The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-03-23
SOLDIER OF FORTUNE.
Capt. Rudolph Metz, a Man Of Many ADJ
ventures, Passes Through.
ENLISTED IN THE CAUSE OF CUBA
Was on the Dauntlcss, Three Friends
ana Coninnotlore-Sny. the Latter
Wns sunk by IL Spant.I. Spy
Another Scflenle..Someti,in About
An Advent urcr'a Life.

an AufGhturcFSa Life.
II Capt. Rudolph Emil Leopold Nets
ancestors were not doughty Knight
Etrants. then the theory Of lcredlty IS
all wrong. for the Captain himself is
evidently a typical fighter Il soldier OF
fortune. and u killer Of men in the cause
OF liberty There is L whole history in
nus square cut jaw and two or three in
his steel blue eyes
me Captain reached here yesterday
forenoon and left In the afternoon for
richmond ami Washington, from which
latter place he will go to philadelphia.
I'he scene Of his latest adventures is
Cuba and the high seas roundabout
They will also probably see the last Of
him. IL he attempts to carry out some
or his kindly intentions toward the
spanish III that quarter of the earth
a PICTURESQUE PERSONALITY.
IL issentirely doubtful whether q more
picturesque personality ever passed
through Norfolk. In talking to him one
iiiVoiuntarpiy feels he is Interviewing j.
character from one Of Stevenson's wild
poles. or Dumas spirited novels. He
was born In Berlin some fifty-onc years
ago ana mas been fighting ever since he
was OLD enough to carry Il gun He
LOU firgininn reporter the story of his
llte. but as his English Is not as good
80 .p'iii' ~ "oulu nave been Il dill
Cult one to follow him, but for the fin ri
that me had Il pocket full Of passports.
commissions. army orders md other
documents signed by the authorities OF
uhe various countries in which his
tangled lines have been cast
\ FIGHTING MACHINE.
lie fought under Prince Frederick
ltahn. In the France prussIan war in
is'o- q, being transferred from the navy
| Ia. ~.
navy after the war, remaining two
years. after which he started out on
his own hook -
In 1850 he became citizen OF the
United States He was with the French
Ior awhile IN Madagascar, but did not
S Soc u, aais o1i1cers. In the early part OF
is!G he was In Abyssinian infantry, but
lelt the country, he says, for internu-
llOnGl reasons. He WIS with the Ar
ncninns and fought The forks, until q
certain Consul told him lie had bette
STOP mixing up in the fracas, .'beinst as
ne WASH q prosecuted Christian" Then
ne went to Little Smyrna and OH April
was in JeIuselam. He went from there
70 ConstantinoDle, thence to Algeria
tllen came to Genoa, Italy, and becoming
interested In Cuba Libre, sailed from
there to New York, arriving at the
american metropolis on July 1, 1896. He
mas with him passports and papers made
OUT III many uncouth languages, but all
showing the countries In which he tray
elied. and some OF them the battles in
which he fought.
BECAME A FILIBUSrERER.
since his arrival in this country
Capt ain Metz has been a filibusterer. lie
SPOKE at some length, though rather I'M.
lnteillsibly to American ears. OF his
work along that line. and displayed an
Intimate knowledge of Cuban affairs
ana or the island itself. He had with
MN, also, q friend i'll arms, August Star
klof, who substantiated his story.
CAPTAIN Metz says he left New York
IN July on the Dauntless. which landed
arms anu ammunition ut Neuvitas and
iett him ashore. He remained on the
island q short time fighting in Macco's
army. Alaceo llc saw once The Three.
FRIENDS took him from the island, but
lie shipped again on the Inflated Com
Ihodore, ana says he was on her when
she sunk, leaving the vessel in the first
boat - %
SINKING OF THE COMMODORE
lie declares that the Commodore was
sunk by "a Spanish spy who removed q
sea-cock. and to confirm this statement
AYERS that the Spanish Consul ut Jack
SonVillc intimated as much to him. and
said he was sorry and would never have
icSorted to such measures. The Consul
| tod him, according to Metz. that he was
1htormed OF the Comlnodore's move
ments ana the character Of her cargo.
ana mad notified the Spanish authorities
who had made all arrangements to can
| ture the tilfbuster. The sinking Of the
snip by treachery was unnecessary and
captain Metz says the Consul dcplored
IT.. ~ e'
However that may he, the adventurous
captain, having been brought back TO
Jacksonville. purchased a schooner.
which he named the Allah, and in This
ne made one trip to Cuba, CARRYING
| thirteen men over for The patriot army
| landing them south OF Neuvitas.
Then he brought the schooner to Char
lesion, 5. c.. and sold it. Here he. met
{. =. Montgomery, who was on tile
Commodore and who wrote I'D the dis
aster for Il New York paper. The two
| Elen Immediately recognized each other
and Charleston paper, from which THE
Captain had a clipping devoted some
three quarters of q column to tellin.
about 1T, and incidentally describing file
adventures of Montgomery and Metz.
ANOTHER EXPEDITION.
The latter left Charleston in com
pany with five other men, four of whom
went on to Philadelphia yesterday morn.
ing. Metz and Starlloff remaining over
| until the afternoon.
According to the Captain the pa,t,-
Was summoned to Philadelphia to shin
upon another tilibustering expedition.
lie says It IS the most important one VET
planned In this country and is very