The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1883-11-03

About forty years ago very considerable
interest was manifested In thus country
over the claim of the French throne put
forth In behalf OF an Episoopallsn mission.
airy among the Stockbridge Indians 10
Wisconsin, named Eleazer Williams.
LOUIS XVI, the last of the French Bour-
bon kings was 1t will be remembered, gull
lotined at Paris by his revolutionary sub
jects IN 1913. LOUIS first con. the
dauphin, had died in 1889. SO that at the
time Of the Kings execution his second
son, LOUIS, the Duo DO Normsndie, was
the dauphIn, being then eight years of
age. Young Louis, styled the XVII, by
the Royallsts and foreign powers, was I'M
prisoned In the temple, but was officially
reported to have died in 1795-presum-
ably from the harsh treatment of his
1ailers. Either honestly believing so or
else imbued with sinister motives in at
tempting to resusctlate an heir of straw
around whose standard they could flock,
many OF the courtiers of Louis XVI
claimed that Louis XVII had not passed
away IN the temple, but that he had been
spirited of by HIS friends to place of
safety, and that the outwltted lailers pre-
tended he had died In order to satisfy
public vengeance and relieve themselves
from accusations OF negligence. The per-
sistence with which the claim was pre-
sented has made this one of the mooted
questions Of history, almost ranking with
the query as to the individuality of ''the
man In the iron mask"
After the failure Of several attempts by
foreign lmpostors to establish tier claims,
party OF French noblemen, about forty
years ago, suddenly turned up in Wiscon-
sin and pretended to have discovered the
veritabe lost dauphin in the person Of
Episcopalian missionary, Williams. Will
hams was then stationed on the lower Fox
river, In the humble condition of most
Indian missionaries. He was In middle
life, was married to a squaw, and was
modestly bringing up q family OF half
breeds in the back woods of what was
then State in the veriest limits CT West.
ern civilization. His memory only went
back to boyhood home among the lndi-
ans of Canada, who claimed to have
stolen him from ''the States" Gaining
some knowledge in theological seminary,
he became missionary among the people
who had adopted HIM, and, upon being
commissioned by the American Govern
ment to superintend the removal of the
Ten Nations Of New York to the Stock
bridge and Brolherton reservation, east Of
Lake Wlnnebsgo and the lower Fox river
IN Wisconsin, had remained in the re-.
hgious charge Of these aboriginal lmmi.
grants. The French cavaliers pretended
TO thoroughly trace Williams history, and,
armed with an array of affldavits, signed
by the Canadian Indians who had reared
him, and others whether the atfldavlts
were genuine and dlsinterested or not, has
never been estabhshed--set up the claim
that the dauphin had been reduced by his
cruelty in the Temple 10 state of tempo
rary imbecllity; that humble friend had
stolen him from the prison and transported
him to the Canadian wllds far from the
possibility OF discovery, and had placer
him IN charge Of the Indians, who haC
nursed the lad back 10 vigor and reared
HIM In ignorance of his origln-and thai
EleazaT Williams was the verltable indl.
vidual.
This country was astir with the sensa
ton; the newspapers and magazines Of
the time teemed with the subject, several
books were issued about 1t, and the 'tAmer
lean Bourbon" became celebrity. Viii.
Hams does not appear to have cherished
this rude intrusion amid his quiet pastoral
labors, and rather resented the advances
Of the enthusiastic Frenchuen, whose
cavalier ways he could not understand,
and his notions Of liberty and equality
were shocked at the bowed knees of hi.
pretended devotees, 1t IS certain, how.
ever, that after awhile the worm of ambi.
ton began to work, and he died almost, il
not quite, convinced that he was the LOST
Bourbon, after all. The excitement, how
ever, died out, on the troubles then exist
snt In France being settled by the quiel
rue OF Louis PHILIPPE, and the Wisconsin
Bourbon passed away quite unnoticeu
among bis half-breed CHI ldren and biz
simple Stockbndge friends. The Frenct
Bourbons have never since paid any atten
tIon to the matter.
The memory OF the old story Is revived
at this time, because recently his only son
John l.. Williams, died at Tigerton, Oh
the lower Fox. John has made and lost
fortune In land speculation, and died as
hand in lumber mill. The wife o.
Eeazar still lives at Kaukans--or did {
lew years since-a fine specimen OF Iht
pure blooded aboriginal of the Pooahonta'
order, her advanced years resting nightly
on her dusky shoulders; advancement O
civilization and celebrity never caused he
10 def her richly embroidered blanket
and when clad IN all her barbara SPLENDID
OF silver medals and gold beads, she was
very picturesque Individual. Her step
her demeanor, were those of woma
who well appreciated that she once cam
very near being The Queen OF the Franks