The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1911-10-28
CRAZY KING LOUIS
His Part in the PitifuI Tragedy
at Lake Stranberg.
SLEW HIS FRIEND AND DIED.
The Mad 6avarian Monarch Beat
Faithful Or. Won Guddsn to Death
Before Heart Disease Stopped His
Own Dash For Liberty.

For months preceding the tragedy
on June IL, 1856. that ended his life
King Louis H. OF Bavaria had re.
vealed many unmlstakable signs of
mental arrangement He heard mys
ferrous voices in the air around him
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 10 him. ana his domestic
servants were forbidden 10 look M his
face. being compelled 10 approach him
! with ayerted eyes. The old valet
Meier was Obliged 20 don mask 20
cover his features whenever he went
near the king, and many other strange
! things happened at the magnificent
i palace which Louis had built for him.
self with reckless extravaganza
Wearing his crown and purple royal
! mantle, with the scepter OF sovereign.
~ in his hand, King Louis would wan
der through the rooms OF his castles
at 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 necesstated 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 10 introduce n bin i'm the Ba-
yarian legislature granting his prop
erty immunity from seizure for debts,
and when his ministers refused this
unreasonable demand he tried to bor-
row money from all sorts and condi-
tions of people
In April. 1886. the Bavarian chamber
refused to sanction the payment OF the
kings debts from the public treasury.
and n few days later the cabinet adj
dressed respectful petition to Louis
TO curtail his expenditures. King Louis
responded by dismissing the whole
cabinet and nominating a new minis
try. at the head OF which he placed his
own barber. -s.ss-
This irresponsible act brought mat
ters TO head. A commission OF med
ical experts. under the presidency OF
DR.. Won Gudden. pronounced the king
10 be incurably insane and incapable
OF ruling. and n deputation under
Baron Won Crailshelm was dispatched
from Munich 10 the castle where Louis |
was In residence 10 inform his majesty |
OF his dethronement The king had !
Baron Won Crailshelm and all the 4
members OF the deputation arrested
Then DR. Won Gudden proceeded TO /
Neuschwanstein castle. where TO all /
outward appearances he succeeded In
persuadlng the king 70 submit 10 his
dethronement and 20 retire to Berg
castle near the shores Of Into stan
berg, where the final tragedy was en-.
acted The king WAS escorted 10 Pprg
castle by Or. Won Gudden. another
medical man, Dr. Mueller. and several
trained attendants. aud he seemed to
acquicsce IN the arrangement that he
should remain there for year under
close supervision
Dr. Won Gudden. mislcd by appear
anccs. telegraphed 10 Munich that his
royal patient was "as obedient ms
child" and az dinner that evening he
promised % take the King for walk
in the park His assistant Dr. Mucl-
Ter, warned him that It would be
and urged him 10 allow an attendant
TO accompany them. or at least TO fol-
low them az n discreet distance, but
Or. Won Gudden dlsregarded the young.
er mans advice and paid the penalty
with his life. IL was Sunday even.
ng. and general feeling OF uneasl- !
ness prevailed among those who had
ut the castle when the king
md DR., Won Gudden failed to reap
bear after an hour had elapsed. Search
,arties were organized. and during the
hight one OF the royal footmen found
he kings hat. coat and overcoat close
o the bank OF the lake and DR.. Won !
iudden's umbrella close by on the
'round. The bodies OF the king and I
lis physician were found not far from !
he shore Of the lake. in shallow wa {
er. both heads projecting above the q
urface. DIR. Won Gudden's face and |
lead bore the marks Of heavy blows 7
which the king. man OF immensely
'owerful build had showered upon
i'm.
The position OF the bodies and the Z
rticles OF clothing found near them :
nade II possible TO surmise. with prob Q
bic accuracy. the details OF the TRACE o
y. IL is likely that the king intended /
D escape from his prlson-for as such {
e regarded the castle In which he =
Tas kept as n madman-and that he G
vested himself OF overcoat and coat b
, swim across the lake. Dr. Won Gud.
en-, II appears. closed with him NJ the 6