The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-09

TIFF reports from Berlin are to be be-
| Heyed the demolition OF an old house
In that city has brought 10 light evil
deuce which settles one OF the dis
IL pufed points Of history. With the
raking over Of the ruins Of this old
house a scandal OF the eighteenth century
VAS unear;hed in which the German en-
perors collateral ancestress. the beautiful
Princess Amelia. sister of Frederick the
Great. played one of the principal parts.
As il we'll known, the Baron Won der
Trenck. one OF the brilliant men OF his time.
suffered long and cruel imprisonment by
Frederick, and when released went TO
France. where he was gu.liotined by the
revoiutionists on the charge Of being an
emissary Of foreign governments. There
has always been q persistent rumor running
through history that the real cause of the
imprisonment OF Trenck was the relation
he bore to the great Freder.ck's sister.
Carlyle in his history OF Frederick. says
that there was no basis for this story
whatever; that Trenck was "a loud-spoken
oraggart OF the histrionc-heroic sort. Wild
ly rash and not without mendac.ty. who
endeavorec to associate Amelia with his
own transcendent and not undeserved bad
luck" and that he limited the princess
into "a sad fame"
In the days OF his prosperity Trenck built
himself a home half fortress and half
\
he lived for awhile and there his sister
Annette lived for ten years after the add
venturous baron had been sent 10 the
fortress OF Glatx. The house subsequently
became the property OF the historian Won
Raumer, who dice in 1873. leaving II to
the province Of Brandenburg. with the pro-
viso that his only sister should have the
use Of ii for her 1.fe. This sister died a
few weeks ago. and the other day the
kaiser gave orders for the demolition OF
the house. 1t is sad the emperor suspect
ed that In tearing down the house some
evidence bearing on the old story OF
Trenck and the Princess Amelia would be
found, so. according TO the story. the
house was inciosed. back and front. by a
high fence. and twelve policemen mounted
guard about the premises while q dozen
more. belonging TO the political branch
and dressed In plain clothes. mixed with
the workmen, some handling pickaxes and
hammers. others acting as overseers. The
kaiser was kept informed Of the progress
of the work by occasional telephone mes
sages and minute written reports, sent In
nightly By the officer In charge.
Chastity Find.
For the first eight or ten days the reports
received by the emperor were of no inter-
est. but the other cay the telephone bell
In Williams private study rang and mes
sage came from the chief imperial agent
at the dismantled house saying that
mans skeleton with a broken skull had
been found In a secret closet concealed in
the wall in the third story of the Trenck
house.
Adjt. Gel. Won Schoil received the
message and repeated It TO William. who
at once jumped up. and. brushing away
Schol:. spoke his peremptory "ich befehle'
into the instrument.
When Itch befehie" Il command) strikes
upon the ear OF central" the busy
office petrihes with humble Difference
"Schluss' (Goodby) instantly is given to
all customers In the district, no matter
what the urgency OF Their business may
be, and every telephone girl and man steps
away from the apparatus fifteen PAGES lest