National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-06-20
Some New accidents Of Napole0n's Es.
cane from Ham,

! NSf" s'"''' '-"'''s
Madame r., Il lady who was brought
up IN sister with the Emperor, and
who continued her intimacy with him
till the coup d'ctat, which she, IN a
woman Of integrity, and staunch re-.
publican, could not forgive, in 1854, in
n conversation with Mr.. Senior, and but
recently published, gave the following
as "the whole story" Of Louis Napo.
Icons escape from the fortress OF Ham ;
Ellis apartment was ut the bottom Of
n court on each side Of the door was q
bench on which sat gendarme. The
sentinels at the gate Of the fortress al
lowed no one TO pass without calling for
the concierge 10 examine him. The
gendarmes and the concierge were well
acquainted with his features. When
he had formed his plans, he did all the
damage he could TO his rooms, and then
complained of their dilapidated state.
Some workmen were sent in to repair
them. His servant was allowed TO go
to ncighboring town, about a couple
OF miles of, TO buy boots and execute
commissions, and for that purpose to
hire u one-horse carriage, which he
Napoleon obtained workman's dress,
and could have carriage to meet him.
The workmen were 10 he twenty-four
days ut work He waited till the TWEEN
ty-third to accustom, as he says, the
guards to see the workmen coming and
going, but also, think, from his habit
of procrastination. At length, about
quarter to seven in the morning, at the
time when he supposed the two gen
darmes would be ut breakfast, sitting
with their sides To the door, he went
out with plank on his shoulder. But
he was five minutes too late. They had
finished, and their faces were turned
towards him. He thought himself lost,
and Intentionally let the plank strike
the head of the man on his right. This
Succeeded the man who was struck
thought only of his head-the other ran
to assist him, and while they were abns-
ing him for his awkward ess he walked
on, knowing that they would not quit
their posts to follow and recognize him.
The soldier at the gate knew him, smiled,
and, without calling the concierge, said
Passaz. A hundred yards from the
gate his servant met him with the car
riage and his dog. The dog, not being
in the secret, lept on him with great
demonstrations of JOY This was seen
by sentinel on the rampant, who knew
his dog, but he was as discreet as the
man at the gate had been. They drove
straight towards the Belgian frontier,
and reached it in about five hours.
SIN the meantime the commandant,
whncn 1ntu ~ tn Nnnn-
leon three times day, came to pay his
first visit at seven o'clock. Louis Napo-
leon had been complaining of illness for
some days, and his physician, who was
in the plot, stopped the commandment in
the chamber, and begged him to
go no further, as his patient, after a
very bad night, was sleeping. The
commandant acquiesced, and returned |
at two for his second visit The same |
answer was given: Louis Napoleon was
still sleeping. This is very serious,
said the commandant. DO you appre-
bend danger? Il do, said the physi-
clan, Il do not think that he is quite
safe. Then, said the commandant, Il |
must send telegraphic message to
Paris; what would become of us if he |
WtIG W tllc III our llNltttS Anu loI thut |
purpose / must actually see him.. You
can see him, of course, said the physi-
clan, but, whatever the danger may be,
and have not much fear, it will be in
creased if you wake him Then, said
the commandant, Il will sit by his bed
side till he awakes naturally, that no
time may be lost in sending to Paris.
They went into the room and sat at the
side and the foot of his bed, in which
lay a figure wrapped in bed-clothes and
a night-cap, with its face to the wall.
After quarter of an hour the COM
exclaimed: Il do not see him
breathe he must be dead. The ply
stefan was silent, the commandant turn
I'd down the clothes, and found stuffed
igure.
"Of course the telegraph was set to
work, and pursuit was made on every
'oad-but Louis Napoleon had been in
Belgium an hour before he was missed"