The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-02

1t overlooked the lawn at a point oppo-
site an artificial knoll. upon which a small
summer house had been erected.
In this arbor the prince directed that
his favorite band, the Schramme!er. be
placed.
GAY PARTY.
A party more gay than that which sat
down to dinner on that fateful night it
would be hard to describe.
The lunch had been q success. the rovgl
host was in one of his lveliest moods, the
most seductive music was but mellowed by
the distance, and the presence of the Young
baroness was no bar TO the proposed jollifi-
cation.
As course followed course wine flowed as
from fountain. and its effects upon the
host and MS guests became more and more
apparent.
Songs we're sung, and what had promised
to be but the ordinary revel attending
stag" dinner given by the crown prince
had reached a drunken carousal when the
brandy, coffee and cigar stage was
| reached.
Still Marie de vetsera remained in the
room. Her place was on the left of the
prince. Her position that Of comrade.
Directly across from her seat SAL her affi-
anced husband, the princes most intimate
friend and companion, Count WaIdstein.
AS the spirits rose higher and higher and
champagne succeeded tue atter-dinn cog
nae, all sense Of either reason or propriety
passed from those about the board.
The dinner became wild orgy, during
which he who colld commit the greatest
excess received the largest share of ap-
plause.
1t was just after midnight that Prince
Rudolph, amid wild burst Of merrimeut,
put his arm around Marie de Vetsera and
attempted to draw her TO him.
The young baroness wrenched herself free
and laughingly chided her royal host for his
lmpertinence.
Nothing daunted, the prince again caught
mold OF his fair guest and attempted to kiss
her.
Tho baroness could not escape from the
crown prince this time, and seemingly real
izing the position she occupied before that
roomful Of drunken courtiers, said:
"As the atfianced wife of your dearest
friend you should rather protect than insult
me-"
The prince was determined to obtain a
kiss, however, and in the struggle which
followed she escaped from his embrace, and
in her anger called Rudolph blackguard,
coward and man unfit ever to occupy
the position of emperor.
FOUL MURDER.
Half crazed with liquor and beside him.
self with rage, Prince Rudolph drew a re-
volver from IA small writing desk. He
shot Marie Ike Vetsera as she stood facing
him.
Springing to his feet Count Waldstein
swung the heavy oak chair on which be had
been seated over his head and brought it
down upon the skull of the prince.
1t was a death blow, aud Archduke
Rudolph sank to the floor almost beside the
woman he had both wronged and muir
dered.
Then for the first time the enormity OF
the tragedy beng enacted before their
eyes seemed to have dawned upon the as
Sembled company, and a rush was made
for Count Waldstein and his body was
thrown beneath the wlue-laden table bat
tered out of all human semblance.
This is the true story of that fateful night
at Mierling which threw the direct line of
royal descent upon the shoulders of 5-year-
old girl.
AS the full significance of the death of
the crown prince and the circumstances
surrounding it dawned upon the unlucky
party, steps were taken to hide every ma
terial fact.
A coffin was improvised before the body
of tho Baroness Marie de Vetsera was cold,
and she was laid IN a hastily dug grave
within the confines of the convent OF Heilli-
gen Kreutz.
The body OF Count Waldstein was put
Oub OA e4SHb luo WISHES OL MS
family, and the report spread broadcast
that the crown prince had died of apo
plexy.
Gradually ugly rumors crept out. and to
shield not only the dead but the living the
story of a romantic double suicide was sent
forth.
To save the royal lover the name of
Marie de Vetsera was dragged into the
mire of the baSest infatuation and the
truth withheld,
AS a matter of fact the unfortunate
woman was anxious to retrieve her past by
a marriage with one OF her set. Her
atfianced husband, Count Waldstein, was
willing to protect her with an honorable
name, and proved it by sacrificing his life
to avenge her murder.
And the heir-apparent to the Austrian
throne died murderer's death with the
smoke from his pistol yet curling around his
fair victim.
The information as given above comes
from an intimate of the dead prince, gem
tleman who has been closely associated with
court circles in Austria ever since Prince
Rudolph reached his majority, and it is
authentic.