The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-30

calling aloud for the royal nurs-
ing bottle, the rishtful future
King OF Poland lies In his cradle
IN a cottage in the West Adams street
district In Los Angeles-serenely un-
conscious of the fact that a battle of
documents and family trees is raging
over his crown and estates.
Little does he care that a rude Chi
cago editor has denied the claim that
he is the direct descendant OF Thad-
deus OF Warsaw and heir to a vast
confscated estate-not to mention the
shattered Polish throne.
His fond father is L. s. Giihausen. a
clerk in the First National Bank His
grandfather is Colonel John Sobieskl,
the weii-known temperance lecturer
the last of the iliustrious line of John
III. who rescued Europe from the
Turks
From a life Of quiet retirement, this
grandfather and grandchild have burst
suddenly into national fame.
One day last week a Polish editor
named Siemiradski came into print in
the Chicago Record Herald denouncing
practically that He denies Colonel
Sobieski's claim to direct descent by
the eidest-son- Of the-eldest-son route
from King John III. the adored ma
tional hero of Poland-again not to
mention the throne and the great es-
tates.
This editor with a name like a sneeze
claims that the last genuineN Sobieski
died over a century and a half ago. He
calls upon Sobieski OF Los Angeles to
bring forward his proofs OF descent
He suggests that his documents and
proofs be submitted to the Imperial
Academy OF Science at Cracow.
He may be somewhat chagrined to
learn that the paper containing his
defy has come into the hands of Col
onel Sobieski, who has promptly ac-
copied the challenge. He has written
20 the Chicago Record Herald and to
Editor Siemiradsh that he will be
pleased TO leave the question to the in
stitution of learning named in the defy
IL it can be shown that it is a univer-
sity OF national Importance and stand
ing IN Poland. Colonel Sobieski con-
fesses that he has never heard Of IT.
1T IS only for my honor that 1 am
preparing these documents" said Col
onel Sobieski 10 the writer.
He Wants No Throne
IL i
there were one and IL were offered to
me. I give you my word should re-
fuse It."
The eyes of the old nobleman flashed
as he added:
Rather would ] go to the cradle
and strangle that little baby as be
lies there than ever allow him to
ascend any throne. Yes, my memories
of monarchy are as bitter as that"
HIS memories OF monarchy cannot,
indeed, be very happy. This gentle
old nobleman who lives so quietly in
Los Angeles saw his father led away
TO be slaughtered by Russian soldiers
after long confinement in a prison so
vile a dog could not have lived in It;
saw his mother driven away from
home almost a pauper; saw her driven
like an outcast from country TO coun-
try until she died an unhappy exile.
No wonder his eyes fash.
The intricate question of his right
20 that noble ancestry will be consid-
cred below. The mans own life is so
interesting, SO thrilling and romantic
that IL rightly takes precedence over
family trees.
Even his nearest neighbors in the
pleasant nefghborhood OF West Adams
street little dream that this sunny old
gentleman has lived the wild life Of
q soldier OF fortune.
He commanded the reserve firing
party that executed the iii-fated En-
psror Macmillan in Mexico. II was his
revolver that sent shot crashing into
the ear OF the Emperor after he had
fallen wounded at the first unskilled
volley.
He was an eyewitness to the famous
battle Of the Monitor and Merrimac;
led a distinguished and sensational
career in the regular army; took part
IN the famous expedition against the
Normors: was under IRE as times
during the Civil War-our own Civil
War. not Poiand's. Lastly. he became
q soldier OF fortune IN Mexico-in the
Mexican war for independence.
II was there that fate chose him as
one OF the firing party, where he wiped
out an old score against an Emperor,
avengfng the cruelty OF his mothers
banfshment.
Follows the briefest possible glance
at his remarkable life:
He was born In 16<1 in Warsaw, be-
ing the sixth IN line Of descent from
tha great warTiqf monarch OF Poland,