Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-04-10
ATLANTA'S PRINCESS.

Atlanta a few months after the war,
has already been described in these
columns.
The Prince was we'll enough for
soldier of fortune, but the Princess
there is more than one romance in her
life
Our Atlanta ladies turned the cold
shoulder to the Princess Salm Salm.
They admitted that she had a kind of
dark and fascinating beauty, but they
said that she was too bold, and all
agreed that her abandon was something
startling.
This woman rode horse like a cir
Gus queen, and that is exactly what she
had been. Before she married the
Prince she was Miss Agnes LIE Clerc,
famous all over the country for her
daring equestrianism.
Salm Salm knew fine woman when
he saw her, and the circus business did
not bother him.
"In America" he said, 'the people
may do anything"
That he thought so was beyond ali
question, for he married the dashing
Miss Agnes just after the war and
carried her to Atlanta. She rode about
sometimes, with the Prince and some
times alone. People stared at her, and
she stared back defiantly. She knew
that she was ostracised, and that her
title of Princess, genuine though it was,
would never admit her into any circle
of society in the South. There were
two reasons-she had been a circus
rider and she was the wife of a Federal
General.
One day the Princess with her bold
black eyes, her scornful ways, her fine
dresses and diamonds, and all that had
drifted away with her husband, and
Atlanta was rather glad than sorry to
get rid of her. OF course it was known
that she had gone to Mexico with the
pointment under Macmillan, but in
those days we cared very little what
became of the pair.
Among the Confederates who drifted
into Mexico after Lees surrender was
Captain Horton, young Tennesseean.
Horton at first thought of joining Maxi
milan but when he saw that Ameri-
cans were not really wanted, he settled
down for the time as a colonist.
One day he was in cafe in the City
of Mexico. The guests were composed
of civilians and military men, and
few ladies. The Confederate Captain
took a seat at the table, and met with
one of the liveliest adventures of his
Hfe-an adventure never told by him
the story was reserved for one of his
friends, Major Edwards, another Con-
federate, to tell in after years.
1t seems that Horton had just given
his order to the waiter, when a lady
entered the cafe unattended.
Horton was not acquainted with her.
but he recognized her at once. She
was the Princess Salm Salm.
Looks better than when | saw her
in Atlanta" said Horton to himself
with smile.
The young Confederate had passed
through Atlanta on his way Southwark,
and had seen the Princess more than
once.
Suddenly a sensation occurred. A
tall man looked imprudently at the
Princess and shouted:
Hoop LAP
1t was slang term of the circus, and
was intended as an insult
The face of the Princess turned very
white, and her blazing eyes swept the
room.
Her husband was away on duty, and
though officers of his brigade were in
the room, they did not resent the tall
mans insolence.
''Confound it," said Horton to Ed
wards, Il don't know the woman
refused to meet her in Atlanta-but
she is my countrywoman, and I'll be
id if l don't stand by hern'
The Confederate walked through the
crowd to the Princess
81 am an American" he said, land
if you will permit me | will attend to
that gentleman.
The insulted woman was too angry
to even smile. She pointed to the tail
man, and said to Horton:
You have cane, STRIP
That was all she said.
The Confederate was startled. If he
struck the stranger it meant duel
But he was true blue, and he advanced
upon the man who gave the insult
Sir" said he you have insulted nv
countrywoman. VIII you apologize to
herp'
moi"
The answer was jerked out wrath
fully.
And why not?n
She is nothing but circus wo-
man."
You're liar!" shouted Horton,
''she may have been one just as you
may have been a convict, but she is
not one nowr'
Quick as lightning the American
collared the tall man and dealt him a
dozen blows with his cane. Then he
walked rapidly out of the cafe. seeing
no sign of the Princess, and yet toler-
ably certain that she knew what had
taken place.
Horton received challenge and &C
cepted it, but Baz..ine stopped the affair
aud sent the hot-headed youngster out
of the city.
Horton, month later, was riding
across the country alone.
He was heavily armed, because guer-
rillas were about.
AS chance would have it, about mid
day he rode into group of men tax
ing rest by the roadside.
A glance at their bizarre uniform
showed Horton that they belonged to
Maxmilian's side, but it was evident
that they were not regular troops-in
fact they were about as tough custom.
ers as the Mexican guerrillas.
The commander of the party, asmall
man of middle age, with black hair
and, mild, pale face, courteouslv