Washington Journal., 1943-03-12

up the mountain to his lofty castle Neu-
schwanstein.
Count Holnstein, speaking for the Commits.
sion, made the blunder Of telling the Kings
retainers at Castle Hohenschwangau that they
all were dismissed and should go to Fissen
to take the next train to Munich. In dismay
they heard these blunt words from the Chief
Equerrv, giving commands in defiance of their
royal master. While most of them stood mute,
the Kings coachman, Oberholzer, who had
reason to hate the Chief Equerry, kept out Of
his sight in the royal stable, where he was
grooming the Kings horses for a night drive.
He locked their harness and the Kings spare
saddles in the tackroOm, the only key to which
he kept took wheels off the royal coaches
and, mounting a nimble horse, rode it up the
steep bride path to Neuschwanstein. There
he gave the alarm of the Kings peril.
Weber, the Kings valet, showed him
into the winter garden, where Ludwig was
walking up and Town r~eciting sonorous lines
from Schiller's tragedy "Don Carlos"
Oberholzer rushed in and threw himself at
the Kings feet. 'Flee, feel" he sobbed.
"Count Holnstein with a gang of plotters is
coming to seize your Majesty"
Others Of the aroused servants crowded
into the winter garden and joined Oberholzer,
pleading to the King to flee before it grew
too late. King Ludwig stepped out on the
balcony. Looking down from it's dizzy height
he saw far below him a group Of men with
lanterns vending their way afoot up the zig
gag road to Neuschwanstein tavern.
He turned from the balcony with a scorn-
full smile. "Why should | fee?"' he asked.
''They are but few, and probably will stop at
the tavern. Should they come here, you beat
them off. Then all my people will rise and
defend me. Where is Count DUrckheim,
where is Karl?' meaning Hesselschwerdt.
Hoppe, the barber, muttered that Hessel-
schwerdt and Holnstein were in league
against His Majesty.
The King drew himself up and summoned
his men to rally round him. He told the
swiftest of the youngsters to run down into
the valley by various trails to call for help
from all the Schwangau as far as Fiissen and
the Tyrolese border. He babe them bring
faithful hunters and foresters from the glens,
with constables and war veterans from
Fiissen.
Within a few hours wild mountaineers, com
ing singly and in groups, armed with rifles,
shot guns, pixies, axes, scythes and fails, came
painting over various trails to the pallas of
the castle. Among them were some constables
and soldiers in uniform with muskets, pistols
and swords, who had been sent by the Amt
mann of Fiissen. Throughout the small hours
of the morning newcomers joined the throng
I'll IHC Ddlld0, d1 NOWlHS 1Oyd1iy W UICl IAIlS.
He mustered them on the pallas and then
betook himself to the highest balcony over
looking the valley.
Neuschwanstein in Arms
1t was early dawn when the Commissioners,
having rested at the tavern after their weary
climb, reached Neuschwanstein. They found
the road barred by armed peasants with
glowering faces. Constables with rifles and
swords mounted guard at the castle gate.
Count Holnstein waved a paper, saying it
was a warrant from Prince Luitpold en-
powering DR.. Won Gudden to conduct His
Majesty elsewhere, there to have his health
attended to by the court physicians.
A veteran in uniform stepped forward,
took the warrant as if to read it by lantern
light, but forthwith tore it to shreds. Then,
cooking his musket, he said loudly: eve
know only one master. His Majesty, our
King
A "Wachtmeister'' from Fiissen, standing
behind him, shouted, they would shoot any
one daring to force his way into the castle.
AT his command the men in the front rank
raised their rifles. A voice from a balcony
above cried: "Bravo!'' The men below
shouted "Long live His Majesty, our King!'
Count Holnstein and his fellow commits
sioners stared at the muzzles of the rifles.
Then, at a word from the Count, they turned
about and hurriedly walked Town the steep
road to Hohenschwangau.
When they got there, all out Of breath,
they found the village up in arms against
them. They were greeted with curses and
cries of 'straitors" and "Konigsfeinde"
(foes Of the King). A gentleman in uni
form met them with scowling mien. He an
nounced himself as Amtmann Sonntag from
Fiissen, the highest official Of the Schwan-
gau. He said a messenger from Neuschwan-
fno.a- H. Anioctu- To- orroct- Tho ntr,,dorc-