Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-02-04
The Crown Princes Death.

The Crown prince DeAihs
Crown Prince Rudolph's death has given
rise to g most extraordinary crop OF rumors.
One report has it that the Prince was sssas-
sinateG by pcbieman whom he had dishon.
cred, another that he was forced by the same
person to shoot himself in order to avoid
duel, and still another that his death Ia IN
some mysterious manner to be laid to the
charge of Bismarck, who has found some
subtle mears to dispose OF his enemies one
after another, as fast as they grew too trou
blegome. 1t is officially announced that
the Prince committed suicide and this an
noupcement is generally accepted rs the
truth. The post nortem medical report IN
the case sets at rest the rumors of murder,
the theory of brain disease being generally
accented. The court surgeons, IN their Of
Gciai report on the death Of Crown Prince
Rudolph, say that they found peculiar
Il .ttcuing of the ekull internally, depres
sion OF the cerebral folds and an enlarge
meut of the ventricles Of the brain. These
abnormal conditions, the surgeons say. jus
tifv the belief that the Grown Prince was
insane The moral fortitude of Emperor
Francis Joseph in allowing the publication OF
tho fact Of the Crown Princes suicide ELECTS
reoelgl admiration. In hiss message TO
Emperor William be plainly stated the cause
of death. Emperor Williams short response
was : "Words cannot console; Gods help
alone can do so. 1 weep with you" Itwas
natural. but unfortunate, that the authorl-
| ties tried to conceal the manner of bis death
as cow some mystery will always cling to
The tragedy, in spite OF the evidence OF those
who were near by when it happened. Inc
succession to the Austrian throne is by no
means established, as it Is hinted shat an
heir msy be born during the year.
The duel story "a teiegraphed Is as 10!
lows: Crown Prince Rudolph w3s Killed 10
duel Tuesday last bye Francis Clam
gaIlas. The Princes witnesses were Count
| Hovos and Prince Cobnrg, his brother-in-
law. The Counts witnesses were Prince
Ferdinand flinsey aud another noblemen.
The duel was fought at p. m IN little
wood near Baden The Prince was wound
ed and transported TO the nearest castle
Meyeriinc lie died late in the evening.
The Prince bad been paying attention TO
the Countess ClamGallas, nee HOyos, beau
tiful woman with handsome figure, for the
last six months. II is claimed that recently
while on q shooting excursion on the estate
Of the lady's mother-in-aw Count Ciamga
las surptised bis wife in y compromising sit
nalicn with the Grown Prince. The Count
at once challenged Grown Prince Rudolph,
aud lhe latter asked for time in which to
consider it. At the expiration of the time,
which occurred last Tuesday, he declared
that. in accordance with the unwritten rules
OF ali affairs OF honor in Austria, be would
avail himself of the privilege Of declining
the challenge, but he would give satisfac-
ton. Subst quen!ly the Prince changed his
mind and the duel occurred as stated. The
Emperor, who knew of the whole affair, has,
it is said, fully approved his sons behavior.
The assassination story is as follows: Az
the Court ball on Sunday night the Prince 8
attentions TO very beautiful Princess,
whose husband is member o! one of the
oldest families Of princely rank iD Austria,
did not escape comAent. The story runs
that al O'Clock on Monday morning Ru
Goiph escorted HE wife to her carriage, and
after bidding her adeu remained chatting
with the German ambassador. On leaving
the embassy he directed his steps to the
Micbaeer PlaiZ, where be bad promised to
meet his brotherin-law, Duke Philip OF Co.
burg. and Count Hoyos. IL had been ar
ranged that they should drive thence out to
the hunting lodge at MeyeriiDg, some thirty
miles distant. On reaching the Mchaeer
Plaz the Crown Prince found his brother
in.law and Count Hoyos waiting for his al
rival ready TO convey the party out to Aley
erling.
Suddenly, however, the Crown Prince
turned to his companions and begged OF
them to excuse him, and muttering some
thing about being Zen bonnie fortune" de-
clarcd that he would sin them later in the
day. Both Duke Philip aud Count Hoyos
enireated him to forego his rendezvous,
warning him of the risk, and Of the scandal
which would inevitably ensue if his intrigue
were TO become known. However, be
lauphinplv told them to cease their remon-
strances and disappeared, waving in the air
a pass key, and singing snatches OF o popu-
lar ballad.
On Monday morning at Z o'clock one Of
the richest aud most powerful mobiles of the
Empire was in the act Of leaving his palace
for the purpose of trying a young horse,
which had lust been presented to him by
The Crown Prince, when suddenly he hap
pened TO catch sight Of o man skulkng in
the shadow Of the wall just under the pri
vate staircase leading MP to his wfe's apart
nents. The Prince sprang forward to catch
the stranger, who endesvored to save HIM
self By flight. The Prince, who was lleeter
on foot soon overlook him, and clutching
his cloak. tore it ficm him. To his horror
he discovered that the recreant was no other
.nsn tho heir TO tho throne. The latter tax
ing advantage of the momentary consterna-
ton of his pursuor, spraug forward, and,
quickly jumping into two horse carriage
was driven of before the wronged husband
recovered his senses.
Reaching tho shooting lodge ct Meyer
ling at about IL o'clock, the Crown Prince
spent the remainder OF the day Oh the hills
shooting, aud made no mention of or ref
erence to the unpleasant ending Of his al
ventures to his friends. On Wednesday
morning the Prince awcke very early and
called 10 Johann, his old valet to open the
blinds aud bring bin bis letters. The shoot
ing-lodge o. Meyerling IS small Two story
building, and the Crown Prince oceu-
,,ina @ n o 10 rt "a emf nr the nrnnnd flnnr On