New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-16
AN ECCENTRIC BARON.
HE AMrSES THE CAR OF RUSSIA AND USES
LION TO AID HIN IN A DUEL.
ALEXANDER III REFUSES TO PAY DOUBLE PRICE
FOR TEoUsTRs - GENERAL CAMPoss
STRANGE EXPERIENCE IN TIE
STREETS OF BARCELONA.

subjects in Copenhagen The invitation was
couched in language so respecuu anu ATTRACTIVE
that His Majesty decided to make an exception
In his favor and visit the performance. The di-
rector and owner Of the circus Is Baron dc flrcks
the scion of one of the wcathest lamiiies OF
the Baltic provinces and now one oil the most
eccentric and original characters oil the DANISH
capital
While on a visit to Hungary few years ago he
fell in love and married beautiful Hungarian
who performed nightly in one Of the buda-Pesth
circuses His family quareled with him on
this account and he left his home Tor Denmark
AS he Is exceedingly wealthy In his own rlsht
the rupture with his people made comparatively
little difference to him. He has lived IN hand-
some palace in the Danish capital ana mas grat-
fed his peculiar tastes in his own FASHION lhese
tastes have brought him in conflict with the
Copenhagen police "A number OF times ana only
his wealth and connections have saved him from
serving sentence behind prison doors. Nhen the
Baron takes a promenade he Is accompanied by
Soudanese negro of herculean frame. woli'
two monkeys and trained lion which obeys his
every word and gesture. 1t is natural to eX-
pect the appearance Of this peculiar cavalcade in
the streets Of a populous city leads to unpleasant
results People scream. horses run away and the
police interfere He has been arrested almost every
time he took his promenade, ana mas become one
Of the largest sources Of income to the pohce
department-as he always pays his fines. steps
city but the interference of King Christian pre-
vented their execution.
NOVEL WAYS OF FIGHTING DUELs.
The Baron is also the hero of number OF pecu-
lar duels which have added to his strange repu-
tation. Not long he objected to the attentions
of a young Danish officer to his WIFE insu'ted
him and accepted challenge to fight with swords
At the appointed hour the lieutenant ana MS
seconds were on the field OF honor prepared to
t, no
their surprise however. to meet instead OF the
Russian his huge negro body-guard who calmly
announced that his master not feeling well
that morning and had sent the negro to represent
him. The Soudanese, without waiting for replies
declared that he was opposed TO handling swords
and intended to box with the lieutenant In the
English fashion. Without further ado he approach
ed his adversary and struck him a terrific blow
The affair naturally ended in the police courts
The negro was condemned to pay fine and remain
several days in prison The Baron paid the money
announced that his honor had been satisfied ana
declared the incident closed
But a second duel caused even more talk In
Copenhagen. for 1t probably the first time that
a wild beast took an active part in settling the
dispute between two human beings young So
ciety man of Copenhagen who had been admitted
to his house. also displeascd the Baron by paying
court to his wife. As the request 10 ceas" MS
attentions had no effect. the Baron invited him to
dinner one day. according TO the Danish papers
fed him well and then asked the young man TO
follow him TO his private room. When once there'
De Fircks announced that he had decided TO pun
ish him for his conduct in bizarre fashion. He
then left the room. The young man attempted to
follow him. but was met AT IN" door by the
trained lion. which grnned savagcly at the poor
fellow. He fed TO corner OF the room anu re-
NAMED quiet possible. But every time he
made the least noise the huge lord Of the desert
would raise his head and growl. For six long
hours the Baron kept his prisoner In terror lie
then released him. saying that he supposed inc
punishment had been sufficient and he would not
care to have second tete-a-tete with the beast
He was never troubled by the young man again.
The Baron finally decided to utilize his Influence
over animals I'm practical way and open a
circus. 1t the opening performance which the
Imperial family was asked to attend.
THERE WERE 81 ANTS IL THOSE DAYS
4 few DAYS ago the Czarewitch and two 81 the
Greek princes visited the famous old cathedral OF
Roeskildc on the island Of Iceland the residence
Of the Danish kings In the middle ages. In the
course OF centuries many sover'gns have visited
the cathedral and marked their height on one OF
the Old columns II this column which inter
ested particularly Tho Czarewitch Among those
whose length was there recorded was Peter the
Great The mark the column showed That he
was eighty Danish pouces. or TWO metres I'VE
centmetres tall only one sovereign was taller
King Christian Of Denmark. who measured two
metres and fourteen centmetres The height OF
the Gar Alexander III one Of the talest mon
archs in Europe Is also marked The column.
1t shows him To be seventy-one Danish pouces.
or one metre eghty-siX centimetres. The car
is taller by five centimetrcs than King Christian
TX Of Denmark and ny ten centinetrcs than King
George Of Greece. The Czarewitch is much smaller
than the King OF Greece
\ NEW YACHT FOX THE CAR
-,
hagen for another private yacht. This will be- the
third one owned by the car since lie succeeded to
the throne. The fiIst two were named respect
lively the DcrshaSa and the Polar Star. Fortunately
for His Majesty. he will not be troubled In find
ing persons ready 10 furnish his new yacht as he
was in 1852. when the Dershava was placed In COM
mission. The murder Of Alexander II was stu
fresh in the memory Of the people and the air
WAS filed with stories OF threats against the life
of his son. 1t was difficult for the members of the
Imperial household to find a contractor who would
assume the responsibility Of fitting up the boat
and answer for the conduct Of the wOrkmcn TO be
engaged Although opportunity offered no
merchants asked to be allowed TO deliver the FUR
niture for the yacht although under the former
reign 1t had been the ambition Of every one APP
parently 10 be purveyor to the crown
But there reason for this. Immediately upon
his accession to the throne. the new ruler hih-
inauguratcd "A regime of economy aud IL now Ne
came known that he examined personally an &C
counts lie dealt summarily. too: with those VINO
VINO had become court tailor and owned one oil me
largest business houses In St. Petersburg, once
sent His Majesty Il pair 81 trousers for when u"
demanded - ruhlos. This seemed excessive 10
His Majesty. and he asked his adjutant wh.t , ne
paid for trousers when the adjutant replied
is rublcs. the car became furious and sent an
officer the day to Tcdesch with the orn.r
remove the Imperial eagle from his sign. rms
story. which soon became known, created dcrp
impression in St Petersburg. and few merchants
dared to ovcrchargc His Majesty.
The new yacht will be- much hands1mer ana more
convenient than Tin, Polar Star. 1t VIII mol De
finished before year.
Az ArSEN r-MINDED MAN.
Among the most absent minded men OF SPAN
vas General Martinez Campos. who was killed
a few weeks ago by the explosion OF bombs
months ago he passed the evening ~ 'i''
club. and at late hour started home lie was
clad civilian As his custom he wilhe'
along quiet streets, unaccompanied by lriehn OF
adjutant. As he turned corner suddenly, , .,,e
General J0Sted against a man cOililHF I'm
opposite direction. The stranger besken lII,ip'
and went on his way. \ moment later ,'' ,tn
l.fa sy,.lI .Fgn