Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-04-28
LWEDNE sDAY APRIL28 184l

T. Oeen lost that no outlet was left. Tbo [
: pslo' oluereu Gourgaud and the Prince AZ
Neuichatel (Berthier) 10 ascend to the Krern
IN terrace and strive to discover nassage
ceyerai ordonndnce officers were also ordered |
70 explore the neighberhood of the palace for /
the same purpose. All eagerly obeve1. the !
oincers rapidly ascending all the stairs.and |
Uourgaud ascending the terrace. ScarceIv |
were they there when they were obliged to |
chng 10 one another; the violence ofthe wind
ana rareiachon of the air were such that they
could not resist the commotion; it was limos.
slole 10 see any thing but an ocean of flames.
without apertures or limits.
They returned and made their dismal report
70 Napolean. He then no longer hesitated. at
the risk OF rushing headlong into the flames, he
rapidly descended the north stairs, on the steps
(which the Strelitz had been massacred but
on reaching the court no aperture was discoy
cred; the flames blockading all the doors-it was
too late.
at that moment an officer fastened up out
OF breath, covered with perspiration, and his
| hair halt burnt, he had found passage, it was
closed postern gate which must open upon
the Moskowa. -Four sappers rushed to it, and
shattered it with their axes. Napolean adj
vSnced between two walls of rocks; his officers
marshals, and guard followed, to retrace his
steps would now be impossible, he must 90
on.
The officer had been mistaken; the postern.
gate opened not on the river, but into a narrow
street which was blazing. Narolean set the
example, and rushed foremost beneath an an.
cade of fire; all followed, determined to die
, with him.
There was no more road no guide, and nj
stars, they walked at random, amidst the crack
ing of the flames and falling roofs. All tn,
houses were burning or burnt down, and iron
the windows and roofs OF all that still stoo
) the flames rushed forth IN pursuit Of the fugi
tives, beams fall melted lead flowed, in III
kennels every thing was burning; some
the fugitives fell, suffocated for want of air,
: crushed under the falling wrecks.
= At that moment the soldiers of fhe LIST, corr
$ who were in search of the Emperor, appeare
/ almost in the middle of the flames; they recoe
!, nzed him, and whist ten or twelve SURROUND
" ed him, as if to defend him against an crdinar
81 foe. the other walked beh nd him, crying, ''P;
l. lea! par ica!' Five minutes after Napolea
e was in safety, amidst the ruins of quartz
III burnt down since tie morning. He then dashC
le between two rowes ofxehcles. He asked VIII
s; wagons and caissons tl9eV were. The rep
"a was that they belongsa to the LIST corrs pa
y of artillery, which had been saved. Eve
L vehicle contained thousands ofpounds of ca
NJ powder, and firebrands lay between Il
y wheels.
, Napoleon ordered the road to Petroskoi
u be taken, it was royal chateau, situated o.
side the city, half league from the st. Pete
N burg gate. There were his head quarter
~ be hencelorth established.
lis Moscow burned two days and two mig
We more; at length on the morning of the II
- day, the flames entirely disappeared, a
m: though the smoke, which-covered it like
oh mist, Napolean could behold the blacker
h- and half consumed skeleton of the holy city
." Alexandria Dumas.