Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-06-24
OF ROYAL BLOOD.
Strange Life and Violent Death
of L. Burstail,
THE NATURAL SON OF AN EMPEROR

He Ends His Life with Bullet in His
Brain-A Charssteristic Letter TO the
Coroner-FeiIow- Student of Humboldt,
Linguist and Soldier-His Mother n
Mistress of Old Kaiser Wilhelm.
MILWAUKEE, Wis, June 24-The tragic
ending of one of the most remarkable
of lives by the suicide of l. Burstall yes
teriay morning has revived interest in a
curious case. Probably the most satisfac-
tory explanation of the mystery of the
early life of the strange and erudite man
is is own declaration to very intimate
friend in Milwaukee, made in converse
ton few years ago, that he is natural
son OF the late Emperor William, and that
his mother was an actress who found ia
yor In the monarch's eyes. Burstall's body
was found in ravine on the lake front,
near North Point, bya crew of graders.
Upon his body were found numerous let
ters, some of which bore dates nearly a
year old, addressed to friends, and cover
ing nearly every topic, jocular and philo-
sophical
Fearful of Burial Alive
The one addressed to the coroner, which
was explanatory of the mans life, was as
follows: Il believe that these first lines
addressed to you will be the last ones
FAREWELL As your Office will bring you in
contact with my corpse, and as ! am afraid
of being buried only half dead | solicit
that some physician may in some way ex-
pertinent with it by electricity or by cut
ting fingers, or that it may be entirely
given up for dissection My body is very
strong and may resist, a. it has resisted
many events and endurances- Ii is not
necessary to write any letters about me, as
have no relations in America, and no
friends outside of Milwaukee. My friends
in Europe are already informed of what
may happen, and will by a certain person
here, be telegraphed to when the decease
occurs
Been Tired of Life for Forty Years.
AS nobody in America has known me in
Europe, and as some people have givenme
some funny information about my origin
there is no need to take the people into my
confidence Ii may suffice to say that since
my thirtieth year-forty one years ago-I
was tired of life, and merely a spectator.
Ny kind wishes for MIR. OFT, who was al
ways friend to me. l found here many
real friends among Americans and Ger
mans among former pupils of mine,
highly respectable men and generous
friends The only regret that Expresses me
il that was not lucky enough be able
to reward them for their Kindness,
Some Of His Accomplishments
Burstall's history since he arrived in
this country when about Is years of age.
has been series of varying honors and
humiliations. He was 30 years of age and
fellow student and traveller with Alex
ander Won Humboldt, the eminent nat
uralist. He was one of the greatest lin
gusts and most cultured men in America.
He talked fiuently in English, German,
French, Spanish, Italian. and gave instruc-
tons in all as well as Greek and Latin.
For many years he was teacher OF French
and German in the Milwaukee high school
and held positions as instructor IN the
German and English academy.
His Military Seryicess
He served with distinction in the Mex
lean war, and was present as Union
officer when Lee surrendered at Apo
| mattox That the name of Burstall was
au assumed one is beyond question. He
has always borne it during his residence
of twenty-three years or more in Milwau-
kee but is said to have been a soldier IN
der different title. An incomprehensi-
| BILE passion caused the deceased to lose his
positions of honor and profit one after an
other In 1873 his friends secured for him
the appointment as postmaster at Cedar
burg. and he published a small German
paper there called The Union. Two years
| ago he came back here, and did little
| work as private tutor.
Corresponded with Friends Abroad.
Almost up to the time of his death Bur
| stall carried ON a correspondence with en-
inent men in London. Berlin. and Paris,
| and frequently gave intimate friends evil
| dence of having at some time stood high
| in London literary and scientific circles.
| He was a verijable bookworm and for
| years haunted the bookstores of the city,
| The person TO whom he confided his pa
| rentage does not wish his name men
toned, because he is prominent business
man and desires to avoid notoriety and the
| possible bad business policy of repeating
the story in Milwaukee.
| Never slept in a Bed.
| But there can be no question that the
| almost always reticent Burstall made the
claim of being son of the great kaiser.
The old gentleman was small in stature
| and slight In build, but was unusually
strong and wiry- One of his eccentricities
was never to sleep in a bed During his
long residence with Mrs. Shreve Professor
| Burstali always took his rest in chair.
| When his body was taken to the morgue
| il was found that he had shot himself
/ through the head, and death must have
| been inst antaneous