The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1914-07-02
AUSTRIAN HEIR AND WIFE
SLAIN WHILE ON TOUR
Royal Couple Escape Bomb Only to be Shot
Shortly Afterwards Both Assassins
Are Youthful Servians.

SardJeVO, June 3U.-ArcnduKe Fran
els Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hun-
garian throne, and his morganatic
wife, the Duchess of Hohenberg, were
assassinated while driving through
the streets Of Serajevo, the Bosnian
capital.
Student Fired Shots.
A youthful Servian student fired the
shots which added another to the long
list Of tragedies that has darkened the
reign of Emperor Francis Joseph.
The archduke and his wife were vic
Tins of the second attempt in the
same day against their lives. First
a bomb was thrown at the automobile
In which they were driving to the
town hall. Forewarned, however, Of
a possible attempt against his life, the
archduke was watchful and struck the
missile aside with his arm. 1t fell un-
der an automobile which carried men,
bers of his suite, wouncing Count Van
Boos-Waldeck and Colonel Merizzo.
Both MortaIly Wounded.
On their return from the town hall
the archduke and the duchess were
driving to the hospital when the Ser
Wan, Gavrio Prinzip, darted at the car
and fired a volley at the occupants.
His aim was true, for the archduke
and his wife were MORALLY wounded.
With them at the time was the gov
ernor Of the city, who escaped injury.
The bodies of his murdered compan-
ions collapsed across him and protect
ed him from stray bullets.
The governor shouted to the chauf-
feur to rush to the palace at top
speed. Physicians were in prompt at
tendance, but their services were USE
less as the archduke and his wife
were dead before the palace was
reached.
Bomb Filled With Nails.
The bomb was filled with nails and
lead filings and the explosion was yio-
lent.
The iron shutters on many shops
were pierced by flying fragments and
iron ratings were shattered. About a
score OF persons were injured, several
OF them being women and children.
The murders occurred with such
rapidity that many persons near the
scene did not ever hear the shots. The
street is very narrow and assassin
was able to fire at close range.
The first attempt against the arch
duke occurred just outside the girls
high school. His car had started after
a brief pause for an inspection of the
building when Gabrinovies hurled the
bomb. This was SO successfully ward
ed off by the archduke that it fell di-
rectly beneath the following car, the
occupants OF which, Count Won Boos-
Waldeek and Colonel Merizzo, were
struck by slivers of iron.
Archduke Proceeds On.
Archduke Francis Ferdinand stopped
his a and after making inquiries as
to their injuries and lending what aid
he could, continued his journey to the
town hall. There the burgomaster be-
gan the customary address, but the
archduke sharply interrupted and
snapped out:
Herr Burgomaster, we have come
here to pay you a visit and bombs
have been thrown at us. This is alto
gether an amazing indignity."
After a pause, the archduke said:
Now, you may speak,"
On leaving the hall the archduke
and his wife announced their intention
OF visiting the wounded members OF
their suite at the hospital on their way
back to the palace. They we're actual
ly bound on their mission of mercy,
when, at the corner of Rudolf strasse
and Frantz Josef ~strasse, Prinzip
opened fire.
Couple Both Shot.
A bullet struck the archduke in the
face. The duchess was wounded in
the abdomen and another bullet struck
her in the throat, severing an artery.
She fell unconscious across her hus-
bands knee. At the same moment the
archduke sank to the floor of the car.
The assassins were Intercepted by
the police and both seemed to glory in
their exploit. Prinzip said he had
studied for a time at Belgrade. He de-
clared he had long intended to kill
eminent person from Nationalist
motives. He was awaiting the arch
at a point where he knew the
automobile would slacken speed, turn
Ing into Franz Josef strasse. The
presence Of the duchess in the car
him to hesitate, but only for a
moment. Then his nerve returned and
he emptied his pistol at the imperial