Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-01-22
THE MARsEILLEs ABDUCTION.
A New Orleans Lady Two Years n
Captive In Egypt-HOw she was
Carried of, aud How Released
The eInIerYentiOnO of Nubar Pa CHI ..
Publisher and Proprietor

Tne eluterNcuuOho VI Nup@N
For the past few weeks the city Of
Marseilles, France, has been intensely
excited, in consequence of a very singu-
lar affair, the heroine of which is lady
of American birth, and excellent con-
nections in this country. About SIX
years ago, Henry E. Bigelow, a com.
mission merchant OF No. 2l0 Canal
street, New Orleans, failed in that city,
in consequence of losses sustained dur
ing the civil war, and went to Marseilles,
where he soon succeeded in obtaining q
good position in Appointment mercantile
house. Mr.. Bigelow was widower, and
was accompanied by his only daughter,
Bertha, then about eighteen years old,
and endowed with remarkable personal
charms. Her father moved in the best
society of his new home, and the beauty
and grace of his daughter were not long
in attracting admirers. She treated
them politely, but after all, eoldly,
until one day she was brought
in contact with dashing French
seaman, the First Lieutenant on
one of the Marseilles and Oriental steam
ships. His name was Maurice Kervel.
He was but little over thirty years old,
tall and handsome, an excellent eonVer-
sationalist, and the very man to win the
good graces of susceptible young lady.
He Became very intimate with Miss
Bertha Bigelow, and one day he aston
ish9d her father not little by asking
him for the hand of his charming daugh-
ter. Mr.. BigeIow was at first inclined to
look fayorabIy upon the suit Of the
ensmored sailor, the more so as his
daughter seemed to reciprocate his aHecs
ton; but close inquiry into the affairs
and character of N. Maurice kervel
convinced Mr.. Bgelow that be was not
a suitable match for his daughter. He
found that Mr.. Kervel was man of eX-
travagant habits aHd choleric temper;
that when under the influence of liquor
he was extremely quarrelsome, and had
fought several duels; that he had run
through with the fortune his pa
rents had had loft bin, and that he had
nothing to depend on but his VerY Hoa-
est pay. The result of all this was that
he wGs requested to discontinue his visits.
Kervel left Mr.. Rigelow muttering
threats of revenge,
Miss Bertha seemed to care very little
about the breaking off of this Irritation
With her lover, and in 1868 she was mar
ried to merchant named Jouvinet, a
man Of means, with WHOM she ligea hap
PLY for year. In June, 1869, her
husband returned one evening to his
delightful country residence, but, to his
astonishment, did not find his wife in
ber apartments He questioned the
servants about the whereabouts of their
mistress, and they said that they had
seen M me Jouvinet walking in the gar.
den a little before dusk. NJ. Jouvinet
sssrphed every nook of the garden and
the Reighborhpad, byt n9t Q trace Qf his
beautiful wife was to be found. He sent
out messengers in all directions, buL
they returned without bringing any in
formation. An examination of the lady's
bosG9ir furnished no clue whatever as to
where she aigkt heye gone. The hus-
hand passed wretched night, hoping
every moment for his wife's return; but
morning dawned and she bad not yet
aome. lie then sent for the police, and
several deteetiYes began to look for the
missing lady. They kere 4qakle 20 and
any trace Of her after protraeted
and patient search. Advertisements,
offers of large rewards for mforma-
ton concerning her, remained without
result. Both the husband and father
abandoned all hopes Of seeing hef again
and an impenetrabe veil seemed to sur
round her fate. Jouvinet, after mourn
ing for her loss for eighteen months,
applied to the court for an annullation
ot his marriage with Miss Bigelow, and
he was waiting for a rendition OF the
decree when, on the Sd Of November
last, an event Of the most startling char
aeter occurred. He was seated in his
room in the Rue Grande, pour
ing over his ledger when the door was
suddenly opened, and a vailed lady
stepped in, She drew back her vail,
and displayed 3 bronzed face, the Tea
lures Of which he knew only too well.
In the next moment he rushed into her
arms, exclaiming, Bertha Bertha
II is bis long lost wife.
The explanations she gave him while
they sat looked in each Others arms,
about her sudden and long absence,
were so strange that even the ehroni-
quer Of the Marseilles Nouveliste, TO
whose pen we are indebted for 81 these
particulars, confessed he had rarely
met with anything more romantic N bis
long journalistic career. Nine. Jouyi-
net stated that on the evening when
she bad been parted from her husband
she had gone into the garden to breathe
q little fresh air. All Of a sudden she
La haan -alzad LE .araral men. Who