East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1911-01-19
K|NSMAN REVEALS
LOST GIANTS PAST
THROWN ON
SPECTACULAR LIFE OF PLESS
Kaiser Was His Friend-Bellingham
Man who Mysteriously Disappear
cd Formerly Lived IN Germany,
From Where He Also Vanished.


East Oregonian readers will remem-
Der the interest that was aroused in
Pendleton and Umatilla county nearly
two years ago by the announcement
that the body of Curt Pless, a mystic
rious giant and prominent business
man of Bellingham. Washington, had
been found in a rude box on the bank
of the Columbia river. north of this
city. 1t will also be remembered that
relatives finally decided the body
found was that of some other giant.
To those who followed the details
of the case at that time the following
will contain much Of interest:
Olympia, Wash, Jan 16.-"The
building up of cities in a short time
is not confined to Washington nor to
the United States" said Gustav voll-
mer, representative from walla walla
in discussing the reapportionment
question. my fourth cousin. Carl
Pritchau, who went by the name of
Curt Pless in Bellingham. built up a
town in Germany from 200 to 10000
people in few short years, and then
when pressed financially disappear.
ed. He did the same thing in Belling-
ham, 1 understand"
When Representative vollmer made
that statement he threw the first light
that has been given on the mystery
OF the past of Curt Pless, the Belling-
ham business man who disappeared
from that city in December, 1908, and
who since has not been heard from.
The big German stood seven feet four
inches in his stocking feet could
heave a sack of grain from the side
walk onto the top or ioaded dray
or handle a bale of hay himself. That
such man who was conspicuous in
a crowd of 5000 persons could disap-
pear is what baffled the Bellingham
police.
Pritschau Was a Soldier.
Mr.. Vollmer says that he practical
ly grew up with Carl Pritschau, who
afterwards became Curt Pless. He did
not see Pless from the time Pless was
10 years old: that was in 1889, when
he left him in the little town of Ben
reth in Rhine province.
Then Carl went into the army to
serve out his time as a soldier of the
kaiser of Germany The big fellow
soon attained nationwide fame, for
he was the longest man" in the Ger
man army. as Mr.. Vollmer says. SO
good-natured and affable was ne that
he was selected as swimming instruc-
tor for the children of the emperor.
Later when his time was up he en-
fy, hn
prospered in a small way. One time
while Carl was making a trip to the
North Sea on a. big boat, the emper-
or's yacht passed by and finally came
to anchor. The kaiser through his
glasses observed his former soldier
and sent a messenger for him. He
greeted the young man kindly and
made inquiries concerning him and his
welfare. and asked about his busi-
ness. The swimming master told him
how he was getting along.
Not long afterwards he began to
get orders from the German army for
feed and his little mill had to be en-
larged. Bigger and bigger grew the
orders and Carrs mill had to- be in
creased in capaciy the second time.
and then a third, while he began
buying his supplies in car and then
train lots
Emperor Made Him Rich.
He grew more and more wealthy
and then took a big plunge in land.
He bought up several hundred acres
of property near a small town and
then set out a great advertising
scheme. He erected houses at va
rious places in his township, and on
the strength of these induced others
to buy His own was advertised all
over Germany and as rar as Paris and
Rome
Finally he began to get returns and
he grew more wealthy than ever be-
fore. But there came a tightening Of
money. He needed cash, but refused
to ask for aid and then suddenly van
ished. The bankers sought to find
him to straighten him out; the peo-
pie of the city are considering erect
ing a monument in his honor, but
Pless Is somewhere In the wide world
where none Of his friends, nor even
his wife, can locate him.
Mr.. Vollmer states that he knows
little Of his history with any degree
Of accuracy after he left Germany,
as all after that was hearsay. Carl,
he declares, was always "high roll
err" a man who would take chance
and person who liked to spend his
money. He does not think woman
caused his troubles in Germany any
more than they did in Bellingham. Mr..
Vollmer did not even know until re-
Gently that Pless was married and he
has never met the wife.
He Identifies Curt Pless.
1t was while Pless was in Belling-