Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-04-17
They Are All Lodged in Magnificent
Palaces. but Are Captiyes
Just the Same.
King Otto of Bavaria, the Empress
Carlotta, the Khedive Ismail, and
Sultan Murad Of Turkey.
The Mystery That Prevails in Regard
to Them-A Belief that CarlOtta
Is No Longer Insane,


letter to the New York Times, there are In
Europe four unfortunate creatures who,
notwithstanding their sovereign rights, are
hidden away from public view in magnif-
cent but mysterious Imprisonment. Of
King Otto of Bavaria at Furstenmed, and
of Emperess Carlotta of Mexico at the
chateau of Borchegrave, near Brussels, it
is scarcely necessary to say much here, ex-
cept to draw attention to the fact that
nothing has ever authoritatively been said
in public Of the condition of their health
From time to time fictitious descriptions
of their mode of life and their eccentricit-
les appear in continental papers. But
these are utterly unreliable, and invari-
ably originate in the pen of some imagin-
ative writer in search of a sensation.
1t would be far preferable if the Bavar
ian and Belgian governments were to is
sue periodical reports concerning the state
of the illustrious patients, and bearing the
signature of physicians of recognized in
dependence and reputation. This would
be particularly desirable In the case of the
Empress CarIotta, for there are many
persons at Brussels Paris and London who
openly assert that her dementla has dlsap-
peared long since, and that she is only kept
under restraint by her brother, King Leo
pold, 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 been already
spent in connection with the Congo 1ree
state, and that the remainder, too, is en-
barked in the same disastrous speculation
For years past the king has been making
desperate efforts to recoup his enormous
losses by means of Congo state lotteries,
which have been regarded with disfavor
by all foreign governments, and even at
the present moment he is straining every
nerve in order to induce the great
powers to permit him to establish Gus
toms 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 repeated demands to be al
lowed to visit her afflicted cousin, Carlotta
being the only daughter of her British
majestys uncle, guardian, and most trust
ed counselor and friend. The two imper-
ial ladies had been on terms of most sister,
ly intimacy until the beautiful Belgian s
departure for Vienna and subsequently for
Mexico. Queen Victoria therefore strong
ly resents King Leopold's refusal to permit
her to see her cousin, and expresses her
establishment that whenever she happens to
leave England for the continent the ex-ein-
press condition is invariably and immedi-
ately announced as having suddenly be-
come more critical. This she regards as
extremely suspicious, and being convinced
that there is something or other that will
not bear the light ofday in Carlotta S treat
ment she has displayed toward King Leo
pold for several years past the greatest
coldness and disfavor.
Far more mysterious is the condition of
the other two eX-sOverelgns now under re-
straint. Their magnificent prisons are on
the lovely shores of the Bosphorus. The
one is Murad, formerly sultan of the Otto
man empire; the other is lsmail, once the
all-powerful khedive or king of Egypt.
Both are maintained in the very strictest
seclusion, cut off entirely from every kind
of communication with the outer world
Indeed, it is only by means of harem ru-
mors 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 ac-
cessiOn In 1868 to the date of his abdica-
ton in 1879 he was one of the most prom
inent and important figures on the chess
board of European politics. There is hard
ly a monarch or notable statesman in Eu-
rope who has not been entertained by him
on the3 banks of the Nile with bound
less hospitality. And when. after his de-
parture from Egypt, he took up his resi-
dence 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 installed in the beautiful
Neapolitan palace OF King Humbert at La
Favorita, and several of the royal Italian
chamberlains and aids-decamp were at
tached to his person. His enormous wealth
he is credited with possessing a fortune
of some SAC, ,000-invested in Eu-
ropean securities, placed practically 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 fol-
the purpose of bringing about the accom-
plishment of his wishes in the matter
Sir William Marriott. advocate general Cd
the British army, and the Anglo, Egyptian
lawyer, Broadley, whose conduct has re.
London. each received a sum of S36,
900 for their services in the affair. The
sutan's reluctance to grant the requisite
permission was due to. Ismails reputati On
for being the cleverest and most unscrupu-
ious intriguer in the world, and to his ap,
prehension of the danger which would re.
suit from the presence of such man al
Constantinople. At length, however
Abdul Han1id yielded when it was pointed
out to him that it would be far preferable
to have Ismail within reach and under hi.
own eye at STEAMBOAT than at liberty in al
he capitals of Europe.
Dec. %, 1887, he embarked his haren
and suite, numbering some 500 persons. OF
board one of the largest vessels of the Ru
battino line, and prepared to sail from Ma
pies to Constantinople. The voyage began
under ominous auspices, the ship beins
delayed three days within sight of Vesu
vious by the terrible storm which prevailed
st length, on the 30th, the vessel cast an
nor off Golden Horn, and several of tn,
sultan household immediately proceeded
on BOARD to welcome Ismai in their master
name. He landed the same afternoon ant
took mp his residence at his fairy-like anC
exquisitely beautiful palace of Ermeghian
The following day, a Friday, Ismail wa
received by Abdul Hamid himself, VIII
treated him with very great distinction
and even invited him to accompany hin
to the Ceremony of the Selamlik and t
pray beside him at the mosque
At the conclusion of the ceremony Is
mail returned to his palace at Ermeghian
and from that time to this he has neve
been seen without its walls. Two year
ago 1t became known at the Yildiz Kios