some Of
bis property -DenUer Tribune