The Savannah morning news., 1903-11-09
THE EMPEROR OF THE SAHARA.
The Dream of jacques Lebaudy and
How He Wishes to Found His
Kingdom.

life while serving as a cOnScript with
the French army, self-styled emperor
of the Sahara" takes himself seriously.
No one else does. The new emperor in
herited, with his brother Robert, more
than 100000 sterling from his father,
and with this money he has enjoyed to
the full every pleasure that Paris and
Europe can provide, and now he has
turned his attention to founding an en-
pire amidst the wastes of the Sahara.
His life has been one long revel of &C.
centricities. He is probably one of the
most unhappy men in Europe, for his
millions are Il burden to him, and he
spends his life in trying to get rid of
them in the most extraordinary man.
ner. 1t is only a short time ago that
he chartered his yacht. the Frasquita,
and sailed away with her to Las Pal
mas. He enlisted in France before
starting, crew of some fifteen men,
whom he promised large wages, and, in
addition, land for themselves and their
families, in his new domains. After
leaving Las Palmas he made straight
for Cape JUDY, on the northwest coast
of Africa, where he Immediately landed
his men and proclaimed himself empe-
ror of the Sahara.
The district where he landed is one
His imperial majesty's men were arm
cd with old revolvers and antiquated
guns, which would be even refused by
a Macedonian insurgent. He and his
little band of loyal subjects had not
been long in the new kingdom before
they were surrounded by a number of
Moors, who demanded by what right
his majesty had taken up his position
there. Jacques 1 put on a look of pain
lee OF
people, and Immediately commanded his
subjects to PROSTATE themselves before
him. a French sailor at the best of
times Is a prosaic enough looking per-
sohage, but when prostrating himself
before such an Apollo as the emperor
OF the Sahara he looks the part Of the
clown in pantomime. This alteration
and prostration of the sailors were i'm
ltated by several Moors. but the rest
ourst into laughter much to the indig-
nation of his majesty. His majesty
then, seeing how things were going,
threw away some of his dignity. and.
knowing that in all parts of the world
money VIII buy respect, he immediate
~ tossed broadcast franc pieces to his
lnqulsitlVe visitors. This for the time
pelng had the desired result, as the
Moors, with the francs in their pockets.
graciously bowed to his majesty and
looked for more gifts from the imperial
chest. However. his majesty was the
nrst to get tired. and returned to his
yacht without making much impress
sion. w.
Incidentally his majesty left five of
MS sailors on the shore. These were
captured by the Moors, and it was only
some days ago that they were rescued
oy q French man-of-war, which bonn
oarded the Moors' encampment at the
expense OF the French government not
az the expense of Jacques l." The
Emperor is now in Switzerland; and
on MS way back from his new domains
10 Europe he Travelled by the steam
snip Woermann. He became gracious
~ friendly with the captain of this
vessel, and asked the skipper if he
would enter into his imperial service
under the title of high admiral of the
Saharan fleets" No doubt his majes-
ty was thinking of the time when part
OF the Sahara was under water when
he made this proposition to the sailor.
The sailor however, seemed to think
that his position as captain of a liner
was more profitable than that of high
admiral of phantom fleet.
The country which he has annexed is
sparsely populated, considering it's
enormous area. The inhabitants of the
Sahara are about 100000 souls, and
consist of Moors, Tuareg, Tibbu, ne
groes, Arabs and Jews. His majesty
thinks that this population needs the
leaven of Europeans, so he has invit-
ed 500 Breton and Corsican families
to his kingdom. These people will be
provided with portable houses, which
his majesty will probably buy in Eng
land. They will proceed on Nov. Is to
the new capital. Troja, which the i'm
perial interloper has decided shall be
the name of his metropolis. Natural
ly, the spiritual we'll being of his sub
jects appeals to the Emperor, and, in
consequence, he has engaged twenty
four priests and twenty nuns to pro-
coed to Troja, where they will edu-
cate the children and urge on the
parents to deeds of virtue and piety.
A gorgeous cathedral will be raised in
the metropolis, and four missionaries
will have charge of this noble edif1ce.
The missionaries in time will cease to
be simple missionaries, and blossom
forth as bishops and archbishops.
Quite in a casual way his majesty pro-
poses to ask his fellow-crowned head,
the Pope, to confer the red hat upon
the senior priest of the new cathedral.
But this will not happen just at pres
ent; all will follow in good time.
Always believing in the picturesque,
Jacques will have a picturesque army.
He has been in Switzerland, recruiting
at Geneva and Montreux young men
for his imperial forces. Their uniform
will consist of a species of tunic, sim
liar to what the Swiss guard will wear
at the Vatican. His troops will be
recruited from eX-non-commission
officers from various European armies.
The Emperor offers his officers good
pay, rapid promotion and many decor
ations. His majesty, although he has
not as yet ordered crown, has had
designs submitted to him. So far they
have not met with his august pleas
ure but he has given Instructions to
Partisan jeweler to make various
crowns, one of which he will eventual
ly place upon his imperial head. The
Emperor has determined to develop the
Sahara, and among other of his enter
prises is a railway which he proposes
to build across the desert. Naturally,
he will also have a state train for his
own convenience, which will rival in
splendor any train owned by any Euro
pean monarch. Thus. so far has his
majesty gone with his project of found
ing an empire. How his enterprise
will end no one can say, not even his
imperial majesty.
The flag of the new empire is Of
white silk, decorated with attributes
which symbolic imperial majesty. The
ground Of the shield is Of purple, dec
grated with three bees. Above is the
crown, studded with pearls. and the
whole is surmounted by a cross. The
shield is surrounded by a kind of gold
collar, from which a medal is suspend
ed. On this medal is engraved an i'm
age symbolizng the work of the, new
Emperor. The center Of the flag is
liharallv rrovided with gold bees On