Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-07-20

LOuuOu queen. among Ine mysteries
of lifs may be reckoned the strange
story of Nj. Bathurst's disappearance
in 1909, a story that an interval of
nearly century has not cleared up.
Let us, for the benefit of those who
know very little about it, tell the
leading facts of the narrative in few
words.
Mr.. Bathurst, son of the bishop of
Norwich and kinsman to the Lord
Bathurst of that day, was man who,
though young (he was not 27 when he
vanished out of this worlds knowl-
edge), was one on whom bright hopes
had been formed. He was brilliant,
talented and seemed destined to make
his mark in the world of politics.
Through Lord Bathurst's influence,
who was in Lord Castlereagh's minis
try and secretary of state for foreign
affairs, he was sent to Vienna early in
1909, as envoy extraordinary, on an
important secret mission to the court
of the Emperor Francis. The posi-
ton of Austria was at that time most
critical.
She had preserved strict neutrality
since the peace of Presburgh, but her
relations in regard to France had sud
denly become strained. Napoleon
was profoundly irritated, and Bathurst
believed that the French emperor bore
him especial enmity and considered
his secret mission as an effort to incite
Austria into declaring war with
France.
So strongly had this idea taken pos
session of Bathurst that, when his
mission was accomplished, he was
often heard to say that he believed
his life to be in danger and that Ma
poleon would prevent him ever get
ulng back alive to England.
He hesitated long before turning
his face homeward and finally decided
to make his way to London by Berlin
and the north of Germany. He had
with him his private secretary and his
valet, and to escape observation he
assumed the name of Bach, while, in
the words of the story written soon
after his disappearance, 'he had pis-
tolls about his person and firearms in
the back of the carriage"
1t was the regular oldfashioned
chariot, with four horses and positions,
in which all the upper ten of those
days made their infrequent journeys,
and on November 25. 1909, the cortege
arrived at Perleberg, a quaint little
town on the banks of the Stepuitz, a
into the Elbe at Wittenburg, and on
the direct road from Berlin to Ham
burg.
1t may also be mentioned that Perle-
berg is only few miles distant from
Magdeburg, garrisoned at that time
by French troops.
Close to the post house, where trav-
elers changed horses, was small inn,
the White Swan, and this was close to
the gates and high tower of the once
fortified little place.
Mr.. Bathurst dined at the White
Swan, giving orders that the horses
were not to be put in till he had dined.
1t is curious to read how smart
young man of so years ago dressed
when he crossed Europe in that an
tiquated vehicle, a travelling carriage,
and it certainly gives more reality to
those ghostly figures of the past if
we can picture them in ''the habit in
which they lived"
Mr.. Bathurst wore light gray coat,
heavily braided and frogged, and panta-
looms, as they were then called, of the
same shade; his long fur (sable) coat
was lined throughout with violet vel
vet, and he had cap of the same fur.
In his scarf-one of those bulging vol
luminous scarfs that encircled our
grandfather's necks he had hand
some diamond pin. Hardly was dim
ner over than Bathurst, hearing that
as1uadron of the Bradenburg Cuiras-
siers was quartered at Perleberg, under
the command of a Captain Blitzging,
went to the barracks, asked to see the
commanding officer, and telling him
that he believed his life to be in the
greatest danger, requested guard of
soldiers while he remained In town.
It was noticed that he was profound
ly agitated and that he trembled as he
spoke, and this he explained by say
ing that he had that moment received
news that had greatly alarmed him.
Blitzging laughed at his fears, but
consented to let him have couple of
soldiers during his stay in Perleberg
Mr.. Bathurst returned to the White
Swan, saying that he would not start
till late, as he considered it would be
safer to travel at night. when Napo-
Icons spies would be less likely to be
on the alert. He remained in his
room IN the inn writing letters and
burning papers till o'clock, when the
carriage came around, and he dismissed
the soldiers on guard.
He stood at the door of the White
Swan watching his portmanteau being
replaced at the back of the carriage.
lie stepped round to the horses heads,
and then-then just as if the ground
had opened under his feet and swal-
lowed him up, closing itself upon him
without leaving a trace behind, he
disappeared and was never seen again
It must be borne in mind that the
time was the end of November, that it