St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-06-01
DARK PRISON SECRETS
Four Living Ex-Monarehs Who
Are Wholly Dead to the
World,
King Otto, Empress Carlotta,
Sultan MuPad and Khe-
dive ISmail.
Confined in Magnificent Pal
aces and Kept in Strict
est Seclusion.
Mystery That Prevails in Re-
gard to Them--Some
Strange Stories.
Rerl,n letter in New York Times.


are hidden away from public view in
magnificent but mysterious imprison-
ment. Of King Otto of Bavaria at Fur
stenried and of the Empress CarlOtta of
Mexico at the Chateau OF Borchegrave,
near Brussels, it is scarcely necessary to
say much here except to draw attention
to the fact that nothing has ever au-
thoritatively been said in public Of the
condition of their health. From time to
time fictitious descriptions of their
mole of life and of their eccentricities
appear in continental papers. But these
are utterly unreliable and invariably
originate in the pen of some imaginative
writer III search of sensation.
1t would be far preferable if the Ba-
varian and Belgian governments were
to issue periodical reports concerning
the state of the illustrious patients and
bearing the signatures of physicians OF
recognized independence and reputa-
ton. This would be particularly de-
Sirable in the case of the Empress Car
lotta, for there are many persons at
Brussels, Paris and London who openly
assert that her dementia has diSap-
peared long since, and that she is only
kept under restraint by her broth
er, King Leopold, in order that
he may retain control of the
vast fortune which she inherited from
her father. 1t is alleged that the larger
part of the money has already been
spent in connection with tie Congo
Free State, and that the remainder, too,
is embarked in the same disastrous
speculation. For years past the king
has been making desperate efforts to
1nccnC
of Congo State lotteries, which have
been regarded with disfavor by all for
eign governments, and even at the pres
ent moment he is straining every nerve
in order to induce the gLeat powers to
permit him to establish a customs tariff
in the Free State.
Some appearance of truth is given to
the rumors concerning the eX-empreSs
by the peculiar fact that an obstinate
refusal has always been returned to
Queen Victoria'S persistent and repeat
ed demands to be allowed to visit her
afflicted cousin, Carlotta being the only
daughter of her British majesty'S uncle,
guardian and most trusted counselor
and friend. The two imperial ladies
had been on terms of most Sisterly in
timacy until the beautiful Belgian's de-
parture for Vienna, and subse-
toria, therefore, strongly resents
King Leopold's refusal to permit her
to see her cousin, and expresses her
establishment that whenever she hap
pens to leave England for the continent
the eX-empreSs' condition is invariably
and Immediately announced as having
suddenly become more critical. This
she regards as extremely suspicious, and
being convinced that there is something
or other that will not bear the light of
day in Carlotta's treatment she has dis
played toward King Leopold for several
years past the greatest GOODNESS and dis
favor.
Far more mysterious is the condition
of the other two eX-sovereigns now I'M
der restraint. Their magnificent prisons
are on the lovely shores of the B0s-
phoruS. The one is Murad, formerly
sultan of the Ottoman empire; the other
is lSmall. once the all-pOWerful khedive
or king of Egypt. Both are maintained
in the StricteSt seeluSion, cut off entirely
from every kind of communication with
the outer world. Indeed, it is only by
means of harem rumors that it is known
that they are still IN the land of the
living.
Nothing is more remarkable than the
manner in which Ismail has dropped
out of public sight. From the time of
his accession, in 1863, to the date of his
abdication, in 1879. he was one of the
most prominent and Important fig
ures on the chessboard of European
politics. There is hardly monarch or
notable statesman in Europe who has
not been entertained by him on the
banks of the Nile. with the most bound
less hospitality. And when, after his
departure from Egypt, he took up his
residence in Europe, he was received
at Rome, Vienna and Berlin as
a sovereign and by the Prince of Wales
at Marlborough house with royal honors.
His famous harem and suite were in
stalled in the beautiful Neapolitan pal
ace of King Humbert at La Favorita
and several of the royal Italians cham
berlains and aides-de-eamp were at
tached to his person. His enormous
wealth-he Is credited with possessing
in European securities, placed practi-
cally every luxury and enjoyment of
life within his reach, and yet he was
not satisfied.
For some peculiar reason or other,
which has never been explained, he
yearned to be permitted to take up his
residence in Constantinople, and spent
vast sums for the purpose of bringing
about the accomplishment of his wishes
in the matter. Sir William Marriott,
advocate general of the British army.
and the Anglo-Egyptian lawyer, Broad
ley, whose conduct has recently led to
his being bounded out of London, each
received from him sum of $50, 600 for
their success in the affair. The sultan's
reluctance to grant the requisite per-
mission was due to lsmail's reputation
for being the cleverest and most I'M
scrupulous intriguer in the world, and
to his apprehension Of the danger
which would result from the presence
of such man at Constantinople. At
length, however. Abdul Hamid yielded
when it was pointed out to him itwould
be far preferable to have Ismail
within reach, and under his own eye at
Stamboul, than at liberty to continue his
plots and conspiracies in all the capitals
of Europe.
Dec. %, 1887, he embarked his harem
and suite, numbering some 500 persons,
on board one of the largest vessels of
the Rubattino line, and prepared to sail
from Naples to Constantinople. The
voyage began under ominous auspices,
the ship being delayed three days within
sight of Vesuvius by the terrible storm
which prevailed. At length, on the
Both, the vessel cast anchor at the
Golden Horn, and several of the princi-
pal officials of the sultan's household
Immediately proceeded on board to
welcome Ishmail in their mas
ter's name. He landed the
same afternoon, and took up
hre issidenceat his ia irylike and exquf-
sitely beautiful palace of Ermegnian
The following day, Friday. Ismail
was received by Abdul Hamid himself.
who treated him with great distinction,
and even invited him to accompany
him to the ceremony of the Selamlik,
and to pray beside him at the mosque.
At the conclusion of the ceremony
Ismail returned to his palace at Ermeg-
nian, and from that time to this he has
never been seen without its walls. Two
years ago it became known at the
Yildiz Kiosk that he had craved the
sultan's permission to proceed to Vichy
for the benefit of his health. His i'm
perial majesty had, however, CURLY re-
fused on the ground that the air at Con-