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Vfll lb II I I D IE. - I H 1KB IK 1 1 B 1 t U P ISA
i
Si.oo a Year, In Advance.
" FOR GOP, FOR COUNTRY, AND FOR TRUTH."
Single Copy, 5 Cat.
VOL. XVI.
PLYMOUTH, N, 0., FRIDAY, APKIL 28, 1905
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THE ESCAPE
OF LAVALETTE
'
By LAWRENCE LESLIE.
j)e S)o(c
VP (VoN
ISIS
IN one of the balmiest days
1 ui ogling, ocvciai jcuia
I I I ago, a small company of
111 VJ J X . t u II I - vlVh 111 I I V
gloomy chapel of an old
ciiureu near the city of Paris to pay
the last tribute of respect to the mem
ory of hor whose open coffin stood on
the altar before them. Hot tears fell
upon the white face of the dead, as
they looked their last-npon the fea
tures so furrowed by time, and so
marked by sorrow and care. Brushing
back the hair, white almost as the
marble forehead over which it fell, the
farewell kiss was given, and the poor
dead maniac was left alone to the si
lence of the grave and the keeping of
the angels. The poor brain that for
forty years had been tortured by the
slowly consuming fever of insanity,
was at rest, the bleeding heart felt its
wounds no longer, the spirit of the
long-suffering, ever-loving -wife had
xone to join her husband, who had
crossed the shadowy river a quarter
of a century before.
For forty years no ray or reason had
lighted up her once cultivated mind,
nd she had, during all those weary
.years, endured fearful torture, shiver
ing in the constant expectation of the
terrible death of those she loved, and
imploring all around her to save her
husband. At last, when the long suffer
ing heart broke, her last words were:
"Save! t Oh, save my husband! lie
cannot, he shall not die!"
The poor woman who thus suffered
:nml died was Madame Lavalette, wife
of Count Lavalette, the companion and
confidant of Napoleon the First, whose
condemnation and death and wonder
ful escape is full of Interest and ro
mance. Lavalette was of humble though re
spectable origin, and at an early age
entered the army of Louis, and when
that monarch fell he entered the ser
vice of the Republic, where lie soon at
tracted the attention of Napoleon, who
gave him a position on his staff, and
soon after married him to Emilie
Louise De Beauliarnais, a beautiful
"woman, and a niece of Josephine.
When Napoleon went to Egypt, he
selected Lavalette as private secretary,
and when the empire was established
lie was made his postmaster-general.
He continued to discharge the duties
of this office until the fall of Napoleon
in 1814, when he yielded to the pres
sure of circumstances, and gave in his
adhesion to the government of Louis
XVIII.
When the Emperor returned from
Elba, and the Bourbons -were again
overthrown. Lavalette united his for
tunes with his former master, and dur
ing the brilliant hundred days' reign
he discharged the functions of his old
office. t
The battle of Waterloo and the final
expulsion of Bonaparte soon followed
and the Boui'bons came back to Paris,
escorted by a million foreign bayonets,
and immediately commenced the work
of vengeance. First fell the gallant
and chivalrous Noy, and then the heavy
hand of royal hate was laid upon La
valette, and he was dragged before
the death commission, charged with
treason to the king. He defended him
self ably and eloquently, but it was
unavailing before judges who had been
instructed to convict, and he was ad
judged guilty and sentenced to die.
His wife was not in Paris when fhe
trial andicondemration took place, but
when she heard of bis arrest she hast
ened to join him in prison. She reached
France only to find him an inmate 'of
a felon's cell, awaiting an early execu
tion. The shock to the poor woman upon
being informed of this misfortune
was so severe that she'fell insensible
into the arms of an attendant. When
she recovered she immediately com
menced her efforts for his release.
Friends came to her aid, and a strong
petition for Lavalette's pardon was
presented, but contemptuously refused,
nd the unhappy prisoner was removed
u to the celebrated prison,. Conciergerie,
whence it was believed his escape was
an impossibility, and the morning of
the twenty-fourth of December was
fixed as the time of execution. ' .
The condemned man, thus deprived
of all hope, resigned himself to bis
fate, and wrote to the attorney-general,
begging as his last request that bis
wife and child, and a few other friends,
might be permitted to maka him a fare
well visit, and his request was granted.
The permission was duly forwarded
to the sorrow-stricken wife, and on the
afternoon of December 23, the day pre
ceding the time appointed for her hus
band's execution, she went to say fare
well. Her health was extremely poor,
and in order to avoid the movement of
her carriage, she had used a Sedan
chair, and was accompanied by ber
daughter, a girl of twelve, and a fe
male domestic named Dutoll. Her dress
was showy and extravagant in style,
and "such as once seen was not likely
to be soon forgotten, consisting of a
red merino riding coat, trimmed with
fur, and a large, black hat, with, a
heavy, gay-colored plume falling over
it.
