Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-11-16
4 ROMANCE OF THE WAR.


Discovery. Of the TeIegraphic Com.
municnffOns with Paris-A Hand.
sosne Young TraftOress with
Count Bismarck.
The German newspapers thus relate
the manner in which the last and secret
communications Of Paris with the south
and north Of France were cut Off The
search after these mysterious wires had
given great deal of trouble to the Prus-
slams, without leading to any result. II
happened, however, that during this time
the Count Won Bismarck, General Won
MoItke and the Crown Prince of Prussia
each received several letters in q femi-
nine handwriting, begging them 10 set at
liberty the husband of the lady author OF
this correspondence, and who was kept
prisoner by the French at Montereau.
In exchange for this favor she promised
to reveal to them an important secret.
As offers Of this kind and great many
others analogous to it, were made to the
above named personages by hundreds
every day, they took no account OF the
letters Just referred to.
But on the morning of the 18th OF
September the visit was announced to
Count Bismarck of young lady, who
urgently requested permission TO speak
TO him. He ordered her to come in.
She then explained to the Count that
the letters addressed to him were in her
handwriting; that her husband, jew
and Hungarian by birth, Joseph Lau-
ger by name, had, as a naturalized
Frenchman, been employed in the gene
raj Management of railways at Paris in
the capacity engineer, and that before
the investment of the capital he had
been specially employed in constructing
the underground telegraph between
Paris and Tours, as well as that between
Paris and Rouen.
After having completed his undertake
ing he had been sent to Montereau, in
order to superintend the service and to
make some repairs there, and he had re-
ceived from General Trochu letter APP
parently containing recommendations to
the authorities of that town.
But when he arrived there it was an
nounced to him that in consequence of
his German origin (he was born in Pres
burg) the authorities we're going to place
MN uUQer SuTNtllldHCt lOT oont Iiiiit.
A few days afterward the mayor gave
him to understand that three mines had
been constructed dong the line Of rail
way near Montereau, with the view of
blowing up the Prussian troops if they
arrived by train, and that he must con-
meet the mines one with another by an
electric battery. my husband" con-
tinued the lady, refused to do that,
pointing out that his mission was to
superintend the existing wires, and not
to lay down new ones Thereupon he
was i'll treated, cast into prison, and no
doubt is now in danger Of death.
After the lady had sufficiently proved
her identity, Count Bismarck had con-
versation with Baron Won Moltke, and
three hours later small expedition,
consisting of squadron of hussars, set
out for Montereau, and the most extra
ordinary precautions were taken. In
the evening the troops arrived in the
town, which was astonished at the occur
renee. The mayor, who was still more
astounded, was arrested and the Hunga-
rian engineer was liberated from his
prison. The mines already referred to
were discovered and destroyed, and, un-
der the direction of Lauzer, the Prus-
slams likewise found in the Seine, in four
different directions, the mysterious tele-
graphic communications with the capital