A FIGHTING PRINCESS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 14 February 1913, Page 7

A FIGHTING PRINCESS

The Berlin correspondent of "The I Times" telegraphed that Princess Agnes of Salm-Salm died at Karlsruhe on December 20, aged 67. She was the daughter of an American, Colonel Leclerc, and wife of a soldier of fortune, whom she met in America —Prince Felix of SalmSalm, second son of a W 7 estphalian branch of the family, who, after winning great distinction in the Danish war, served with the "German Division" in the Northern Army in the American War of Secession. Princess Agnes took more than a woman's part , in this campaign, being not only a skill, ed nurse, but a horsewoman of great daring, and, apparently, a most energetic and successful recruiting agent. She is said to have attained captanrs rank, -to <have received! a captain's salary, and to have been largely instrumental in securing her husband's rapid promotion. After the war her hsuband served the Emperuv Maximilian of Mexico as chief of the Royal household, and shared his downfall and his captivity at Queretaro in 1867. His wife made determined efforts to negotiate with Juarez. She succeeded., indeed, in se- ■ curing a short reprieve for the Emperor, but huv plans for effecting the escape of the two prisoners ended in disaster. She attempted to bribe the prison guards, arid was betrayed. The Princess again [ sought Juarez'on her knees, but he reI fused any longer to spare the Emperor, I who was shot, with two of his generals, at Queretaro. The sentence of- death on Prince Felix of Salm-Salm was reI voked, and he and his wife returned; to J Germany. . The Princess received a pension troin I the Emperor Francis Joseph in return for her services to his late brother, and the Prince was ina.de major of a Prussian regiment. Tioth servied in the Franco-Prussian, war. Princess Agnes was "attached" to the army staff as a mounted officer, but her activities seem to have been more strictly confined to nursing than in her previous campaigns. Her husband was killed at St. Privat, and the Princess, lived the rest of her life in comparative retirement, receiving many kindnesses from the Emperor. °She published an of her adventures, under the title of "Ten Years of My Life."