The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-30

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
San Francisco. Aug. 29.-Apparently gaz-
ing out over the bouniless water of the
Pacific with his CLASSY eyes riveted, as If on
some vision Of his better and happier days.
his body peacefully reclining on the dreary
soping sand trunes that flank the Ocean
boulevard. the lifeless body of Count Van
Asperen Van der Velde, formerly an officer
in the Dutch Army. was found at early
dawn by j. Leigh Rowley.
. Pressed close to his heart was the photos
graph Of lovely woman inc!osed about
in a copy of Adelaide Proctor's beautiful,
poem, beginning:
Without one bitter feeling let US part
And for the years in which your love has shed
A radiance like a glory round my head
I thank you-yes. thank you from my heart.
Broken in spirit, discouraged, friendless,
without hope and without means for daily
sustenance. this young scion of a family
of noble lineage, an ex-Lieutenant in Hol-
lands navy, an associate of princes of the
realm. well versed in science and literature.
a fluent linguist, and. until recently blessed
with ample wealth. he betook himself to
this lonely spot and there laid himself
Gown to enjoy that everlasting sleep which
he hoped might bring to him rest and peace
out VI his WTetCneQ eNiSleLCe.
From exalted position. affluence. home
wife and friends to the plane of a social
outcast was the step of but few short
years.
Reared In the home Of luxury. the son
of one of the first families of Holland,
he enjoyed every advantage that educa-
ton. travel and social environment could
give.
WAS LIEUTENANT IN NAVY.
He became a Lieutenant in the Dutch
Navy, but on the death Of his father. who
left him a large estate. he resigned his
commission to look after his business in
terests. His travels were extensive.
He enjoyed the acquaintance of many of
the leading European notables, among them
Prince Henry Of Prussia.
He married quite early in life, and sew
eral years ago his wife, who now resides
ia Holland. obtained a divorce from him.
She Is reputed to be beautiful woman
more than 100000
Five years ago he came to America, in
vested in plantations in Alabama and with
left BY his father. whose name the son bore
Impoverished and helpless. Van der Ve.ds
drifted about the country. finally landing
in California about two years ago BY ac-
cepting any kind of work that offered itself
he managed to live. a year ago. however,
he found himself out of work and money
anu 10 Keep HIMSELF IEOHl ne SlOlt
a bicycle. hoping that he would be arrested
and sustained with prison fare. His calcu.
lations proved correct, and he was thrown
into prison. but soon after released on hi:
showing that he was starving when he
committed the crime. The story of his
troubles at the time attracted attention.
After this escapade, Van der Velde sought
aid from Abram Binneweg of Oakland, 6
copltryman. Binneweg assisted him for 8
month and tried to get him position.
WAS STARVING TO DEATH.
at, was last December that he stayed
with me-" said Binneweg. He was yer,
weak from hunger, and 1 gave him food
When he began to build up he asserted
himself by joining the Salvation Army
That was enough Tor me, and told hin
to 60. The last time 1 heard from him HI
was acting as a nurse in Doctor Simon.
hospital in San Francisco.
II suspected that Van der Nelde woul'
commit suicide while he was with me. 81
wrote to his mother in Amsterdam fo
money to send him. She replied that sht
had no money to send, as her son had spen
her own and his fortune, and she was de
pendent on her daughter for the necessarie'
OF life. His committing suicide is just wha
Henry Mioulet Of Oakland was Van del