Journey of Archduke Franz Karl through Tyrol

Austrian Monarchy.

Tyrol.

Botzen, 27 Sept. The passage of His Imperial Highness the most serene Archduke Franz Karl was likewise a joyful festival for the residents of this district, who gathered in great numbers at every station and vied with one another to prepare a worthy reception for the noble guest. In the early morning of the 20th of this month, His Imperial Highness arrived in Eyers, where, during the changing of the carriage horses, He graciously consented to receive the respectful greetings of the local district commissioner, the ecclesiastical and civil municipal authorities, and the parading Landesschützen. The journey then proceeded toward the town of Meran through the villages of Schlanders, Latsch, Tschars, and Naturns amidst the customary local honours and festivities. Here the noble traveller arrived around midday and was received with the deepest reverence, amid the heartfelt rejoicing of the population, by the district captain at the head of the civil and ecclesiastical authorities, by the school youth, and by the riflemen assembled in the square from the neighbouring communities. Thereupon the most serene Archduke was pleased to accept the homage of the aforementioned authorities and invited their heads to His table. In the afternoon, in fine weather, His Imperial Highness made an excursion to the ancestral castle of Tirol. Near the village of Tirol, the clergy and the municipal council came forward to offer their most respectful welcome to the illustrious traveller, escorting Him with a detachment of riflemen to the castle. Here His Imperial Highness inspected the sights and took particular delight in the splendid view enjoyed from the castle over the beautiful and fertile Etsch Valley. Following His return to town, the exalted guest proceeded among a large crowd onto the main bridge over the Passer to attend an elaborate illumination arranged by the municipality on both sides of the river, connected by two bridges with a long row of lamps, a transparency, and Greek fire. His arrival gave the signal for firing the mortars placed within the line of illumination, while the music of both the civic band and the Partschins chapel sounded from the square before His quarters. Early on 21 Sept., He set out for Passeier to visit the Sandhof, during which excursion the highly delighted population accorded the most serene Archduke the very same honours and festivities with which, shortly beforehand, His most serene sons had been escorted through this valley. Having returned from Passeier to Meran, His Imperial Highness commenced His journey to the district capital of Botzen, arriving there at 9 o'clock in the evening. At the Talfer Bridge, under a festive triumphal arch, beneath the roar of mortars, the music of the civic band, and the cheers of the populace that had flocked in large numbers, He was solemnly received by the town magistracy and escorted to His lodging, before which the troops of the Kaiserjäger battalion were drawn up in parade with their band. On Sunday, 22 Sept., His Imperial Highness graciously attended a solemn military mass on the so-called Tuchbleiche beyond the Talfer Bridge together with His retinue, the heads of the authorities, and numerous notables, and subsequently reviewed the Imperial-Royal troops assembled there. Thereafter, all authorities and corporations enjoyed the privilege of being presented to His Imperial Highness in audience. After the reception of the authorities, several Feldsaltner (field wardens) in traditional dress were admitted and presented fruits of exquisite quality. His Imperial Highness then visited in succession the new cemetery, the parish church, the municipal hospital, the Imperial-Royal barracks, and the new slaughterhouse, devoting the closest attention to all details and appearing particularly pleased with the order and cleanliness that the Sisters of Charity maintained in the hospital despite unfavourable premises. Following the conclusion of the banquet, to which several heads of civil and military authorities, the clergy, and several Imperial-Royal chamberlains and provincial deputies present were invited, His Imperial Highness graciously visited the municipal shooting range, where the Imperial-Royal military and the sharpshooters' company had opened a prize shoot, and fired several shots at both shooting sections. From there, the most serene Archduke proceeded to the church in Gries to admire the fine altar and fresco paintings by Knoller. The evening was devoted to a visit to the theatre, which had been brilliantly illuminated and festively decorated for the worthy reception of the noble guest. Upon His entrance into the box, a stormy and enduring cheer arose from the large audience, renewed with vigour after each stanza of the folk anthem sung thereafter. A brief and fitting prologue was then performed on the festively decorated stage, upon which the monogram of His Imperial Highness shone in pyrotechnic lights. The intermissions were filled with musical pieces masterfully executed by the municipal band. At the close of this unforgettable day, the music of the aforementioned band played once more before the Kaiserkrone, while the buildings surrounding the Musterplatz were illuminated festively. On 23 Sept. at 8 o'clock in the morning, the departure of the most serene Archduke took place; through His engaging personality, His extraordinary affability and condescension, and the keen attention with which the exalted guest inquired into everything concerning the land and its people, He vividly renewed the favourable impression that His appearance twenty years earlier had indelibly made. Beside several other benevolent gifts, a substantial sum of money was graciously granted to the town's poor. In Klausen, the final station in this district, His Imperial Highness was received with the deepest respect by the Imperial-Royal district court and mining officials, the reverend clergy of Klausen and the surrounding area, and the town magistracy, amid the discharge of mortars and the cheers of the assembled crowd, with the miners of the Pfundererberg parading with their music band at their head. Following the change of horses, His Imperial Highness resumed His journey to the Puster Valley district.