The Portland daily press., 1894-08-11
SERVING KossUTH.
An American Youth Who Volunteered
In Hungary's Cause.

He Was Sent to Rescue the Crown Jewels.
Carried Cipher Dispatches Which BE
Threw Away Because He Was Fright
ened--Not Good Conspirator.
| ! 1t has remained for one American, Mr..
w. j. Stillman, the art critic, to relate
the strangest story of Kossuth's plans
and plots, both in this country and in his
own unhappy land, that has anywhere ap-
peared. In The Century Mr.. Stillman de-
scribes a mission on which he was sent by
Kossuth after he had volunteered in his
service. Il followed him to London and
established myself in a dark quarter,
where spies would be little likely. to no.
tice me, and reported to him through
Pulszky, whose address I had 1t was
finally determined that I should undertake
an expedition to Hungary. The object,
was told, was the rescue of the Hunga-
rian crown jewels, hidden at some point
down the Danube before the flight of the
dictator and his ministry into Turkey. I
was to visit Vienna on the way, and Kos
suth gave me the names of three persons
In that city with whom I might commu-
nicate, requesting that the one who SEEM
ed to me the most apt for the purpose
should go to London and put himself in
communication with Kossuth.
ITO steady my nerves in Vienna Kossuth
had told me of conspirator who had been
arrested on suspicion, his name having
been found among many others in the
memorandum book of an emissary who
had been arrested for tampering with the
troops. All persons whose names were
Nor Sx,% NH.
particular person, having really a most
important position in the conspiracy and
not knowing why he was arrested, natu-
rally believed that he,had been betrayed,
and to avoid being driven to disclosures
under torture adopted the only means of
fered him of committing suicide by wrap
ping his bedclothes around him and set
ting fire to them, his bed and his light be-
ing his only furniture.
when he had been burned SO that he
could not survive, he tore off the clothes,
and calling the guard told him to sum-
mon the council, and when they had as
sembled In his cell told them that he was
conspirator, but his secrets were beyond
their power of extortion-and died This
gave me a keen sense of the necessity of
caution, and as was certain to be put
knew was in Vienna 7 took time by the
forelock, and before the police paper had
been sent in took cab drove to within a
block of the house of the person was to
see first, dismissed the cab and made my
visit, establishing communications and
precautions against the police. But my
CONSERVATION may be imagined when my
fellow conspirator, after all our arrange
ments were complete, took me into the
room where his family were assembled and
introduced me as a friend who came from
Kossuth. With five women from 12 to 40
years old in possession of my secret the
tranquility of my stay in Vienna was far
from complete, but it was family of red
republicans, and I was safe.
! II waited nearly month, and seeing
that the police began to wonder what
had to occupy myself with took to my
bed and sent for doctor. This was Or
zovensky, who had been chief of the med
ical staff of Kossuths army and with
whom I mS@e friends. But still I got no
news from Aossuth or his correspondent
in Pest, and as the position could not be
prolonged Indefinitely one day 1 made a
confdant Of the doctor, told him my bust
ness and asked him if 1 could leave the
dispatches with him while went back to
London to put matters on another footing
Not for the world, he replied, would he
mix himself in the affair." and he added
that if it were discovered that he had had
knowledge of my business he would be ar
rested and would be ruined man for not
having betrayed me to the police.
Then for the first time lost my nerve,
and my mouth was in an instant as dry
as bone, my tongue resembling dry
stick. was never SO frightened before
or since, but I kept self possession enough
to note the singularity of the phenomenon
and made up my mind on the spot to
get out of the range of the doctors reve-
lations as soon as possible. AS nearly as
can remember did not stop to sleep in
bed till reached Frankfort, and I got
back to London by the earliest conveyance
and went to report to Kossuth He receiv-
ed my report with perfect equanimity and
asked me only what I had done with the
dispatches. In my panic had thrown
them into the drain as the only place
where they were in no danger of being
sought for if I were arrested before getting
out Of the country and this 1 told him.
He showed no irritation, but with an ex-
preston of perplexity rather than vexa-
ton said, Three months lost, and then
resumed his usual manner, asked me
about many things in Hungary, told me
that when was at loss should have
gone to the Hotel Tigris, which was the
rendezvous of the patriots, and that there
I would have made acquaintance with
some of his friends, who would have helped
me out. He went on talking of other
things as calmly as If I had not disap-
pointed him. had not the courage to
urge my services in any other matter, and
he saw that ! had not in me the stuff for
a conspirator, gave me the money to pay
my passage home, and we parted with the
understanding that if it came to fighting
I should join him again"