The San Francisco call., 1896-10-04
Crowned by the Chief Ranger
of the Forest With a Wreath
of Oak Leaves.
DUPED BY AMERICAN sHARPERs
Confting Youths Pay Money to "Cap.
tains" for the Privi ege of
Becoming Soldiers.

BERLIN, GERMANY, Oct. 3.-The EN-
peror left Rominten this morning and
will join the Empress to- morrow at Huber
tussersstock, where he will continue his
hunting. While at Rominten the Emperor
shot an immense stag which had twenty
antlers. His Majesty could not suppress
his joy, and the woods re-echoed with his
thrice shouted "Hurrahs." Then turning
to Herr Augems, the forest ranger, the
Kaiser vehemently shook his hand and
gave evidences in other ways of the pride
which he felt in having bagged so noble
an animal.
At the banquet which was held after the
hunt that evening the Emperor declared
that the stag was the biggest that had been
shot in Germany for years. Measurement
Of the animal showed that its antlers were
over three feet long and the crown. which
had six points, weighed eighteen pounds.
When the stag was laid out the chief
ranger decorated the Emperor with a
wreath of OAK leaves, which he presented
to his Majesty upon the point of hunt
ing knife.
The United States Embassy here has
learned that two Americans, giving their
names as Captain George Hubbard of New
Orleans and Captain Fred Williams of San
Francisco, both pretending to be officers
OF the United States army, have been con-
Quoting lucrative swindling business, by
inveigling persons of means into enlisting
as they supposed in the United States
army, and inducing them to pay for the
privilege of doing SO under promises made
by the two pretended officers that they
would exert their personal influence to
secure the speedy promotion of their re-
cruits to the rank of lieutenant. captain,
etc. ALI of those who paid for their en-
listment were asked to meet the captain
at the railway station one day last week
for the purpose of arranging for their pas
sage to America. Many of them made
their appearance at the station, but failed
to find the captain.
The dupes OF the spurious captains then
went to the United States Consulate to
seek redress, and were there informed that
the captains were not known to any one
attached to the consulate, and moreover
that Germans enlisting in foreign army
were violating the,laws of Germany. The
swindlers appear to be German-Americans.
Some of the details of the swindling are
very amusing. Two young Germans en-
listed with Hubbard and Williams and
paid them the money they demanded, but,
becoming suspicious, wanted to have the
captains" identified at the United States
consulate. Tue captains" acceded to
this and readily accompanied their vic
Tins. Arriving al the first floor of the
building occupied by the Consul the
swindlers, under the pretext of ascertain
ing if the Consul would be able to see them
Immediately, went up alone 10 the second
floor, where the Consui's offices are situ-
ated leaving their victims on the floor
below. Instead of going into the ConsuPs
office, however, they took the elevator, de-
scended to the ground floor and hurriedly
took their departure, leaving their dupes
waiting for them to return to the first
floor.
In another case their victim gave them
money with which to purchase his railway
ticket to the port from which he was to
EN- bark for America. The swindlers took
the money and entered the booking office
through which they quickly passed and
walked out of the end of the building. The
waiting victim has not seen them since.
Another incident involving the claim
ant to the honor of being an officer in the
United States army is being discussed in
the clubs and cafes. An American claim
ing to be the new military attache to the
K. K. Evans, who has just retired from
that office arrived at Hamburg from New
Yok on September 25 on board the
steamer Fuerst Bismarck, travelling Sec
ond-class. The man wore the uniform
of an officer of the United States
army and when he landed he cre-
ated scene upon the docks upon
being confronted by the customs
officers. He talked in loud and buster
ing fashion and threatened to make a
complaint against the conduct of the
officials to the United States ambassador.
He has not yet made his appearance at
the Embassy, however, nor has any ap-
pointment been made to fill the post OF
military attache vacated by Captain
Evans.