The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-29
STORIES OF FRENCH ExILES
AND PRETENDERS IN AMERICA
THE LOST DAUPHIN AND THE CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS OF
HIS CLAIMS TO THE THRONE.
Rev Williams Missionary Who Said Would Not Abdea-
Visit Of In. Duke Of Orleans % the United States

|, Louis XVII. which has already made
great progress. cannot fail to continue 10
do So"
The correspondent adds that 1.-THE new
bearer of the princely title will do nothing
to carry on the tradition, but he expects
to be made rich by the success OF his
wine shop, and he thinks less OF the
throne of his fathers than of his little
bills on quarter day. He is wise man
and also an honest tradesman."
The American story.
The American story which makes Rev.
Eleazar williams a missionary agent ana
preacher, who at one time was settled at
Green Bay Wis, the same Individual as
Louis XVII is far more probable tnan
the French or Holland story OF Naundorn
in connection with the mysterious affair.
Holland Is too near France to have been
chosen as a safe retreat for the dauphin.
whereas America besides being at a
great distance. was still regarded by
Frenchmen as affording the best possible
home for their banished or escaped coun-
trymen For 100 years the French govern
ment had been sending over Frenchmen
Of high and low degree to help In holding
this country fast to the crown. Even aft
err England acquired Canada and had
wrested the great West from the French
and Indians and peace was restored, num-
bers of French looked iNon this country
as likely to some day become theirs again.
They. at the time OF the shutting up OF
dauphin in the temple, had confidential
agents In every part of this country.
What more natural than that II he was
to be spirited away to any foreign land
1t should be America?
It Is one OF the forgotten facts in the
life OF Louis xvi that just as the revolu-
tion was breaking out. his advisers direct
ed his attention TO the United States, to
which, in case he was forced to leave
France. he should fly. Partisans OF his
in this country had actually secured for
him retreat on the banks Of the Susque-
hanna. which would receive him promptly
upon his arrival. 1t was bis intention to
avail himself of these means Of succor and
safety. but when the time came he was
overruled b. Marie Antoinette. who wish
ed to go to Germany and hence the flight
to Varonne Had he fed a little earlier
and to America, as he was advised and
himself wanted to do, ne would have
saved his head II not ultimately his crown.
Rev. Eleasar Williams.
Eleasar Williams was tho American
claimant to the dauphinship. and It must
be admitted that pretty consistent tale
WAS woven out of alleged facts by some
who espoused his cause Reserving the
facts Of his actual parentage. to be given
later out Of the pages Of Parkman. let It
be said now that In 1900 he was at q school
at Long Meadow. Mass. and that In 1909
he was in the family Of Rev. Enoch Hale,
In Northampton, Mass, and studying for
the ministry. At the beginning of the war
OF 1912 with Great Britain he became su-
perintendent general of the Northern In
dian department. At the battle of Piatts-
burg. September IA. 1874. he was severely
wounded. He subsequently ofYiciated as Jay
IN nd on nd
took orders in the Episcopal church. In
lsD this tribe sold lands to the state of
New York and removed to Green Bay,
Wis, and Mr.. williams accompanied
them. In ls46 the society for propagating
the gospel among the Indians gave money
for his support A. a missionary for a
time He left Wisconsin In 1850 ana set
tied at st. Regis, N. Y. In February. 1858,
writer In a local newspaper mentioned
Williams as being probably the dauphin,
and this mention falling under the eye of
Rev. John II. Hanson. he interviewed
Williams. and got from him a statement
that he was In his own belief. none other
than Louis XVII. the son of Louis XVI.
and Marie Antoinette. and was born at
Versailles March q. 17s5. and supposed to
have died in the temple. DIR. Hanson wrote
an account OF the interview. which, un-
der the title, Have We a Bourbon Among
us?' was printed I'm Putnam's Magazine.
Williams said that until he was 10 or IA
years of age his mind was blank. but
by fall he recovered his Intellect. though
not his memory. He then said that In
1sn. on n steamboat, the Prince de Join
Vile urged him to sign a solemn abdica-
ton of the throne of France, which he
refused to do. DIR. Hanson was convinced
of the truth OF Williams statements. and
wrote book entitled The Lost Prince"
in which he sought TO prove the identity
OF Williams with Louis XVII. HanSon's
arguments may be briefly summarized. His
baptism was not registered. his putative
mother had admitted that he was an adopt
ed son; many physicians attested that he
was not an Indian. he had remarkable
resemblance 20 the Bourbon family. an
Indian had made oath that he was brought
by two French gentlemen to Lake George
and that there were evidences OF money
being sent from AN unknown source to ed
uoate him. Whereupon the belief became
general that thu Gauphin was removed
from prison and brought to America. and
that Williams was indeed the lost prince.
On the contrary, many Indians denied
the story that he was brought 90 Lake
George by two French gentlemen. and
the Prince de Jotnyillc denied the alleged
interview with Williams in a letter 20
| John jay, OF New York. These deniais
wrought a change In the public mind.
| and caused him TO BE- rega rded az a lying
| pre,ender. and he was near being forgot
| ten when. on August -. ISIS he diea--an
| event which caused his story 10 be rcviv-
| cd. In the knickerhocker Magazine Cor
/ November, lNS. was printed long article
| entitled The Bourbon Who Never Reign,
| ed." IN which the whole ground was gone
| ever In a manner calculated TO convince
! many that Williams was Ia fact Loui.
| XVII And e Is within bounds 20 say
| tina, TO this day many people are Of that
| oI4nion stih.
The article 10 tNr knickerhocksr begins
| With a notice % Williams death He died
| NJ Hoganshvrg. 81. Lawrence county. n
| Y. August y. In the 10Th year OF his
$50. lie had been toy some time Anlioted
vita dropsy. which superAadca 10 the 10.
| eiisty az age, accelerated the event His
| end was peaceful
Traced 60 This Country.
The French beginnings OF this interest
ing story are much the same as those o.
the Naundorr tale. The boy prince va,
in prison. He was taken surreptitiousiy