Savannah morning news., 1886-05-22
KASPAR HAUsER.
"A New RevcIatiOu--Thc Trnth About
That Unfortunate Boy.

That Unfortunate boy.
From TIE Harstofd TINES,
KARLSRUHE, April 27-I told you lOnl
ago in one OF my letters from Baden
Baden that Kaspar Hauser was burieC
there, but now do you want to know WHIT
he really was and all about him! Las
evening Fraulein A. was telling us abou
beautiful christening robe in her pos
session. II seems that when Napoleon
niece, hy marriage. and adopted daugn
Ter, the Princess Stephauje, married the
Grand Duke Karl. OF Baden, Frauleln
AS great-grandfather who was a
Frenchman, came to this coun'
try with her, and was made Hot
Reamteter. | don't know exactly WhA'
that Is, but il was n very m Iortant Once
at court. After some years he married,
and when his eldest son was born me
Princess was its godmother- giving IL me
christening robe that all her children had
worn. Since that time allof Herr -----'s s
descendants have worn this robe at their
baptism. Here christening robe IS pl .
]Ow. robe and cover, all together. Nh'n
Fraulein A showed II 10 us she eN-
claimed: ''Oh, the unhappy head that
first lay here!" Upon our beg
ging for an explanation, she
asked if we mad ever heard
recalled my childbood's days. when /
eagerly studied all that could find about
that wretched mysterious being and his
history has been fully as interesting to n.
as it was to me. 1t seems that it, has al
ways been more than suspected In Baden
that he belonged TO the royal family,
Though it was not proven, aud all cOnver-
eation or inquiry upon the subject was
forbidden. The Duke Karl and the Prln-
uaoea had fnur nhif6rQn
sons and two daughters. When their
father died, his brother, Prince Ludwig,
was determined to be rid Of these
sons, who came between HIM and the
crown. One, hv the and of the nurse
aud a Catholic priest, was poisoned;
she nurse, however, was very fond of
the baby, only three months old. and
would not allow him to be killed. He was
carried away and dead body put in his
place, his uacle succeeding to the throne
as Grand Duke OF Baden, uncle of the
present Duke. A few years ago the
nurse died in Mannheim. Before her
death she made a full confession. but this
ycOnfession was suppressed under very
rigorous penalties. In some way the
spapers were discovered and a copy was
published out OF the country, so it is
known beyond a doubt that poor kaspar
was the soon of Karl and Steph8nie, and
brother Of the Princess Of Baden, who
afterwards married the English Duke of
Hamilton.
Kasper, after his discovery at Nurem-
sberg. was taken care OF, YOU remember,
by Lord Stanhope, the British Minister,
but it was found that, as his education
advanced and bis mind developed, men,
,ory was bringing back early scenes and
events; and to prevent any further dis
cOvery be was murdered
This history accounts for the singular
fact that his body lies in the Ducal bury
ing-ground at Saden-Baden.
But to think that the robe held in my
hands was once the christening robe of
poor kaspar Hauser! / absolutely looked
upen it with awe. For more than hum
dred years no son has ever succeeded to
the throne Of Baden; the heir has always
been either a nephew or grandson; and
now the Grand Dukes son and heir is
suffering from rheumatism, which has SET
tied around the heart, so it is very doubt
ful if he ever succeeds to the throne. The
physicians say he may live for many years,
aOd be may die Mt any moment.
*Ihis unfortunate boy. whose pitiful
story as kaspar Hauser has interested so
many, in school hooks and in other books.
was born iu 1872 apparently. lie was
kept in = dark urderg ouud rOoCl, from
the age of (probab,y)3 years till be was
about IS, and fed on dry bread and water
exclusively, when he was found in the
retreets Of Nuremberg, suddenly aud
without explanation. He could speak
a very few words, and could write
the name. kaspar Hauser, but
could give no other information. until
later, when he had been somewhat
educated, he made it known that he had
lived in dark cell where he bad two
hobby-horses TO play with. and bad never
been permitted 20 see the man who ted
bin. but who. before bis release, used to
guide his hand and teach him TO write
"kaspar Hauser." Re was kindly cared
dor, but, az his childhood memories
came hscS. various NV stcucUs attempts
were made t0 assa -sinate hin. and he
was Kept under guard. Finally, Prof
Daumer, who had kindly kept him
and INVESTIGATED The strange case
rs far as his questions could he answered,
gave him mp TO LOId Stanhope, Of
England, who had become interested in
the boy and his mysterious history. Lord
s. sent Dim % Anspacb 10 be educated.
There, after some mouths, a stranger
called on him. Dec. a.. 1883. with. he SAID,
q message from Lord SGuhOpe, which he
would deliver 20 him at 3 D. m. in the pal
ace garden. kasper went there, ard was
9atally stabbed. near the heart. II ie mar
aged to crawl 10 whore he could tell what
mad happened. nut he died Dec. i. 1873.
Prot. Daumer, alone Of all the writer's
who have discussed the case or Kaspar
Hauser, took the view Of it which. as il
now appears hv the revelation made IN
this letter, was the correct one.