The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-15
THE GREAT cvLpRITS PRISON LIFE
His Own Account OF the CaDitulation
of Metz.
THE VERDICT OF HISTORY.
A Melancholy and Terrible
Expiration.
PARIS. Dec. 30. 1879.

lng tne lie winch the prisoner has led since ms
arrest IL months ago. can speak "a an eye wit
ness. for soon after the warrant OF committal was
issued BY the War once wrote to the Marshal,
begging ne would favor me with an interview, at
which might hear the story of the Metz capitua-
ton from his own lips He answered me cour-
teousy in his own hand and referred me to Colonel
Bataiile, who was at that time his custodian, and
who said he would probably allow me to cali II de-
clared my VISIT to be one Of simple friendship and
promised not to make any or its particulars public
through the press. TO this readily assented.
The trial was stin a long way of, ana any newspa-
per discussion OF the prisoners innocence or guilt
would have been premature. Colonel Batae
explained TO me that the Marshal had been much
pestered by French journalists VINO had called
him and published ianciiul accounts Of their inter-
views. They put words into his mouth which he
had never uttered, and generally very eOmpromis-
ing words, to the disparagement Of political people
whom the several Journalists happened to dislike.
This was not fair, and 1t had determined the Mar
Bhal not to see another French reporter till his
trial was over. He little thought then the trial
would end in death sentence
VISIT 10 BAzA1NE.
cailed on the Marshal at midday by special ap-
potntment. He was inhabiting a small house In
the Avenue de Picardie at Versailles, and was
closely guarded by picket of infantry, which &C.
cupied the porters lodge in the garden, by sentres
VINO stood at every angle of the garden wall and by
three or four detectives who paced outside the
house, as much to keep importunate strangers OF
as to prevent any attempt at escape. handed my
letter of appointments to the officer on duty, who
led me through the garden, which, he told me, had
been laid out by an Englishman who had occupied
the house during the siege OF Paris. Before being
introduced 10 the Marshal saw Colonel Batailie:
and this officer, who soon after became general
and surrendered his custodianship TO Colonel Viii
lette, Bazaine's present keeper repeated that
should be doing the prisoner an injury il pub
1ished my conversation with him, for 1t might be
supposed that ne was doubtful OF obtaining YER
dict and wished to bring public opinion over
TO his side. This said ne led me up to
room on the first moor, where the Mar
shall was sitting alone and smoking, having
just finished breakfast 1t was plainly furnished
room, ana indeed, all the house was plain. 1t had
been chosen rather for Its compactness and COM
modious situation than for It's interior comforts,
the main object having been TO secure residence
which should stand isolated possess garden, and
yet be easily accessible TO the MarshaPs barristers
and others who were charged with the prosecution
Or defence OF the prisoner and required TO see him
often.
PORTRAIT OF BAzAINK.
The Marshal arose from the writing table at
WHICH Ne was Seateu, WITH cup or cOEee ana
heaps of papers before him, held out his hand ana
said, biuffly. II am obliged TO you for your visit"
He is a short fat man OF ca, with bald, white
head and thick, black mustache. There is q
Btoid, putty expression on his face, and he speaks
cnrtly, with the accent of o soldier who has seen
much fighting and does not feel at home in the
atmosphere OF Cities much less in the
society OF civilian. had heard rom his brother
n. Dominique Bazaine, the engineer that the
Marshal had earned MS promotion from the
ranks, step by step, without favor or patronage
Of any sorI and could help feeling respect for
q man who had struggled through life 80 bravely,
however much might be persuaded that the high
rank to which he had climbed was one above his
natural capabilities. There is indeed difference
between the stuff required 20 make good colonel
nnd that out OF which successful generals are
formed. Bazaine was capital colonel, and had
not his equal for leading soldiers to a bayonet
charge; but he is no genius, and when a OF his
sort is raised to post which calls for abilities OF
the most transcendept or0er mistakes are certain
TO follow. You have only to watch the man a
minute to feel that the command of a single regi-
ment would tax mis- energies to the utmost, and
that the management OF 10000 men would be as
much beyond his scope hogshead OF wine is
beyond the holding OF pint bottle. As to politics,
1t is proved beyond doubt now that Bazaine did
mix in political intrigues Of very discreditabe
kind but he must have done so under the m1u-
ence OF the passing madness which seiZes upon
men who get into sphere too high for them. 1t
Is only eagles who can soar with impunity to
mountain peaks and stare at the sun; when an
owl does that he loses his head and fails. Bazane
looked to me as man who could understand
neither why he had risen so rapidly nor why he
had been SO unaccoun tably hurled down.
BAZAINR's CONvERSATION.
He showed me chair and when Colonel Bataiile
had left US said :-"WDl you take cigar-they are
some brought from Mexico. People were calling
me glorious soldier then" This opened the con.
versation and told the Marshal that my only
object In soliciting audience OF him was to
arrive at the real truth to the events OF the war;
4 had some thought OF writing history of the
second Empire and wished TO hear from the lead
ing men OF that epoch their own version OF The
events In which they had been engaged. Gust
So" answered Bazaine nursing, his right knee.
swell, can only tell you did my duty to the best
of my ability and am certain history will DO me
Justice II my contemporaries do not The repub-
licans accuse me Of having refused to commun
cate with the government of Tours. I sent three
dispatches to Tours. But the truth Is Gambetta
when he left Paris In the balloon forgot to take
the key TO the secret government cipher with him,
and none OF my dispatches could be read.
sooner than own to this blunder, however, the
republicans Will swear left them TO SHIFT for
themselves" But suppose you viii be able to
bring evidence as to the dispatches ?" was my re-
marx. 'Oh, yes, we shall prove itr-[Evidence on
this point was adduced, but rebutted The verdict
declares that no dispatches were sent.I-said he;
''but political anmus Is strong against me. The
republicans want to make NE bear the blame OF all
their own failures, and they would shoot me with.
out trial II they could" unjust prejudices al
ways yield TO timer" suggested. "Yes. they do,p
replied Bszaine sand am only speaking of the
pubic mind as IL 10 now. 1t may ALTER before long,
M Tniers does me justice IN. Tniers was then
President Of the RepubDcl. and most OF my brother
generals know with what difficulties had to con-
tend." "was Metz quite Incapable of holding out
a..I IL