Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-10-09


gang of thugs from India and was
robbed of several thousand dollars. His
financial condition, however, did not
trouble him. he entered China as
cousin OF the Emperor of Russia and was
everywhere warmly received at Saigon,
Cochin China, he was banQuetted
and then forwarded to Hong-Kong in
royal style. On entering that city the
Chinese. English, French and other
gunboats congregated in the harbor
fred royal salute Of l0l guns In his
honor. As an amusement 10000 Chinese
soldiers were collected together from
the forti6cation surrounding Hong
Kong and marched in review before
him. The Governor Of the city then
took charge Of Prince Popow and took
him to his home. For two days he was
banQuetted and all kinds OF festivals
gotten up in his honor. Then the
exposure came. Afraid to execute the
man, the Chinese put Keller on q boat
chartered for the occasion, and giving
him IS, 900 as bribe not to tell how he
had imposed on China, he was sent to
the nearest English colony.
Not long after the modern Baron
Munchausen embarked In the tea rails
Ing business at Ceylon. With the aid
OF his gigantic brain he quickly massed
a small fortune of S250,000 Just when
1t seemed he would become million
aire by bold plunge with a gigantic
speculative scheme, a financial panic
struck Ceylon. With one sweep OF the
hand of fate the entire fortune OF Kel-
Ter disappeared.
PACKED UP HIS NERVE AND LEFT.
Again thrown on the colossal re-
sources Of his nerve. he resumed his
travels. He reached Siam. There he
met Il son Of the King, whose acquaint-
ance he had formed In Paris during his
first year there, and through him gain
cd admission into the royal palace. The
King at once took fancy to the enter
prislng German and made known his
affection by presenting him with five
of the prettiest women in Siam. He
also contracted with him to raise man
of-war, which had been recently pur-
chased from England only to have 1t go
down in storm when within ten miles
of Siam. The ship was raised. Keller
then furnished museum, which the
King of Siam opened at his suggestion
and filed with rare curiosities of all
kinds.
TheIcontracts netted Keller another
fortune.
From Siam Keller drlftsd back to
England after an absence OF about nine
years, spending his money freely.
America was the only country be had
not visited, and he embarked for this
country. Three years ago the ad-
venturer stepped ashore at New York.
For q few months he lived life OF
ease. Among the acQuaintances he
formed was that of pretty actreas
named Martha Nelson. She had
sweet voice, and Keller says II
he had not met her and
spoiled her career she would
now be a second Jennie Lind. Keller
lavlshed his money freely on Martha,
buying Jewels, silks and satiDs for her
and all the wine she could drink. At
the rate Keller spent his money the
fortune he gathered in Siam quickly
disappeared. Thrown on his own re-
sources, Keller at last reached Chatta-
noOga. taking the actress with him and
introducing her as his wife. An oily
tongue and a sweet voice soon gained
for the man the confidence OF everyone.
Compelled TO work by necessity, Keller
secured the position Of general travel
ing agent for the Chattanooga Brewing
Company, with entire charge Of their
army OF travelling salesmen, at a salary
OF so, 900.
WORK TOO HARD FOR HIM.
Living beyond his means, be was soon
several hundred dollars short. One
night he collected all the outstanding
accounts and fled with the money. At
Atlanta, Ca, his mistress joined him.
From there they went to Florida and
under an assumed name spent several
months there. In the course OF the
next month Keller and the woman
reached Montreal. Canada. About six
months ago the two drifted into Reno,
New, after obtaining thousands OF
dollars by all kinds OF confidence
games. Once more their money gave
out. Keller forged the name of
prominent citizen to check and
cashed it. He was arrested before be
could get away and at MS trial was
sentenced to ninety days In jail. When
his term expired he deserted the actress
and walked to Sacramento. Cal, dis
tance OF 200 miles. There be met De-
tectlve William Smith, OF the Southern
Pacific, whose acquaintance be had
formed year ago while that official
was In Nevada trying to run down the
two notorious outlaws Sontag and
Evans. He IN turn introduced Keller
to Detective True and told that official
that Keller could be OF valuable as
sistance TO him In running down
gang OF freight car burglars who
were operating between Sacramento
and San Francisco. The day following
the introd uction, Keller, short OF
money, forged Detective True's name TO
a check aud raised SIG on IL. In his
rage True hunted up the past career OF
Keller, who was then sailing under the
name OF Lester, aud finding bis desert
ed mistress, obtained from her the in
formation that the man was wanted In
arrest followed. The deserted actress
will obtain revenge against her betrayer
by testifying against him.
Keller says he speaks 12 languages.
but only used the American brand OF
English 10 narrating his story. He
says he has worked at everything from
shovellng snow aud cutting ice 70 pos
ing as q member Of 3 royal family. He
SAYS his adventures are not the
result Of an active Imagination
but are the sober chronicles
of his remarkable experiences. In
talking be has more OF French accent
than German. He wears a beard neatly
trimmed to a point after the fashion Of
the days when Louis XVI. ruled France.
he dresses neatly and is very intellI-
gent. He prides himself on the fact