The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1911-10-19
CRAZY KING LOUIS
His Part in the PitifuI Tragedy
at Lake Stranberg.
SLEW HIS FRIEND AND DIED.


For months preceding the tragedy
on June Is. 1885, that ended his life
King Louis III. Of Bavaria had re-
vealed many unmistakable signs o.
mental arrangement. He heard myN'
terious voices in the air around hini
and believed that he was constantly
pursued by dangerous enemies. He
withdrew entirely from the world. his
cabinet ministers were unable to Oh
tain access to him, and his domestic
servants were forbidden to look at his
face. being compelled to approach him
with averted eyes. The old valet
Meier was obliged to don q mask to
cover his features whenever he went
near the king. and many other strange
things happened at the magnificent
palace which Louis had built for him
self with reckless extravaganza.
Wearing his crown and purple r0yaLl
mantle. with the scepter OF sovereign
ty In his hand, King Louis would wan
der through the rooms OF his castles
ut night. conversing with imaginary
guests, FOR the most part with the
ghosts OF King Louis XIV. Of France
and Queen Marie Antoinette. Ere
quently places were LAID at his table
for their disembodied spirits.
The kings debts brought matters to
a crisis and necessitated the interven-
ton Of the Bavarian government Most
of the royal liabilities had been con-
tracted through the construction and
decoration Of the famous three castles.
and several creditors threatened to in
itiate proceedings to recover their
money. King Louis requested the gov
eminent to introduce bill in the Ba-
varian legislature granting his prop
erty immunity from seizure for debts,
and VIXEN his ministers refused this
unreasonable demand he tried to Dor
row money from all sorts and condi-
lions Of people.
In April, 1885, the Bavarian chamber
refused to sanction the payment Of the
kings debts from the public treasury.
and few days later the cabinet ad-
dressed a respectful petition to Louis
to curtail his expenditures. King Louis
responded by Diminishing the whole
cabinet and nominating a new minis
try, at the head Of which he placed his
own barber.
This irresponsible act brought mat
ters to a head A commission Of med
ical experts, under the presidency OF
DIR. Won Gudden. pronounced the king
to be incurably insane and incapable
Of ruling, and deputation under
Baron Won Crailsheim was dispatched
from Munich to the castle where Louis
was In residence to inform his majesty
Of his reinforcement. The king had
Baron Won Crailsheim and all the
members Of the deputation arrested.
Then DIR. Won Gudden proceeded to
Neuschwanstein castle. where to all
outward appearances he succeeded In
persuading the king to submit to his
dethronement and to retire to Berg
castle. near the shores Of Lake STAN
berg, where the fnal tragedy was en-
acted The king was escorted to Berg
castle by DR.. Won Gudden. another
medical man, DR.. Mueller. and several
trained attendants and he seemed to
acQuiesce In the arrangement that he
should remain there for a year under
close supervision.
DIR. Won Gudden. misled by appear
ances, teiegraphed to Munich that his
royal patient was "as obedient as
child" and at dinner that evening he
promised to take the king for walk
In the park. His assistant. DR.. Muel-
ler, warned him that It would be
dangerous to 60 alone with the king
and urged him to allow an attendant
20 accompany them. or at least to fol-
low them at a discreet distance. hut
DE-. Won Gudden disregarded the young
er mans advice and paid the penalty
with his life. It was Sunday even
ing. and a general feeling Of uneasi-
ness prevailed among those who had
remained at the castle when the king
and DR.. Won Gudden failed to reap
pear after an hour had elapsed Search
parties were organised, and during the
night one Of the royal footmen found
the kings hat, coat and overcoat close
to the bank OF the lake and DR.. Won
Gudden's umbrella close by on the
ground The bodies Of the king and
his physician were found not far from
the shore Of the lake, in shallow wa
ter. both heads projecting above the
surface. DR.. Won Gudden's face and
head bore the marks Of heavy blows
which the king, q man OF Immensely
powerful build. had showered upon
him.
The position OF the bodies and the
articles OF clothing found near them
made 1t possible to surmise. with prob
able accuracy, the details Of the TRACE
dy.' 1t Is likely that the king intended
to escape from his prison-for as such
he regarded the castle In which he
was kept as q madinan--and that he
Invested himself OF overcoat and coat
to Ewim across the lake. DR.. Won Gud-
den, it appears. closed with him at the.
waters edge and tried to prevent dis
flight. but the king killed him and died
from heart disease at the moment
when he was on the point of begin
ming his swim for liberty. The post
mortem examination revealed that
neither had dzed from drowning. but
the king from 4heart' failure and Br.
von Gudden from the injuries inflicted
on him In the struggle.-Berlin Cor.
Sc. James Gazette.
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