The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1901-09-18
SAVING A KINGS RICHES.

SAVING A KINGS RICHES.
+ One of the hitherto untold
romances of German history is
| that of how the immense fortune
of the king of Hanover was saved
| from the Prussians when the latter
| declared war on the little kingdom
| in 1866. This fortune, which consist
ed of about $l5 900. 900 in cash and Sc
| curities. gold and silver plate, and
magnificent jewels, was eagerly sought
for by the Prussians, and their fail
ure to get it was a cause of the keen
est disappointment.
The history of how the vast fortune
was saved by the duke of Cumberland
has just been related by Herr Won Has
sci. The dukes father, George V. of
Hanover, had narrow escape from
finding himself both kingdomless and
penniless. The state treasures of
Hanover were only placed in safety
few hours before Prussia declared
war on the excellent blind king. The
person who saved the financial part
was Herr klenck, chief secretary of
the exchequer. he had to remove
$4,000 in silver thalers, 1922 800 in
gold crowns. $27O,00O in English bank
notes. $1SO.000 in Prussian thalers
81 ,25O. 900 in Hanover bank notes. and
| $95, 0Ov,Oyo worth of English. Dutch,
French, and other government bonds.
The gold crowns were pasked in 70
wine tubs, the ponds in 10 chests,
| the Hanover bank notes IN bales and
the thalers in crates lined with tin.
This variety in the packing was to
prevent notice being taken at the rail
way or the port OF embarkation, where
Prussian agents were reported as on
the lookout. these berrels and bales
were taken by an ordinary goods train
to an outlying station and then rapidH
shifted to a special train that was to
go at full speed to Geestemunde
1t started at 11:3 p. m. on June Is.
1866. But they had forgotten to or
der station masters to keep the line
lighted, ana the engine men had to
creep along in momentary tear of an
accident. The train was late for the
steamer that was to take the treasure
to England The risk of taking it on
board Lloyds steamer, the Bremen,
had to be run on the night of June H.
klenck grew gray in the two days OF
suspense. Prussian men-of-war We're
hanging about near the mouth of the
Elhe. The Bremen entered South
ampton on June 10, and did not sight
a single Prussian vessel on the way.
Somehow the tidings that the Bre-
men had on board all the gold and
silver of the king of Hanover had got
out there before the vessel arrived.
Doubtless it was telegraphed from
Geestemunde Plots We're already
made to rob it. The king of Hanover's
, agent lost no time to defeat them by
| l.: ,:.,l 1s>,, Fl,
the precious cargo 1t arrived there
before closing time at the Bank of
England All was transported to the
cellars there by 4:l5. A telegram in
one word, Safe appraised the king
of Hanover that he was. at any rate
: saved from beggary. The silver coins
y advance being made for exchange
E were valued at $529.SO5 and lodged in
klenck's name. The Prussian thalers
were transferred to west end
branch where he had an account, and
20 his credit. The Duke of Cambridge
was asked to take charge of the gold
= crowns and debentures, but refused
!. after he hal taken the advice of coun
,, sci. 1t was finally decided to leave
" them whore they were, at the Bank OF
England.
n |
the pate OF the crown of Hanover
" before war was declared. This plate
Il was of priceless value. apart from its
n intrinsic worth as silver. The Crane
Chamberlain. Malortie. caused a hoi.
II to be made, like an English coal hole
# under the steps to the grand entranc,
n of the palace. 1t was scooped out b,
! worKmen placed in the cellar. A wal
8 under the door was broken down
o When the hole was large enough tn,
n pate was packed in it in sand. ant
o the wall rebuilt.
lie This .dea of the sand was ingenious
st When the Prussians. some days later
d beat with hammers the wall that mask
g ed the hiding place i, gave out no hol
y low sound. This part of the King o
n Hanover's fortune remained bidder
until December. 1897, when the pres
ent German Emperor determined t,
+, act on the treaty of Langensalza
1t which secured to George V. the roya
L treasure. Not single article wa
Y missing What is most remarkable i
W that, though many persons who live,
T. on their days wages We're in the Sc
i. cret, they never breathed a word o
what they knew. The late King Georg
V was the beloved of his Hanoverians
lp A man who scrubbed floors wa
~ sent by Malortie with the crow
O. jewels in a cab to the queen of Hanoy
he err She was then staying at Harren
he hansen. The man was given no list
,e HE perfectly well knew what was in
IL trus,ei to him. and that the Prussian
at We're close to Hanover. The gran,
O. chamberlain had hidden the crow
IN jewelry and private money safes il
til. palace. He rightly judged that i