San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-09-16
WHEN POSITION FAILS.
By CLINTON ROSS.

In 1875 our representatives declared
in the enthusiasm of the moment thu
paradox. "all men born free anC
equal. Twas neat enough Statement
for paper, but some in America believed
it not. Was there an equal for Genera
Washington? Did we not cringe BIZ
to rank when a French marquis-albeit
tall, red haired boy-came among us
A title caught even then many good
appointment, and doubt much some
times if Alexander of New Jersey would
have been so much esteemed if he had
not had claim to the Scottish earldom
of Stirling. am sure many inefficient
foreign adventures had service with
us because they had titles. Two of these
gentlemen proved conclusively great
natural abilities-one, of course, M.
Lafayette, who, a boy of 90. came SO
cleverly out of the affair of Barren
Hill, and the other, Casimir Pulaski,
the Pole, whom saw fall with a wound
in the thigh during the charge on Sa-
vannah. Taken on the brig Wasp, he
died as she was putting to sea, esteemed
a good friend, gallant captain.
1t was only the night before that he
told me the truth of that affair at War
saw which led to his service in America.
He was not, the Count Pulaski assured
me, himself partner in this matter,
although he was indeed member of
that confederation of boyars sworn to
fight for Polish freedom to the very
end. But circumstantial evidence led
to his Punishment, as it had to that of
so many others Despairing of Poland
and eager for a career, he came to
America.
Yet, although my friend was not
himself in this affair, the story he told
of it appears to me new. The picture
of the king and his assassin walking
side by side reasoning together of the
rainy night in the wood of Bilany has
had more than passing effect. The story
proves that our revolt against king
was not the first. All, history is full of
these instapces-King John, Charles
Stuart, Stanislaus of Poland, Louis
XVI, George iii, by proxy in America,
and many another account!
Now, this is the account of the affair,
as l remember it, that began in the
street of the Capuchins, Warsaw:
The king had been to his summer
palace that day of Sept. 8, I77l, and his
coach was returning along the street of
the Capuchins; how it was 8 O'Clock
of a rainy night as the leader of the
king S guard of some II dragons was
when suddenly a man leaped
before his horse with the loud COM
mand, "Haltp' The lieutenant strug-
gled to bring his saber down on the fell
lows head. His horse careeued, stop
ping indeed the whole company and the
coach, whence the kings head suddenly
projected.
At the moment shot from q window
Of supposedly deserted house grazed
the kings face, instantly killing the
servant who was with him in the coach
1.-The king is assassinated!" The cry
was raised from guards aud passers.
" His majesty is deadl"
Stanislaus, who ever was considerable
Of his interiors, shouted at this:
ut is Felix, the heyduc, who is shotl
Quick, catch the assassin"
Suddenly down the street came the
sounds of horses and cries
Down with Stanislaus, the creature
Of the Russians!"
At the same instant men rushed out
Of the house whence the shot into the
coach had come, swearing, shouting
and firing. One of the kings guards
cried:
"a plot! An ambush! There are
q thousandr
Instantly the panic became general.
The lieutenant of the guards, who had
in running through the fellow
at his bride rein, now found himself
confronted by the horsemen. Turning,
he led the flight, and the king was left
almost alone in his coach hugging the
dead body of his poor servant and OBJ
livious to everything else. The horses
Of the coach, rearing and plunging, re-
quired all the attention of the postil-
ions, who themselves were frightened
out of whatever wit they may have had.
By this time the leader of the attack
ing horsemen was dismounted by the
coach door
"Out, Stanislausp' he cried. You
are to come with me-.
The king, perceiving this to be Count
Kolinski, cried out to him:
'Kolinski, traitor, l am your kingH
For an instant Kolinski hesitated.
The sight of the king, placed as he was
with the dead servant in his arms, and
yet still the king, with that dignity
always possessed-thats scene,
oboxuy l,,,,l,, r. A. lo,.o.,. -