New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-09-03
A THRILLING ADVENTURE.
Trials of War Correspondents Mt Metz
Taken for Spies-COndemned to be
Shot lerciful Dispensation.
From the New York World

lfiuIs d war correspondents nj NetZ-
Taken for Spies-COndemned to be
shot, lerciful Dispensation.
From the New York world.l
PERUGA, August II.
A very thrilling account of the treatment
at French headquarters to which certain
war correspondents were lately subject,
owing chiefly to an imprudence on the part
of the travelling artist of the Illustrated
London Ne,rS, Mr.. Simpson, appears in the
correspondence of the Gd.=etta d'Italia this
morning, dated from Metz, the seventh in
slant. 1t is of such general interest to all
newspapers and their correspondents that
forward a resume of the letter, in case the
story may not yet have reached your col
umns by other channels. The writer, whose
initials only appear X. S., is one of the reg
ular staff of the above named papers con-
tl1butOrs, was that morning IN company
with three other newspaper correspondents
IN the Metz station, watching the prepare
tons for the departure of the Emperor and
the Prince Imperial for Paris. The royal
carriages and baggage were being hastily
put upon the cars, and the whole scene
being one OF picturesque confusion, Mr..
Simpson innocently took out his pocket
book and made a hasty sketch for his paper.
When replacing his book in his pocket
the four colleagues were about to
resume their walk, when they found
about sixty artillerymen close in their rear.
Their officer stepped forward and demanded
to see the sketch just completed. Mr. Simp-
son at once handed him the book. upon
which he cried out, - A Ia place. and
marched them all Off to the corps de garde.
1t being Sunday, and little after midday,
crowds were coming out of the numerous
churches on the way, and the cry being
raised that these were spies taken red
handed, the populace began to press upon
the prisoners and their escort with loud
cries OF vengeance. When they reached the
square in front OF the guardhouse there
were some five thousand thirsting for their
blood. BY the interference of the corps de
garde with fixed bayonets, they were got
safely into small room, some four or five
yards square. The captain of the guard
not having sufficient authority in the mat
ter. a general was sent for, and a long and
tlresome interrogation entered upon. Not
outstanding that upon examination their
papers were found to be in order.
it was decided that they were spies, that in
sketchlng the imperial carriage their only
object could have been to facilitate an at
tempt upon the Emperors life. One of
them was denounced as having purchased.
the previous day. three copies of local
paper, the MOnttear dc la .Hoselle, and its
editor, from whom the important purchase
was made, begged to be informed what he
could have possibly wanted with three
copies of one number if lie were not spy.
The thing was self-evident. The writer Of
the letter from which quote appealed to
his passport which the Project OF Police %
whom he had addressed himself, imnle-
diately tore up into small pieces. After
long and anxious interval, an officer OF the
Etat Majeur brought in a letter from Gen
eral Provost Ito claim whose friendly aid
a messenger had been dispatched by the
four prisoners ordering their instant
liberation. They waited for some time,
by the advice of their captors now pro
fuse in excuses, to allow the crowd, still
clamoring for their heads at any price, to
disperse. They then attempted to leave
the place. but were compelled to seek safety
once more within its marrow precincts.
When they looked around they found Mr..
Simpson no longer with them. This caused
them the most poignant anxiety until d.
version arose III the shape of visit from
the General III command of the fortress Of
Metz Cotiiniere (unpleasingly suggestive
name)! He. instead of coming, as they sup
posed, to express his regret at all that had
occurred, put them through fresh interrO-
cation, and declined to acknowledge any
authority on the part of General Provost to
have ordered their liberation. He only was
responsible, he said, for the safety OF Metz.
and should recognize no orders, We're they
even from the Emperor himself Gentle
men, said he to his officers, 1.-The PTussians
are within a stones throw of Metz; these
persons have been surprised in the act OF
sketching near the gates and bastions OF the
city; we have hardly soldier within tie
walls here; the safety of Metz is in the
hands OF its inhabitants. While the PII,s-
slams have barbarously slain our fellow
citizens. we have shown ourselves 70 be
generous enemies, and this IS our
reward He then rose, and. striking
his cane ON the floor, said as he lett
them Let these gentlemen account
satisfactorily for their presence III Metz
within three hours or be then led out and
shot The Generals words were caught
up enthusiastically by the crowd without.
Protestations would not have been OF the
Slightest avail now. Their position was
eminently unpromising. When two OF the
hours had elapsed an officer of the Imperial
staff, NJ. lie Ni>comte de Nalcourt, came and
informed them that they We're at liberty to
leave, and nigh. then do SO in comparative
safety, for in the interim (by a merciful dis
pensation they doubtless felt two bona tide
spies had been captured, who owned up to
the fact, and their death would probably
altogether assllage the wrath of the patriots
of Me-. Under this officers personal pro-
lection they left their place of incarceration.
and on reaching their hotel in safety were
delighted to find that the innocent cause of
their mutual misfortune, Mr.. Simpson. had
contrived to make good his escape thither
at the time they, first attempted to escape