The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-11
THE ABDUCTION OF A KING.

The abduction of Stanislaus Augustus,
King Of Poland, in the very midst of War
saw, his wv capital, was probably as au-
dacious an exploit as any body of conspira-
tors ever conceived or accomplished. Per-
haps I should say nearly accomplished,
since at the last moment the King effected
his escape, but in it's earlier stages the at
tempt was completely successful. The in
~stigators Of the offense were the confeder-
ate Polish MOBILES, who had never recognized
Stanislaus as lawfully elected, and, not
without reason, looked upon him as the
mere tool of Russian tyranny.
The man who planned the details. of the
abduction was the celebrated Polish pa
triot, Pulaski. He it vas who engaged a
body Of forty Adventures to carry it out,
under the leadership of three daring men,
Lukowski. Strawinski and Kosinski, whom
he had won over, and who had sworn to
deliver the King dead or alive.
Making their way by stealthy journeys
from Czitschokow, in Great Poland, they
entered Warsaw on the 81 of November,
without having been discovered. They were
disguised as peasants in charge of carts
loaded with hay, under which were con-
cealed their saddles, weapons and ordinary
dress.
They did not all penetrate into the heart
of the city; some remained at the gates.
The Others, on the following evening, col
lected, with due precautions, in the street
of the Capucins; for they calculated, from
information received" that the King would
pass that way on returning TO his palace
at the accustomed hour.
And so II happened.
Between 9 and 10 o'clock, leaving the resi-
dence of his uncle, Prince Czartoriski. to
whom he had been paying a visit. the King
drove into the trap prepared for him. His
escort did not exceed some fifteen or sixteen
RroomS and troopers, ana an ald-de-caInp
rode with him in his carriage.
Suddenly a number of well-armed men
sprang out of the darkness and surrounded
10th the carriage and its escort, ordering
the coachman 10 pull up. Before he could
obey a shower of bullets clattered about
the vehicle and struck down an equerry
who had posted himself on the doorstep to
defend his master. The escort had fled at
the first shot; even the aid-de-camp was
pitch-dark night, and he attempted to
profit by the darkness; but before he had
ciutched hold of his hair. I'VE have You
now" cried the man who had stopped him;
your hour is come" and a pistol was dis
charged so close to his face that he after
wards said he could feel the heat of the
flame. At the same time a sabre stroke
was aimed at his head and cut through his
hat and hair to the skull. Meanwhile the
conspirators had remounted their horses;
two of them seized his collar and dragged
NM on DGIMGtH lHCiu. WIKI lntN IOuE, DIT
full gallop, five hundred PAGES through the
streets of Warsaw.
The alarm had by this time been given
in both palace and the city. The guards
FASTENED 10 the scene of the outrage. but
discovered only the Kings hat, soaked in
blood. 1t was concluded at once that he had
been killed and his dead body carried off
by the murderers; the city was filled with
all kinds OF dreadful rumors.
The King was soon breathleSS and eX-
hausted with the cruel treatment to which
he had been subjected. He was unable to
mount him on horseback. Then they pro
ceeded at a still more rapid pace. on
reaching the city gate they found it closed.
so that the only means of escape was by
leaping the ditch. They did not hesitate.
The King was of course compelled TO fol-
forward but he fell in the middle. a sec
attempt, a second failure, and the poor
animal broke his leg. Stanislaus was
dragged out covered with mud and greatly
disordered; another horse was provided.
and the desperate ride resumed. But not
uables. Even Lukowski shared in the plum
der. snatching the ribbon Of the Kings
black eagle. with the diamond cross at
tached to II.
Most of the conspirators now dispersed:
no doubt in order TO warn their chiefs OF
NAMED, under the command OF Kosinski.
The night had grown so heavy that they
had lost their bearings, and knew not
where they were. Moreover, their horses
were spent with fatigue. and would not
bulge a step further. The party were COM
PEELED TO alight. and forced the King 20 do
the same-though he had but one boot,
the other having stuck in the mud of the
city ditch.
For some time they continued to wander