Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-05-25
ADMIRAL OF ITALY'S FLEET
Upon the Duke of the Abruzzi, the Kings
Cousin, Rest Heavy Responsibilities
By ELLIS RANDALL

DRINCE LOUIS of Savoy, Duke of the
L Abruzzi, Admiral Of the fleet of Italy, is
known to Americans largely through the
American associations of his interesting
career. He has made several visits to this
country, one of them resulting in a love af-
fair which. after world wide publicity, left
the Duke still bachelor. He is distinguished
explorer and mountain climber and
at the time of the earthquake which destroy
ed Messina. we'll as last January, when
Avezzano and it's vicinity were roughly
shaken, he was leader in relief work
Born in the royal palace at Madrid AZ
years ago. when his father. Prince Amedeo,
Duke d'Aosta, was already packing up his
belongings to abdicate as King of Spain,
after an inglorious reign of three years,
Abruzzi seems TO have inherited an incurable
dstaste for thrones and royal duties. When
he was Is his father made one of the most
sensational marriages of European royalty,
his bride being Princess Letitia Bonaparte,
his own niece, the daughter of his sister.
Abruzzi left his fathers palace in Turin a
few months after the entrance of the young
stepmother. his frank, open nature wounded
by the evil comment leveled against his fam
lily after this tangle OF relationship.
A few months afterward the Guild of AL
pine Climbers scattered In different parts of
the globe heard of the record this Prince had
made as an Alpine novice in ascending two
passes and seven peaks, a record he en-
bellished by feats on the Matterhorn which
placed him at 21 among the worlds most
famous climbers. His intrepidity and cool
ness were astonishing.
The same year, wearing his uniform as
lieutenant in the Italian navy, he started on
board a warship for a cruise which brought
him TO the United States for the first OF his
memorable visits, He was "a when he came
again, going out to Alaska, with a carefully
prepared plan OF exploration and making the
first ascent OF Mount Elias, on the borders
of Canada and Alaska, $4,000 feet high, the
loftiest peak excepting one on the American
continent. Two years later he was in the
Polar Star headed for the North Pole, his
party attaining s6.33 NJ. the nearest point
reached up to that period.
Ten years ago, when he was 80, he made
explorations in Central Africa in land never
before known 10 history. and assembled noun
tains on the border between Uganda and
the Congo Free State never before scaled.
The loftIest peak of the four was 1sOsO feet
In day Abruzzi and his companions
climbed a distance OF is miles around a
small range OF mountains consisting OF Ave
peaks from II, 900 to 10 600 feet high, a part
of the Mountains of the Moon, which the
Romans named but did not explore Six years
ago his last exploration expedition took him
10 India, where he and his party OF six
guides ascended the Himalayas up to "a, 900
feet the highest point ever reached
Abruzzi shares with his two brothers the
Turin palace which belonged to their father,
and here he has arranged the priceless col
lection, scientific and geographical, which Is
the fruit of his explorations. He has lectured
often before the geographical societies OF the
capitals Of Europe.
He is man imbued with lofty patriotism.
and II Is said in the Italian court that after
the war his country is likely to demand OF
him great saerihee-that OF becoming King
OF Albania.