The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-12-29
CHECKERED LIFE.
The Varied Experiences Of Col.
Won Scheliha.
AUTHORITY ON MODERN WAR
He Fasshs Far the soush and Germany
ana Has wrisssa Bocks %
rortsdcsstons.

cof. victor yegf SesAei.ha, one OF the
greatest living authorities on coast de-
Tense. ahs has Rad ieag and varied
military experience and Is enc Of the most
ACCOMPLISHED Hlsgufsss In the United
States. is in the city on a visit 70 his
daughter Mrs. j.. A. Paine. IN this city,
ana nsay remain here permanently. lie
has written nIaa hooks which are rssog-
nize.l as Standard works on coast defense
ard forsifieat;ons. both in America and
Europe. Last year he vas interpreter at
tbe Na~ York aranslne station. the last
chapter in a career Of many vicsssitssdes.
Cal. Ven Scheiiha came across the At
Iaatsc in 1851 IN q German uaE-of-war. on
2 scientific expeditions which touched at
the BEazsis He became dreedfuiIy sea-
sick. and. securing leave Of absence.
drsfted TO Mexico and finally 10 Texas.
where he purchased q pony and began
securing about the wild plains. Bscom-
ing infatuated with the country. he re-
turned and resigned isis commission IN the
German army and made again for Texas.
where he purchased large body OF land
and started raising sheep. intending to
cross the Mexican and German breeds.
one day while he was off 10 the Rio
Grande Il, buy more sheep. the sfeAicans
swooped down On his herd and slaught-
cred or drove of his valuable German
breeders That Disguised him with sheep
raising and he went TO Louisiana. where
he tried his hand az raising cotton aid
was prospecting in this business when the
war broke out. He joined issues with the
cnafederacy and went through the entire
war, part OF the time as chief OF staff OF
the chief engineer OF the department OF
the Calf Of Mexico. and doing work on
the more important defenses in the South.
Col. yon Sehelina's connection with the
lost cause caused him To suffer more or
less in pride ard position with his home
government. After the war was over. ne
returned home and received another COM
mission and In time was sent back TO the
United States as attache 10 the German
legation. Bancroft. the historian, was
United States minister in Berlin at the
time and opposed the ex-colfederaae sol
diers being sent TO the government of
the United States. Bismarck permitted
him to come, but instructed him TO avoid
ali appearance OF being an officer OF the
German government.
Fraaco-Gera,an war Col Won Scheliha re-
signed ais commission again. but quickly
tea5erea his services to his government
and was ordered back to Berlin. He was
sent to Kiefe on the Baltic. where he re-
maEned inactive The nearest he came to
conflict with the enemy was one day
W hen a fleet of French warships passed
by about Ave miles off shore and ex-
changed shots with the forts at kiefe.
Col Won Scheliha afterwards went 70
ST. Petersburg at the invitation OF Gen.
Todlehen. the great military engineer
who defended Sebassopol in the crinean
war, aud captured Pieyna In the Russo
Turkish war. He was engaged on the
construction of torpedoes and other ma
terial OF war. having Invented the first
torpedo He counted among his friends
and associates such men as Admiral .sor-
ter. Ven Moitke, Todieben. Grant.
Sherman, who recognized his mer-
It's and work, especially in the
matter OF coast defenses. When he
left the service OF Russian government
for this country Ii was with letters OF
strong recommendation from United
States Minister A. G. Curtin, Pennsyl-
vania's old war governor ard others.
In the newspaper field Col. Won SehcIiha
has done work on the London Times and
on the leading Contiaetai papers. lie is
conversznt with German. English, French.
Spanish, Italian, Russian and other
tongues. and was Interpreter at the New
York quarantine station last year OF
tongues which the officers were unable 10
comprehend and translate. Col. Won
Seheiiha Viii probably make Seattle
his home and at present is writing pa
per on Russia, but without any intention
OF delivering 1t himself. His age and for
eign accent prever. him from occupying
tive field.