Thus attired, she, with her compan
ions, presented themselves at the door
of the prison, and upon the presenta
tion of the permission from the attorney-general,
they were admitted by
Jacques Eberle, who had been especial
ly charged by the keeper of the prison
with the care and service of Lavalette,
and conducted to the count's apart
ments. The door was locked "behind
them, and the weeping friends were
left alone.
As soon as the first burst of emotion
which followed the meeting had sub
sided, Lavalette began to talk calmly
of his approaching death, and gave
some directions concerning his burial
and the disposition of his property.
His wife was entirely overcome and
sank sobbing into his arms. For a
short time they were silent, when Ma
dame Lavalette started up and ex
claimed: "My husband! you cannot, you must
not die! I can, and I will save you!"
He looked at her in astonishment,
and for a moment he doubted her san
ity. But she repeated her declaration,
and in a manner so earnest, yet so
calm that he listened to the plan she
hurriedly unfolded. Her proposition
was to change garments with him,
when he was to leave the prison with
the others. She urged tha t to him es
cape would be life and liberty, while
no serious consequences could result
to her from the detention. She con
tended that as soon as the authorities
discovered how cleverly they had been
deceived, they would release her, when
she would hasten to join him in his
exile.
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Lavalette rejected the plan. lie de
clared he would rather, die than escape
in woman's attire, and leave her in
the power of an enemy who had shown
how little protection law, justice, honor
and truth afforded the victims of its
hate. But his wife again implored him
not to reject this opportunity of escape,
and live, if not for himself, at least for
his wife and child, and for France.
The count replied by pointing out
the improbabilities of success, the im
possibility of passing the several keep
ers through files of soldiers, and along
the busy street, without certain detec
tion, and dwelt upon the humiliation
that would follow his discovery in
woman's attire.
"But you -will not be detected," urged
the faithful wife. "Put on this black
gown, this red cloak, which I have
worn on purpose to make me a marked
object, this gay hat, which all the turn
keys will recognize, cover your hands
with gloves, simulate tears, keep your
handkerchief over your face so as to
conceal your features, and even the
hardened men who watch over death's
victims awaiting in this gloomy prison
the final stroke of the ax, thinking it
is me, will pity your sorrow, respect
your grief, and allow you to pass with
out removing the handkerchief. Once
outside the gate, my chair is in wait
ing; enter it, and, as soon as you are
far enough from here to make it safe,
leave, hurry to the house of our
friends, who will provide you a place
of concealment, where you can remain
in safety until the - excitement and
search shall be over, when you can
leave the country for a home under
some more friendly government, where
I hope to join you very soon."
To these arguments and entreaties
by the mother the daughter added her
supplications and tears, and Lavalette
finally yielded, and was soon disguised
in the garments the lady had worn.
To diminish as much as possible the
dangers of detection, it was determined
to prolong the interview as long as pos
sible, hoping to remain until the twi
light should aid their bold effort. Sev
eral times the guard rapped upon their
door to notify them that their stay had
been already too prolonged, but on
their earnest entreaty they were per
mitted to stay a little longer.
It was now nearly 8 o'clock, and the
order to terminate the interview was
too imperative to be disregarded, and
as the door opened the lady with the
red cloak, the gaudy feathers, walked
out, smothering her sobs with her
handkerchief, which nearly covered her
face, supported by her daughter, who
was also weeping. The turnkey
glanced around the room as he entered,
and saw a person he supposed to be
Lavalette sitting in an obscure corner
of the room, his head bowed upon his
hands and his bosom swelling and
heaving with such emotions as a man
might be expected to exhibit at the
farewell interview with his family.
The door was securely locked, and
the retiring members of the family
were conducted through the line of sen
tinels without suspicion, and soon
found themselves outside the inclosure.
Their hearts bounded with mingled
emotions as they heard the heavy, iron
doors close behind them. They were
rejoiced at their escape, but filled with
sorrow at leaving the poor wife and
mother to the tender mercies of the
Bourbons.
But their joy at their supposed es
cape soon gave place to the utmost de
spair and consternation, for when they
reached Mme. Lavalotte's chair they
found it deserted, the attendants hav
ing gone away to indulge in a frolic
which was going on near by. Imagine
the tortures endured by the fugitive, as
the minutes went by and they could
not hope to conceal it long, escape was
an impossibility. Half an hour passed
and seemed almost an age, when the
attendants returned and Lavalette en
tered the chair and was rapidly borne
away. When at a safe distance he got
into a carriage and was soon whirled
out of sight and into a place of safety.
As soon as he left the chair the daugh
ter entered it, and was lowly borne
toward her now desolate home.
