Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-10-30
Mltstrllaneolls.
The Boatman of the Loire.


Paris, leaving behind not only an immense for.
tune, the greatest pnrt of which is to be distribu
ted in deeds of charity, but also reputation
unstained, name honored and blessed by the
and beneactor. 1t appears lat least thus goes
the Paris gossip that the said individual has
kept very curioIs memoirs of his life wherein
are preserved the chronicles Of all his transac-
tons with the high nobleness of the country.
The numberless occasions wherein the bearers
of the greatest names among the aristocracy
were fain to have recourse to his assistance to
extIicate them from pecuniary embarrassment
1.-THE correspondence which from time to time has
been going on with every member of the one
sole absorbing subject Of our epoch, the raising
of money, are all set forth in these memoirs,
which will be of the most extraordinary interest
should the family persist in causing them to be
published
This man, with the soul of philosopher, the
heart of prince, was the son of poor boat
man who worked the ferry at Ancenls, on the
Loire--a true Vendean, Chouan to the very
soul-and yet, by dint of prudence and circum-
specton, managed TO earn living without sus-
picion on the part of the sans cuotes all thro'
the Vendean war. With the steady courage Of
his race he would ply the oar the whole day
long upon his usual beat, conveying horses, men
and baggage for the service of the republic, be-
lying his principles, not for the sake of gain, but
for the opportunity which the occupation be-
slowed for serving his friends, the royaist chiefs
and at night would start forth under cover OF the
darkness to convey arms and provisions from one
bank to the other, in order to assist the Ven
deans in carrying on the war.
One night the boatman was lying ss usual
waiting among the reeds which line the shore
just above the passage at Ancenis; his oars
were muffled, and himself closely enveloped
from head to foot, for he had received intima.
ton during the day that family of Royalsts
of great Importance would cross the river al
midnight, in order to join their party then shut
up in Laval, where they were bent on making
their last stand. 1t was dark and dreary night,
just fitted to favor the escape of the fugitives,
and the honest boatman was forced to trust to
his ear alone for the announcement of their ap-
proach. The night was far adva need ere the we'll
known Kissing sound initiative of the screech-
owl, the ralIying cry of the Chouans, broke
upon the stiffness of the night in moment the
little black craft had cut through fae -----.>s''
the swiftness of an arrow toward the spot whence
the sound proceeded and without saying word
for speed and silence we're necessary in those
days-Jean Landren proceeded to assist the fu-
gtives on board. The party consisted of gen.
tleman and lady with two infant children. The
gentleman was standing holding one of the chill
dren IN his arms, while the lady was seated on
small chest with the other infant on her knee.
The rumbling sound Of the patache, which had
brought them to the spot, was distinctly heard
in the distance.
The passengers were soon seated in the boat.
and the boatman proceeded to lift the chest, but
all lllo CuOllo "ClO III Null' HC MSl&uL vi It's
contents, and the imprudence of the lady who
., had seated herself with her child upon it while
waiting for the boat, had caused it to sink so
, deep into the mud as almost to disappear among
the reeds, and 1t became evident at once that il
would be impossible to recover it without assist
4 ance. In the midst of their dilemma, the heavy
gallop of horses and the clanking of the swords
of the horse patrol, who in those troublou
times were ordered to pace the shore the whole
t night long, were heard approaching. In hur
ried whisper the gentleman bade Jean Landreal
n push off "The chest contains my fortune,
. said he, " the hopes and security Of our mos
righteous cause, but the safety Of my wife AM
little ones is of more import let US row then
across, and we will return and fetch the ches
when we have seen them safely landed on tn
: opposite Shore" Jean Landrean did as he wa
bid; he rowed the party across the river, an
landed them all in safety.
By this time the patrol had approached clos
to the spot they had just quilted, and the soun
of their voices could be distinctly heard. The
passed on, however, without observing any trac
; of the strangers but the incident had cause
the lady to feel such nervous terror for her hu'
bands sake, that she would not suffer him
: leave the place Of safety he had reached, in o.
der to rush upon danger, as it were, by crossin
- again to the opposite bank. Jean Landrear
;, therefore, departed alone in search of the ches
taking with him ropes and tools to disengage
from the mud. He succeeded in a short spaC
of time, and returned in high gee, bearing it
triumph before him. His terror may be col
ceived, when upon reaching the spot he ht
quilted so short time BEFORE he found it d
serted-not O trace of the travellers he had fe
ried across TO be seen.-not a sound ndcatl1
10 of their presence to be heard. He wandere
Mt distracted, up and down until the dawn; and Il
o first light of day showed him traces Of strife al
1t murder, which must have taken place during Il
to short time he had been occupied on the 9th
nst side of the river. The grass aud reeds were
he trampled and broken, and evident token of sci
it'll ne and resistance to be observed as far as 4
ent entrance to the small wood which clothes t
TIL rising ground which encloses the Loire at Il
me- spot
lr? Jean Landrean followed, through bramble a
to- through brlar' the path which had evidently be
to forced by the resisting lugitves, until beneo
AXE uee ne lound the lireless corpse of one of
live children lying bathed in blood its bruins h,
Ing oeen dashed out against tree. BY It's 81
lay the hat and cloak of the ladv all drencb
''ol IN gore' but no other token of the passage of
'r 1t fugltlves-no other indication Of the no,b
"nlcn the survivors had been hurried, was a,