The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-05

prison by officers Of the forces of
Penito Juarez and shot, while his
brother in Vieena was powerless to
help him. A year later his body was
returned to his native land, and there
laid to rest. The tragedy drove Car
lotta insane.
An Empress Estranged.
Then came a few years of happi-
ness for Francis Joseph. The double
curse seemed to have lost it's potency,
though, as the years grew, he saw a
new and near danger in the unhap-
pi1ress Of his wife.
|. He had married pretty Elizabeth OF
Bavaria in 1864. She was beneath
him in rank, and not at all the fav-
orite Of the Archduchess Sophia, his
mother. Furthermore, used to a life
of freedom which the strict etiquette
of the Hapsburg court failed to coun-
tenance, her active life, her love of
horses and the whole out-of doors
failed to find favor in Vienna.
She and her royal mother in law
were ct swords points. In the end
the family disruption became SO
marked, and the unhappiness Of the
poor, pretty little Empress SO great,
that she left the imperial palace and
toon to travelling.
She spent much time in chateau
on the Island Of Corfu. Greece, which
subsequently came into the hands Of
the Emperor Of Germany.
But, though separated from her
husband, the tender love they bore for
one another continued undimmed.
Elizabeth at times returned to the
royal palaces, but never took any
prominent part In the life Of the
court. She was always unhappy
amidst those surroundings; and her
unhappiness but served to increase
the sorrows Of her husband.
Still an Unsolved Mystery.
In 1889 came the Mayer1ing affair
To this day 1T has remained the best
kept royal secret the world has
known.
The Crown Prince, born in 1857, a
man Of many attachments and great
promise, whom the Emperor idolized,
in 1881 married Stephanie, daughter
Of the King Of the Belgians. Seven
years later he met Marie Vetsera,
daughter Of a Hungarian nobleman.
Almost at sight the pair loved. The
infatuation gripped them, and at
every opportunity they were together
The Emperor, SO the story goes,
had stormy interviews with his son.
He demanded that he at once change
his course; and it Is believed that ar
faflgemetts were made for the hasty
marriage OF the Baroness Vetsera to
another. That, however, is mere Cos
sip.
Soon afterward, Jan. 80, 1889, the
great tragedy occurred. There was a
hunt on at Mayerling,. near Vienna,
and a gay party was gathered there,
guests Of Prince Rudolph, Marie Vet
sera, more beautiful than ever, it
seemed to every one was there.
What happened that night is and
probably will ever remain mystery
Next morning word was brought to
Vienna that the Crown Prince was
dead, and Marie Vetsera with him. It
is generally believed that the deaths
were the result Of a suicidal pact. Ru-
do1ph died of a bullet wound in the
head. The pretty girl, rumor has 1t,
was a victim of poison.
The Fate of John Orth.
The blow was stunning one for the
Emperor. Yet the first deadening eff
feet had scarcely died away when
new scandal came to dim his life.
This time it was his nephew, the
Archduke John Salvador, who was the
offender. In Vienna he met pretty
Mizzi Stubel, a dancer in one of the
city's music halls. Those near to
him demonstrated in vain, and finally
the Emperor himself took a hand.
But Archduke John had become
reseltte.
"You can command a Hapsburg,
but not me. I am no longer a Haps-
burg" was his reply to Francis Jo-
seph's order.
Shortly afterward John and Mizzi
Steube1 were. married. They went to
London, where the former nobleman,
now known as John Orth, fitted out
bark named the Santa Margaretha
The couple, happy in their new free
dom and their insurmountable love,
set sail westward across the Atlantic,
seeking a new life in the Americas.
In April, 1890, the bark appeared
in the harbor Of Valparaiso, Chile. An
attempt was made to receive the
Arehdnke formally. but he objected
and turned his vessel about and set
out again to sea.
A few days later a terrible storm
al OSC-d IIldI ldS10u The
shore. Since that day Archduke John
Salvador and his bride have not been
seen.
In recent years many stories have
grown out Of this dramatic affair. 1t
has been claimed that the Archduke
is alive. John Orths have appeared
In various cities Of the United States.
Officially, however, John Orth is
dead. In May 1911, the Austrian Su-
preme Court at Vienna declared the
Archduke John Salvador passed away
July Fl, 1890. Long before that his
name had been stricken from the AL
manac1l de Gotha, the off1ciaIs hand
book Of royalty. And yet, for all we
know, the Archduke may to-day be
living next door to us, Under an as
sumed rame.
Widening the Breach.
Weighted down by the sorrows thus
heaped upon him, the Emperor then
past so, bore his burdens silently.
Only those closest to him realized the
pain that1 ay in his heart.
After Mayerling the breach be-
tween Emperor, Empress and court
,widened, for Rudolph had been one
of the strongest ties that bound Eliza
beth to detested Vienna.
Only once after that day did she
appear at a court ceremony. One who
saw her thus described her:
Leaning on His Majesty's arm,
F1lizabeth looked like a. very incarna-