While this was going on outside, the
poor, distracted woman was walking
back and forth across the narrow room
in which she was a voluntary prisoner,
a prey to fhe most cruel fears and un
certainties, trembling at the sound of
every footstep, fearing it might be the
jailer, and the flight of the prisoner
discovered, while successful pursuit
was yet possible.
At last, about half an hour after the
escape, the rattle of keys, bolts and
locks announced the coming of Ro
quette, the chief turnkey, and conceal
ment was no longer possible.
Mme. Lavalette had only time to pass
behind a small screen which stood in
the room and throw herself upon a
sofa, covering her face with her hands,
when he entered. He glanced around,
saw, as he supposed, the reclining
figure of Lavalette, and withdrew.
It seems, however, he was not fully
satisfied, for he soon returned and
called Lavalette's name. Receiving no
answer he went behind the screen, and,
holding up his lamp, instantly recog
nized the person before him. The
whole truth; '.shed upon his mind in
an instant, and he uttered an exclama
tion of surprise and despair.
"He has gone!" Mme. Lavalette trem
ulously ejaculated.
"Ah! madame, you have deceived
me," he replied, and sprang toward the
door to give the alarm, when the lady
came forward and exclaimed:
"Stay! Monsieur Roquettc, stay."
"No, madame; this is not to be
borne," was the response.
She then seized him by the arm and
attempted to detain him, but he shook
her off and sounded the alarm.
His son immediately started after
the fugitive, and soon overtook the
chair, gave a shout of joy as he saw it
was occupied, rushed forward, threw
open the door and called upon the in
mate, whom he supposed to be Lava
lette, to surrender. The only reply was
a shriek from the occupant, who proved
to be Mile. Lavalette.
With a curse the young man returned
and a general alarm was given.. The
military and the police swarmed "into
the streets and joined in the search.
Handbills containing his portrait and a
most complete description of his per
son were sent all over France, and
there was not a postmaster, postillion
or gendarme on any of thp roads of the
kingdom who had not one of those in
his pocket. Their vigilance was quick
ened by the offer of immense rewards,
and as an additional precaution the is
sue of passports was suspended for a
time, bo that he would be unable to
pass the frontiers-and escape.
But it was all in vain. Count Lava
lette remained in Paris, and though the
gendarmes often swarmed around the
place of his concealment, his retreat
was never discovered.
He was, however, in consta. t dan
ger, and a brace of loaded pistol were
always ready for instant use, leaving
him the consolation of knowing that he
should never die upon the scaffold, as
he intended, in case of discovery, to
lodge their contents in his brain.
After a few weeks the excitement of
his escape partially subsided, and he
began to cast about for an opportunity
to leave the country, but difficulties al
most insurmountable presented them
selves and appalling dangers attended
every moment.
When all other means failed, in his
desperation he wrote to an English
gentleman residing in Paris, James
Bruce, in which, representing himself
as a friend of Lavalette, he threw him
self entirely upon Mr. Bruce's generos
ity, and frankly made him a confidant.
He assured him that Lavalette was
still in Paris, but could only escape
with his assistance, entreating him not
to betray him, and if he would assist
him he was requested to send a letter
to a designated place, advising the wri
ter of the fact. This letter was un
signed, and sent to Mr. Bruce by mail.
That gentleman was touched with
Compassion, and counseled with two of
his countrymen, Sir Robert Wilson and
Captain Hutchinson, and the result
was they all entered into the effort to
place the unhappy man beyond danger.
So the letter was answered, the parties
met and the scheme of escape formed.
They first provided him with the uni
form of a quartermaster of the Na
tional Guards, and then selected a per
son of his own height, complexion .and
general appearance to procure a pass
port, under a feigned name and proceed
with it as far as Compeigne.
Lavelette, in his uniform, and other
wise disguised, left Paris in an open
carriage, in company with Bruce, who
had assumed the uniform of an English
general, and the man whose portrait
was in the possession of the principal
policemen and detectives of Paris,
whose person had been so frequently
and so fully described, the individual
for whom all France had been thrown
into a feverish excitement, rode boldly
along the populous streets, in the broad
glare of day, under the eyes of thou
sands, of gendarmes, who saluted him
as their superior officer, and presented
arms to his companion, the English
general. Arriving at Compiegne, he
was met by the friend who had secured
his passport, and in a few hours ho
found himself safe in neutral territory.
Baffled in the pursuit of Lavalette, the
government turned its rage upon the
poor, loving wife who had so cleverly
proved her bravery and devotion. She
was immediately thrown into close con
finement, the charge of treason against
the State was preferred, and a long
series of annoyances, threats and per
secutions were commenced, the cer
tainty of trial, condemnation and exe
cution were impressed upon her, until
her constitution, already shattered by
anxiety and care, gave way, reason be
came clouded, and, after an incarcer
ation of fifteen months, she became a
confirmed maniac, raving almost con
stantly about the danger to her hus
band, and calling upon all arom-d her
for help. Then, satisfied with their
work, she was banded over to her
friends; but her life was ever after a
blank.
