New-York tribune., 1907-09-11

lar bone fractured while steeplechasing another
RIB cracked in cab accident In London, one hnser
which a horse broke for him and two hnSers
which he broke another mans face.
Three years ago. although in the neighhorhood
of sixty the t.-ne he rode IN steepechase with
his of the most difficult courses III
England. He holds the Royal Humane Society
medal for saving life from drowning, was bitterly
disappointed when Blondln refused to carry him
his back the falls of Niagara on a tight-
rope, has figured amateur picador in a Span
ish bullfght. for many years the cnarApioh
amateur boxer of England and has even presided
at a triple hanging, which led to the inauguration
of unsuccessful attempt to bring about his ex-
pulsion from tha Army and Navy Club in LONDON
He was High Sheriff of his county, that OF Essex,
at the time. and theoretically the convicted muir
derers under sentence OF death confided to TINS
dignitary. who IS likewise responsible tneore'lcdS
also. for tbei: execution Sir Claude took his re-
sponsibility io the matter very seriously TO hedrI
and on ons occasion. when triple execution oc-
Cured at Colchester, he insisted on being on the
scafold, in order to that there was no hitch
in the proceedings. Fortunately everything went
off WELL for If there had been any hitch Sir
Claude would assuredy have considered 1t his duty
to lend hand
Some years ago he came to financial. grief. but
quickly obtained his discharge from the oankFu
court. and did not allow such little thing as that
to mar his spirits Nor 1t be said to nave
affected in any degree the fortunes of this ancient
family, his son. Captain de Crspigny. VIC
tOria Cross Soldier Will eVentualy De NSAy i4oi
owing to the falling in Of immense number OF
leases In the northern part Of London Lady de
Crispieny is quite tho reverse of her husband
being of a very austere temperament ana re-
nowned for her piety. which Is tempered Dy Ihe
most boundless charity.
The baronetage is OF relatively modern origin.
dating from the reign of George " The family
however. is of old Norman descent. and has been
settled in England ever since the sixteenth CEN
tury. Sir Claude is much liked by the royal
family, especially by the King. and was Win
the latter when Prince as Wales he came
within an ace of being killed during an in
spection OF the fleet at Portland The prince
accompanied by Sir Claude. was on board the
raan-of-war Sultan, and had been watching the
working OF a new gun He had just turned 10
ask some question of Captain Vansittart. when
suddenly the windlass took charge, and the handle
fyfng around with frightful velocity only just
missed the royal head by the fraction of an inch
Had it struck him he would have been killed on
! the spOt.
On another occasion Sir Claude. while still in
The army was taken to task by the old Duke OF
| Cambridge then commander in chief for some
mistake during the course of military manoeuvres.
| The duke whose language always was picturesque
apostrophized Sir Claude damned fool and
afterward. with his characteristic generosity and
kndheartedness withdrew the words oh" replied
| Sir Claude. Il don't mind. sir, your calling me a
| damned fool Only l don't like being called a
| damned fool before all those other damned fools
pointing at the dukes exceedingly decorative ana
| imposing staff The duke was extremely uckled
| and always fond OF telling the story with
| much gusto
| l may add that Sir Claude attracted good deal
! of attention some twelve years by claiming the
honor of kniGhthoOd for his eldest son on the at
tainment of tho latter's majority This former
ly sort Of prerogative OF the eldest son Of bar
| onets sanctioned not by law. but by usage. which
| had. however. been allowed 10 fall into allegiance
during the greater part OF the nineteenth century
| Sir Claude's demand led to the matter being re-
ferred 10 the law officers of the Crown. who de-
! cded that there statute that could compel
/ the Crown knight any upon whom 1t did not
care to confer distinction. and the demand was
rejected accordingly AS stated above, Sir Claude'f
! son subsequently the Victoria Cross which
both he and his father must undoubtedly prefer to
| any knghthood-
Sir Claude has published a most breezy and IN
teresting volume OF memoirs The preface Is writ
| ten by the late Duke OF Beaufort. who rightly de-
| scribes therein Sir Claude the puckiest and
/ hardest man 1 ever knew-fuu OF kindness. most
| consderate to others and most unselfsh-
| MAROTISE DE FONTENOY.