February 18, 1898
A "fierce duel" was fought today between Prince Philipp of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the husband of Princess Louise of Belgium, and Lt.Geza von Mattachich. They fought "first with pistols and then with swords." Prince Philipp received a severe wound in his right arm, reported the New York Times dispatch.
The Chicago Daily Tribune noted that pistol bullets "were exchanged twice." The Duke aimed at the young lieutenant, but he failed. A duel with heavy sabers was fought next, "the terms being up to disability." After eight minutes of dueling, Prince Philipp "was disabled by a stroke on the arm." The adversaries "ceased unreconciled."
This was the first time that a "person so closely connected with the [Austrian] imperial family has fought a duel with a simple citizen. Princess Louise, a daughter of King Leopold II of the Belgians, is the sister, of the Dowager Crown Princess Stephanie of Austria.
Princess Louise "has been the subject of gossip in connection" with the lieutenant, and this was the reason for the fight. Her disgrace has been "notorious," and she has been banished from the Viennese court. Only last year, Stephanie was able to prevail on her father-in-law, Franz Joseph, to forgive Louise.
The princess, however, remains "deeply in love with her husband's partner and refuses to part with him." The two travel together and have spent the last few months in Nice.
No comments:
Post a Comment