In 1S22 Lavalette was pardoned, and
permitted to return to France, but he
wrote to a friend:
"She who would have given her life
to save mine is now a mental wreck,
and knows not that I am saved."
Lavalette died in 1830, but his poor
wife lived on until 1S55, when death
kindly closed her sorrows. . Napoleon
by his will left Lavalette a bequest of
300,000 francs, but only 00,000 francs
were paid over. In 1853, however. Na
poleon III. ordered the balance to be
paid to his heirs, and it came in t jun
to minister to the last necessities of
the noble woman who had sacrificed so
much for her conjugal love. New York
Weekly.
Jos;-Watch.
Dog-watch is a corruption of dodge
watch, and is the name given to two
iSlyn-t watches of two hour oath on
shipboard one from -1 to 0 p. m. and
the other from 0 to S p. n. The dog
watches were introduced to prevent
the same men from always keeping
watch at the same hours of the day;
hence on these occasions the sailors
are said to dodge the routine, or to b(
doing t'ods-c-watcb.--Boston Globe.
SCIENCE NCTES.
A correspondent of the Scientific
American notes that an ordinary elec
tric light bulb can be made to glow
with a bluish light similar to an
X-ray tube if it is rubbed briskly with
the hand in a dark room.
In a certain kind of Wyoming coal
it is found that gold is present in quan
tities large enough to pay for ex
tracting it from the ashes. The same
curious occurrence of the yellow
metal has also' been noted in a South
African coal vein.
Count Zeppelin, the German aero
naut, has nearly completed another
airship, with the aid of a fund of over
$25,000 raised by popular subscription,
and also with the help of the govern
ment. This craft will be large enough
to carry 1Q persons.
A writer in Paris Cosmos says that
at the present time hypnotic influence
must be considered almost the only
method of reforming drunkards. In
Russia this treatment is meeting with
startling success ; but the Russiarfs are
a tractable race and the system pro
duces fewer cures in France."
An English concern is constructing
a yacht which is to be propelled by the
jet system. That is, water is pump-
ed in forward and ejected with force
at the stern, the reaction tending to
drive, the boat ahead. This method of
propulsion has been experimented
with at different times without much
success; but improvements in mechan
ical derails are said to show a high
degree of efficiency for it.
The discovery of a means ol
metamorphosing radishes into potatoes
has teen made in so solemn a place
as the academy of Sciences-, Paris. M.
Molliard takes a very young radish,
"Pasteurizes" it in a certain way, and
it grows up into a fine potato. More
scientifically, the young radish is cul
tivated in a glass retort, after a pro
cess invented by Pasteur, in a con
centrated solution of glucose. Starch
then develops plentifully in the cells
of the radish, which swells out, loses
4ts pepperiness, and acquires practic
ally the consistency, flavor and especi
ally the nutritive properties of the
potato.
American Winter Resorts.
If one really wishes to find restful
ness anywhere in America in the win
ter he will have to go to one of the
summer resorts on the northern coast,
which sleep from September until
June.
If he goes south, to the mountains
of the Carolinas or Georgia, to the
rivers of Florida or along the Pacific
coast, he will find great hotels and
boarding-houses filled with thousands
of pleasure-seekers, whose presence
demands the luxuries and excitement
of the city.
WTealthy patrons come thousands of
miles to these resorts in private cars,
bringing with them horses, carriages,
servants and innumerable trunks,
boxes and bags. Florida and Califor
nia are the great winter pleasure
grounds where the luxurious find a
congenial clime in which to kill time.
London Telegraph.
Steel Cress Ties.
The Lake Shore and New York Cen
tral railroads have ordered 7000 steel
cross ties. These are laid in certain
sections of each road. Will steel ties
last long enough to more than make
up the execess of their cost over that
of wooden ties? If they do, wooden ties
are doomed, and the steel lords have
more money coming to them. Everybody's.
Lucky, But Poor.
Wickley What is your opinion of
Dr. Mixwell as a physician?
Titlo.- Not very flattering to him,
I'm afraid. He has splendid luck with
his patients, I'm bound to admit; but
somehow he has never succeeded in
accumulating wealth. Chicago" Jour
nal. Execution Checks Outrages.
The execution of two of their lead
ers has put a temporary check tc
the machinations of a new Chinese
sect named Tsai-Yuf-n, in Honan,
whose program was to destroy all
railways and all foreigners on a da$
to be announced. They hate the pres
cnt ruler of China, declaring that th(
real emperor is now residing on, th?
"Mcur.tahi of Nine Dragons," and wil;
make bis crrc-ra-ce in due time.
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