The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-21

railway VI pOIl Ol
where Purssian agents We're reported
as on the lookout.
These barrels and bales were taken
by an ordinary goods train to an out
lying station and then rapidly shifted
to a special train that was to go at
full speed to Geestemunde. 1t started
at 1870 p. m. on June Is, 1866. But
they had forgotten to order station
masters to keep the line lighted, and
the engine men had to creep along in
momentary fear 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
Lloyd's steamer, the Bremen, had TO be
run on the night of June II. Klenck
grew gray in the two days of sus-
pense. Prussian men-of-war were
hanging about near the mouth of the
Elbe. The Bremen entered Southamp-
ton 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 sill
yer of the King of Hanover had got
out there before the vessel arrived.
Doubtless it was telegraphed from
Geestemunde. Plots were already made
to rob it. The King of Hanover's agent
lost no time to defeat them by hiring
a special train to London for the pre-
cious cargo. 1t arrived there before
closing time at the Bank of England.All
was transported to the cellars there by
quarter past 4. A telegram in one word,
Safe" appraised the King of Hanover
that he was at any rate saved from
beggary. The silver coins. allowance
being made for exchange, were valued
at G105, sos and lodged in klenck's
name. The Prussian thalers were trans
ferred to West End branch where ne
had an account. and to his credit. The
Duke of Cambridge was asked to take
charge of the gold crowns and deben
lures, but refused after he had taken
the advice of counsel. 1t was finally
decided to leave them where they were,
at the Bank of England.
1t had been impossible to send away
the plate of the Crown of Hanover
before war was declared. This plate
was of priceless value, apart from it's
intrinsic worth as silver. The Grand
Chamberlain, Malortie, caused hole
to be made, like an English coal hole,
under the steps to the grand entrance
of the palace. 1t was scooped out by
wcrkmen placed in the cellar. A wall
under the floor was broken down. When
the hole was large enough the plate
was packed in it in sand and the wall
rebuilt. The idea of the sand was in
| genious.
When the Prussians some days af-
ter, beat with hammers the wall that
masked the hiding place it gave out no
| hollow sound. This part of the King of
HanoVer's fortune remained hidden I'M
III December, 1897, when the present
German Emperor determined to act on
| the Treaty of Langensalza, which Sc
cured 20 George V. the royal treasure.
Not single article was missing. What
is most remarkable is that, though
| many persons who lived on their days
| wages were in the secret, they never
b1eathed word of what they knew.
The late King George V was the be-
loved of his Hanoverians.
A man who scrubbed floors was sent
by Malortie with the Crown jewels in
a cab to the Queen of Hanover. She
was then staying at Herrenhausen. The
man was given no list. He perfectly
well knew what was entrusted to him
and that the Prussians were close tC
| Hanover. The Grand Chamberlain had
hidden the Crown jewelry and private
| money safes in the palace. He rightly
| judged that if he sent them with ar
office man merely nobody would sus-
pect they were not trunks filled with
clothes of the Queen and Princesses
There was a great quantity of paper
money in a travelling bag, into which
Malortie thrust some satin shoes wheI
he felt that the eyes of a servant whom
he suspected were watching him.
Count and Countess Kielmannsegg,
agreed to receive the Jewels at theil
| residence at Blumenau and send then
thence for safe keeping to the Duke Of
Cambridge, who is a Hanoverian II
blood, birth Che ives born at Herren.
| hausen) and breeding. When it was
becoming unsafe to keep them the
Count and Countess started off in 6
dogcart for the port where they were
| to embark. She had eight rivieres Of
| diamonds, each one fastened to an
| other until they all formed one string
twisted round her body, and a diaden
stitched into her hat Her sleeves
covered bracelets that were stitched or
to arm. A crown was hidden in a bis
ball of wool for knitting. Diamond
shoe buckles were concealed in the
Counts leggings, and his glazeC
leather hat held a tiara. The diamond
studded scepter and three crowns were
confided to the Princess Louisa o.
| Hesse, sister of the Duchess of Cam
bridge. She was able some time after
| to send them on to London.
The greater part of this jewelry ha6
been the object of long litigation be
| tween the crowns of Hanover and
Great Britain. 1t was finally left t.
arbitration, the arbitrator being Han
overian and English jurists. They de
cided in favor of Hanover. The sui
lasted nine years.