The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-09-02
Louise of SaXt-COburg FIsts
 to Swiss Frontier
HAS BEEN STATE PRISONER
Disappearance Was DexterousIy Man. aged, as the Princess Has Been Under Very Close Surveillance.
 Went in an Automobile.

Badelster, saxony September L. Princess Louise of saxe-Coburg. 1t now appears, escaped alone from her hotel at o'clock Tuesday morning. She was joined under the trees in the hotel gar den by two women and man. They entered a two-horse carriage which was waiting outside, and were driven swiftly away in the direction of Munich A man named W. Gratz who was stepping at the hotel. has not appeared since Monday night. It is supposed he pro- vided the means for the flight of the princess, and that he was an agent for Lieutenant Count Matassch-Leglevitch. with whom she eloped in 1897.
 The princess, closely attended by her physician and a lady of the court, went to the theater Monday evening She was animated and seemingly enjoyed the music. as she has enjoyed everything during the three weeks she had been per- mitted to leave the seclusion of the sani- tarium prison at Coswig where really she was prisoner of state. She had been provided with attractive costumes for this appearance Into the world. and she was allowed once more to wear the splendid jewels which were part of her dowery when she married Prince Philip of Saxe-Coburg.
 Said Goodnight Cheerfully.
 After the theater the princess and her little party had supper In one of her rooms She said goodnight at 11:30. and her guardians were not aware of her de- parture until o'clock in the morning, by which time she probably was far toward the Swiss frontier.
 ,Gratz first had room on the third floor of the hotel but Monday he moved to one the ground floor, with a pri- yate entrance into the garden It is pre- stunned the princess used this exit, and it is certain that Frau Schubert of DreS- den engaged the carriage at a local liv- cry stable Neither the driver nor equippage have returned.
 Gets Into Automobile.
 Beyond the outskirts of the town some of the occupants of the carriage were transferred to an automobile and the carriage continued it's rapid flight, prob- ably to confuse possible pursuers It IS deemed likely that the princess was one of those taken into the automobile. The chauffeur drove the machine through several roads leading in different diiec- tions from the town. doubtless with the purpose to further create doubt as to which road the princess really took. An automobile similar to that which left Badeister was traced to Hof, forty miles away. Whether the princess took the tramway there for Munich, or proceeded in an automobile, Is undetermined.
 Photographic reports reaching here to the effect that she had been seen at Asch, Bohemia, and that rooms had been en- gagged for her in Paris, are considered improbable.
 The disappearance of the princess was most dexterousy managed, as she was under sharp surveillance day and night, both by an especially trustworthy court lady, with three servants, and by the manager of the Royal Baths who had been made responsible for her safekeep- Ing.
 A watchman who was In the corridor or the hotel at the time the princess es- capped saw nothing of her.
 chambermad Carried Notes.
 A chambermaid who had access to the princess' apartments carried notes regu- Iarly to the princess and another per- son. It was in this correspondence, doubtless that the plans for the escape were conveyed The princess was to have been taken back to the sanltarium in day or two, visit from her sister. the countess Lonyaya, had been promised for September I.
 The pursuit is not likely to be Teen. as 1t is very well understood that the husband of the princess Is rather pleased than otherwise at her escape, because h., thinks she has been sufficiently pun ished
 The sympathies of the Belgian court have been with her for the same reason, it being thought that she has been harsh ba urn Lieutenant Matassich-K eglcvitch in the garden of the Dresden Art exhibition two weeks ago, where she was taken under the escort of Manager Pierson of the santarium. The latter had turned away a few minutes before to look at piece of sculpture As as he saw the princess talking to a strange man Pier son hastened toward them.
 Begged to Speak With Him.
 She told him that the man was Lieuten- ant Matasslch- Kegelvltch and begged to be allowed to speak to him. Pierson re- piled that she knew that to be Impossible. and that he must insist that she go with him immediately. The princess be- gan 10 cry and asked to be allowed to talk with the lieutenant for few min utes.
 She became so distressed that Pierson turned to Matassich- -Kegelvitch and re- quested him to give his word of honor hat he would not attempt to persuade the princess to leave those who were taking care of her. The lieutenant prom sed, Pierson withdrew out of hearing and the two long separated, talked to- gether for several minutes until Pierson told them that the interview must end.
 No Trace of Princess.
 Dresden, September Up to the pres- ent not the slightest trace has been/ found of the refuge sought by Princsess Louise and fl would seem that the ad- venture had been brought to a success iul conclusion. The police learn that the princess and her companion were firsr driven to Brambach, on the Bohemian and then the coachman was/ ] ordered to proceed to Hof. where they 7 lrrived early on Wednesday. That the princess and her escorts took train for Munich has been established. but noth- ng further Is known.
 Prince Philip of Saxe- Coberg, husband lf the princess, Is not concerned with the