The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-09-24

| ana the deigning house OF Austria, for,
| as widow of the second brother Of En-
peror Frahz Josef, Carlotta mas been a
member Of the Hapsburg family, and as
such a large share Of her vast property
should go at once upon her death to her
| husbands kinsfold- Indeed, the Emper-
or Of Austria al the time of Carlotta be-
come insane. since he is one of mis- dead
| brothers trustees. King Leopold has al
/ ways avoided doing this. in spite of the
protests that have reached him from Vi
| emma, Indeed, al the present moment
there is no royal parsonage in Europe
vino is in such bad odor az the court OF
Austria as King Leopold.
RUDOLFS UNTIMELY DEATH.
Probably the most unfortunate Haps-
| burg Of recent times was Archduke Ru-
dolf Francis Charles Joseph. He was
born August n, 1858, and was the eldest
son OF Franz Joseph. Emperor Of Austria.
He was carefully educated and learned
| 10 speak ten languages, and also became
versed in zoology and The natural sell
ences. He was also a great traveller aid
hunter. He was married in 1880 70 the
Princess Stephantine, Duchess OF Sax
ony, daughter of Leopold H., King of the
Belgians. II was one Of the most brill
liant nuptial ceremonies of the country.
The royalty welded pair did not live hap
PLY, and the Princess sought III vain for
a separation. Il was said tina, she was
in love with an American when the pol
icy of the state forced her 20 marry Ru-
dolf.
Rudolf's sudden death which occurred
at Meyerling, near Baden, on January
80. 1882 as,ounded Europe, and was al
first supposed 10 have been caused by
apoplexy. Then the statement was Civ
en- out that the heir 10 Austria throne
had met his death by being accidentally
shot while on a hunting expedition 10
Meyerling. Later the entire civilized
world was startled by the news that the
prince had committed suicide.
The archduke was deeply infatuated
with the charms of Baroness Vetcera, a
bautiful young girl, who returned MS
love. He wished to be united TO her by
morgana.ic marriage, but his father
would not allow such an arrangement. On
The evening OF January 30 the crown
prince met the Baroness in gamekeep-
er's house not far from the castle of Mey-
erlihg, and spent the evening with her.
In the morning both were found dead,
lying side by side upon a bed. II was as
serted that the baroness had taken poi
son and the prince had shot himself.
CONFLICTING STORIES.
But there was a great many variants
TO the story, and though the fact that the
Prince committed suiside, is now gener-
ally accepted, there are different YER
sions as TO the manner of his taking off.
One story is 20 the effect that forester
alread equipped for the mornings chase
went 10 the house where the prince was
staying in order TO ask the gamekeeper
for some instruction regarding the huh;
that was to take place. He knocked at
the door. window was opened and
man jumped out and ran away. The
forester aimed and fred, the fugitive fell,
and when the forester walked up 10 him
he recognized 10 his horror the Crown
Prince. who had tainted. The shot had
entered the princes shoulder. The fores-
ter called for help. and, with the assist
~
ried the Prince into the gamekeepers
house.
The Baroness, seeing the prince in
faint and bleeding from a wound, i'm
agined that tle was dead. She immed-
lately took up her travelling bag and pull
ed out phial. Before she could be pre-
vented she drank its contents and fell
dead upon the floor.
Soon afterwards the crown prince came
to aid was taken by his own orders 10
the Castle of Mayerling. Here he order
ed his valet from the room into which he
had been carried. and here he placed a
pistol to his head and fired a fatal shot.
Letters OF the prince and Of the baron
ess found after the tragedy tend to dis
prove this version, and indicate a pre-
meditated suicide on the part OF both
parties. Then there were several wit
hesses who declare that they had seen
the bdies Of the prince and the baroness
lying side by side Immediately after the |
tragedy.
ANOTHER STORY.
A man by the name of Johann Tran |
CULLEN, known by the sobriquec of 'Ba- |
ron Schau.' who died on Wards Island |
after career OF dissipation in the In |
tied States, asserted that he drove The /
Crown Prince 20 Meyerlng on the day OF |
the tragedy, and told a very different !
story OF the princes death. He said ihas
he drove the prince and a jolly party OF |
friends TO Meyerling. No women were /
in the party. Supper was served in the |
castle Of 4Ieyerling. and during the fes;i- /
vi;ies the Boroness Vicera suddenly |
made her entrance into the supper room 1
and with flashing eyes asked the prince |
II il was true that he had renowned her.
The prince, after silence, Answered /
between himself and ne baroness The
latter then drew a revolver and fired al
Rudolf. The ball wounded him bu;
slightly and he caught the Infatuated !
woman in MS arms. she managed, how
ever. 10 turn the pistol against herself
and inflicted a mortal wound. A ysla-
tive OF the baroness then sprang up and
grougat a csmpaingn bottle with all his
might upon the head Of the prince, who
sank upon The floor and died. The low
ers were ;hen laid side by side upon
couch and all the Witnesses - The scene
were sworn 20 secrecy.
a number Of stories varying in deals
were current in Vienna during rae days
following The tragedy. and many start
ing rumors were whispered about The
conf Of course hush 81 10 The AFFAIR as