Above: Fritz Judtmann's reconstruction of the journey to Mayerling (numbers added). (1) The Roter Stadel. (2) The detour at Hochrotherd. (3) Sittendorf, where the cab may have gotten stuck in the snow and required the help of a team of farm horses. (4) Heiligenkreuz cemetery, where Mary was buried. (5) Mayerling. (6) Alland cemetery where Mary wanted to be buried with Rudolf. (7) Baden.

Source: Judtmann 94

11. The Flight to Mayerling (continued)

The normal route to Mayerling was by train from Vienna to Baden with a drive of about four miles from Baden to the hunting lodge. A team of catering staff and other servants had already taken this route to Mayerling to prepare the lodge for Rudolf and his guests. But going by train was unthinkable if he and Mary were to reach Mayerling without attracting notice. The only alternative was a long, cold, arduous trip by cab.

The drive took them over a range of hills south of Vienna and at Hochrotherd the slippery footing and steep road forced Josef to take a roundabout route that had grades gentle enough for his horses to manage. Even so the cab got bogged down in snow several times and he and Rudolf had to assist the horses by pushing the carriage. Josef left no account of the trip, but according to Rudolf the cab became so stuck at one point (probably Sittendorf) that a team of farm horses had to be recruited to help free it.

At the brow of a hill overlooking Mayerling Rudolf left the cab and ran down the slope to the lodge. Josef and Mary continued their drive along the winding downhill road. It was about 3:30 p.m. and not quite dark when they arrived, about two and a half hours after they left the Roter Stadel.

To conceal Mary's presence from the servants Josef stopped the cab a short distance from the lodge and led her to a gate where Rudolf's trusted valet, Johann Loschek, was waiting to take her to Rudolf's suite. Josef and Loschek were the only ones other than Rudolf who knew that Mary was at Mayerling, although some of the lodge staff suspected that Rudolf had a woman with him.

Somewhere along the way Mary gave Josef her watch and ring as a last souvenir.