The Cape weekly tribune. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1914, 1914-08-28
WAR PUTS RULERS
LIVES In DANGER
Courts of Europe In Recent Y ears
Have Become Shooting
Galleries.

any time, but in war it is especially
so. Since the war was declared by
France, Russia, Germany, England
and Austria Hungary, the rulers of
these nations have been guarded night
and day with double vigilence. 1t
would not surprise the world to. hear
of the assassination at this time of
one or another Of the crowned heads.
Though in all probability such an act
would have little or no effect on the
general war, there are fanatics in ev-
cry nation who might think that to
kill the ruler of the enemy would de-
moralize his armies. -.
Of late years the courts of Eu-
rope apparently have been converted
into shooting galleries, with royal
families as targets and Kings and
Queens as bulls eyes.
1t was the assassination of Arch
duke Francis Ferdinand, nephew of
Emperor Francis Joseph and heir to
the throne of Austria-Hungary that
precipitated the present titanic strug-
gle.
Assassinations within the memory
of the present generation, Sultan Of
Turkey, a Car and a Grand-duke of
Russia, Shah of Persia, an Empress
of Austria-Hungary, a King of Italy,
a King of Greece, King and Queen
of Servia, King and a Grown Prince
of Portugal, a President of France
and an Archduke of Austria-Hun-
gary, with his wife.
mo crown of Europe seems to be
safe" Father Vaughan, an eminent
clergyman of London said the other
day. at now requires a hero or he
roine to wear one"
The recent assassination of the
heir to the throne Of the Dual Mon
archy furnishes the freshest case in
point, and it reminds the world that
for forty years the House of Haps-
burg-the reigning dynasty of Aus
tria-has been little more than a roy
al shambles.
Farewell to youth" said Francis
Joseph, when he assembled the throne.
His words were recalled the follow
ing year when a son of the Countess
Karolyn was slain as a rebel in the
race war with Hungary. The Countess
this fatcful curse upon the
head:
MAY his happiness be blasted May
his family be exterminated. May he
be smitten in the persons of those he
loves. May his life be wrecked and
may his children be brought to ruin"
The curse has been fulfilled with a
that almost staggers the
The Emperor's brother,
was shot by his own sub
jects in Mexico. His eldest son and
heir, Crown Prince Rudolph, was
found dead in a hunting lodge, pre-
a suicide. His sister-in-law,
the Duchess D'Alencon was burned to
death in Paris fire. His wife, EN-
press Elizabeth was assassinated at
Geneva. His eldest brother, Archduke
John, was lost at sea. His nephew,
Archduke Francis Ferdinand, was as
That the Emperor himself should
have eluded death seems nothing
short of miraculous. On many occas-
ions he has been in imminent peril of
his life and was stabbed on the ram
parts of Vienna by Hungarian.
The ruler of Italy, Austria's neigh
Dor has Jared little better. King Hum
pert, after escaping the knife and the
pistol many times, was finally shot to
leath in 1900. AS Crown Prince, Vic
or Emanuel had only just escaped
rom assassins, while on his way to
Vienna to attend the funeral of the
lssasinatcd Empress Elizabeth. Ever
'ince he assembled the throne his life
las been in greater jeopardy.
Perhaps the most uneasy crowned
lead in all Europe is that of Car
II. of Russia. OF nine Cars,
our have been assassinated by Mini
lists, Countless attempts have been
frustrated to remove the present Rus
ian ruler. Bombs have been found in
he Palace. Trains on which it was
imposed his Imperial Majesty was
iding have been blown up and shots
ave been fired at the ruler, but he
las always escaped.
Many attempts also have been made
kill King Alfonso of Spain. Six of s
hese efforts have been recorded. On S
he last occasion the would-be assas-
in chose the unique idea of conceal
ng bomb in boquet of flowers,
hitch was handed to the King as he
ode through the streets, after a mil
airy review.
Only one attempt to assassinate
-aiser Wilhelm of Germany and this 6