Rock Island Argus., 1912-10-18
CRAZY KING LOUIS
His Part in the PitifuI Tragedy
at Lake Stranber1.


terioHs voices Ia the air around him
and believed that he was constantly
pursued 10y dangerous enemies lie
withdrew entirely from the world. his
cabinet ministers were unable TO OBJ
tain access TO him. and his domestic
servants were forbidden 10 look at his
face. being compelled 10 approach him
with averted eyes. The Old valet
Meier was obliged to don a 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 royal
mantle. with the scepter of sovereign
~ in his hand, King Louis would wan
der through the rooms Of his castles
at night. cOuyersing with imaginary
guests. for the most part with the
ghosts Of King Louis SiV. Of France
and Queen Marie Antoinette. Ere
quently places were laid at his table
for their diSembodied spirits
The kings debts brought matters 10
n crisis and necessitated the iuteryen-
ton OF the BavariHn 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
ernment,to introduce a bill I'm the Ba-
varian Legislature granting his prop
erty immunity from seizure for debts.
and when his ministers refused this
unreasonable demand be tried 10 bor-
row money from all sorts and condi-
ti0ns of people.
In April. 1883. the Bavarian chamber
refused TO sanction the payment OF the
kings debts from the public treasury.
and n few days later the cabinet ad-
dressed respectful petition to Louis
10 curtaii hlsexpcnditu King Louis
responded by diSmisslng the whole
cabinet and terminating n new minis
try. at the head Of which he placed his
own barber
This irresponsible act brought mat
ters to n head. A commission OF med.
ical experts, under the presidency OF
DR.. Won Gudden. pronounced the king
20 be incurably insane and inca pable
OF ruling. and deputatIon under
Baron Won era railshcim was dispatched
from MuniClDtO the castle where Louis
was I'm residence to inform his majesty
Of his dethruncucnt The king baG
Baron Won Crailshelm and all the
members oftthc dpputatiou arrested
Dr Ia 20,
Neuschwnnsein castle. where to all
outward appearances he succeeded in
pcrsuadlng rhe king TO submit TO his
dethroncmSAt and 10 retire to Berg
castle. near5rhe shores Of lake Stan
berg. whercithe tinal tragedy was en-
acted. TheSkinS was escorted TO Berg
castle hy Dr. Won Gudden. another
medical man. Dr. Mueller. and several
trained attendants. and he seemed to
AcquSsce In the arrangement that he
sho AID reInnin there for year under
close supervision
Dr. von GUddcn. misled by appear
ances, telegraphed 10 Munich that his
royal patient was "as obedient as a
child" and NJ dinner that evening he
promised TO take the king for walk
I'm the park His assistant. Dr. Muel.
Ter. warned him that II would be
dangerous TO 20 alone with the king
and urged him To- allow an attendant
20 accompany them. or at least To fol
low them at n discreet distance. bIi
DIR. Won Guddcn disregurded the youn:
er man sSadvicc and paid the penalty
With his ilife. II was Sunday even
inG and general feeling OF uneasi
neSs prevailed among those who had
remulnedgat the castle when the kine
and Dr.. won GuCGcn failed 10 reap
pear af1cr an hour had elapsed Searcl
parties -werc organized. and during th'
'..cht one Of the royal fOotmcn founC
tdc kings har. coat and overcoat clos,
TO the .oank ~ the lake and Dr. voI
GuddcuS umbrella close by On The
ground. The bodies OF the king an,
his physician were found not far from
tie ShCrr Of the lake. in shallow wa
ter. bOh heads projecting above th'
surface Or. won GudGenS face an,
head bore the marks OF heavy blow,
which the king. a man ~ immense!
powerful Euild. had showered upoI
htm
The position Of the bodies and II,
articles Of clo,hiug fouEd near then
made Impossible tn SurmiSe. with prob
able ACCURACY. the details Of the TRACE
dy. Dds likely that the king iulcudet
20 cSc;ge from his prison-f0r Cs sucl
he regnrdCd the castle In which b
was ksnt as madmau-and that h
divesbd himself Of overcoat and Goa
10 swim aCru>~ the lake. Dr. Won Gud
den. 10 .Ipprar> closed with him az III
waters edge and tried 10 prevent hi
night. but the king killed him ard die,
from heart disease az the mumen
when ne was on the point Of heciu
ming ES swim for liberty The posi-
T1rte u examination rrveH.ed tha
ueith'T Ind died from drowning. hu
the King from heart failure aud ~
Won Cslddrn from the injuries infir;e
uI hm IN 'he struggle. - Berlin Ccl
St LElcs Gazette
Business.
"NCNv. about tine o-a.orio Shall W
nut T~uTpIr uinfurg uv tire lrr-r-