The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-01

IA
w pearances of princes OF blood
among the most recent being
those OF Archdukc John of Austria
who, missing for twenty years has
just peen officially declared dead. and
the late LandgraYe OF Hesse, who van
ished from his cabin during voyage
from Java 10 Singapore. in the most
ineHplicable manner. there is. curious
ly enough. only one case. in all
the long history OF monarchy. OF u
run nedSed King disappearing in this
fashion. namely. Dom Sebastian, ruler
OF Portugal, VINO was no more seen
by his people after the battle OF Al
cazarqu!vir. in Morocco, on Angus,
1918 No trace OF his remains could
be found on the battlefield, aud all
researches by those who believed that
he had been carried oil into Moorish
captivity were in vain.
twenty years later. that IS to say, in
the fall OF 1898. man appeared at
Venice. who was recognized by several
portuguese there as the missing King
Sebastian. They followed him 10
fsdua. But the republic OF Venice. at
the instance OF the Spanish ambas sa;ior.
whose sovereign had taken advantage
OF Dom Sebastian's disappearance to
secure possession OF Portugal, demand
ed That the stranger quit Venetian
territory. and when he refused TO obey,
he was cast into prison, In course OF
time he was placed on trial. and his
answers were OF convincing a char
acte- that the Venetians sent two OF
their most distinguished lawyers 70
Lisbon. 10 communicate there the re-
suit OF their investigation; and 10
bring back TO Venice. Portuguese or
rank and note who had been personally
acquainted with Dom Sebastian, and
would be in position to esta blish his
identity.
Five leading Portuguese statesmen
mobiles
Portuguese prelatc, were designated
for this purpose. on their arrival at
Venice they at once recognized him
10 be the missing King. The resem-
had remained, they would have been
set at rest by the scar OF the wound
which he had over the right eyebrow.
by the other deep scar which he had
Of sword wound on the head. by the
phenomenal superiority OF the length
of his right hand to that OF the LEFT.
by IA missing tooth of the lower jaw,
all The remaining teeth being perfect.
to the Hapsburgs.
So conclusive was the evidence that
the Venetian government found no
alternative but to set at liberty Dom
been taken prisoner at the battle of
Alcazarquivir. that he had long been
detained in captivity. and treated as
slave. by natives apparently ignorant
of years he had succeeded in enecting
his escape, and wandering along the
north coast of Africa, had eventually
reached Sicily and from thence Venice.
After being released by the Vene-
tans. ne made his way with number
of his Portuguese followers to Flor
ence. where he was again arrested.
this time by the Grand Duke of Tus-
quests from Philip II. of Spain. ;urned
him over to the Spanish Viceroy of
Naples. The latter. Count Larmos,
had him imprisoned for a time in the
tary evidence to show that he himself
had become convinced. from his CON
versations with his captive, that he
was really the missing King OF Portu-
gal.
Some time afterwards. in obedience
to peremptory instructions from Mad
rid. he embarked Dom Sebastian, under
strong guard. on board warship.
shin never reached Its destination 1t
vanished en- route, quite as mysterious
ly as the Santa Margherita of Arch
duke John of Austria. twenty years
Horn. from Montevideo to Valparaiso.
and, as In the latter instance no trace
was ever found afterwards of its Of
ficers. its crew, of the troops on board
or of it's distinS uished prisoner. King
Sebastian of Portugal, whose romantic
history has furnished the theme OF
number of poems. novels and plays,
notably by Dryden.
II is wonder that the late King
Leopold of Belgium did not disappear
in somewhat the same fashion, in
stead of dying automatically at Lac
ken near Brussels. the closing days of
his reign being disgraced by the most
sordid and unsavory scandals. TheseA
scandals blinded people at home anC8
abroad to his good qualities. and abovH
all to the benefits that he had COZ &
ferred upon his country, and 1t w6uH
have been far better for his roputJt k8&
had he never returned from ore &
those foolhardy expenditures whiih &f
was won't to take into the intel}o &4El3
Morocco. H
Leopold would land from his yalh $3.50
some point of the Moorish coat 3&
accompanied by only three 4 =
companions, would be lost. norm &a
for days, but in some inst,}cel a..
weeks together in tho intcAoJ ~
officers of tho yacht. Alvarez 4 &33
lessncss prevailing IN ME- ~ -
knew, when the Kiny H| :
whether they were ekeT01TieS - =
him again. For then| 4
pie in the interior w ao,S 3