Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-08-28
BAZAINE'S ESCAPE.
EioyS al was E;fsecsed-'Ehe Marshal
Rot on Parole.

4sos Oh
The Paris correspondent Of the New
York Times gives the following details
of General Bazaine's escape from the
Isle OF St. Marguerite:
y short time ago, or after the ex-
Marshal had been some seven months
III prison, Nine. Bazaine asked Mac
Mahon to change the penalty into exile
for life, and while he would have glad
ly done SO, If he could with safety, or
without raising popular clamor again.t
him, the President felt obliged to re-
fuse the petition at this time. It was
not until this and other attempts had
failed that the plan Of escaping was
accepted by BaZunc. He was urged
to It by his wife, WHO pleaded with
him daily, and who used one very
strong argument. In France, she
said, revolutions We're frequent, and
one might burst upon the country at
any moment. II the Radicals were TO
succeed to power again by any chance,
the first act Of the new Government
would be to sign the death warrant of
Bazaine. Although this is an exag-
geration, there can be no manner of
doubt that his life would be in danger.
1t was by constant pleading with him
that the faithfai wife finally won his
consent to leave The island. Some of
the Journals pretend that he was on
parole, but this is absurd A r'isoner
does not promise not to escape unless
he gets some privileges in return, and
Baza;ne has had none whatever. He
has been constantly Subjected to rigid
prison discipline, has never been al
lowed to walk, except upon the para
pet, some ten feet square, and has been
refused nearly all the privileges he has
ever demanded. He had a right to
escape, therefore, if he could, but
whether it was good policy to do SO is
a question which can hardly be de-
clded at this time.
All the arrangements for the escape
had been completed week ago, and
the parties concerned only awaited a
favorable moment for carrying their
plan into execution. Col. Villette,
Bazaine's faithful friend, the man who
sat by his side during the trial and
who asked to share his captivity, thus
giving up his own hopes of advance
men,, was not allowed 10 sleep upon
the island, but was granted the privi-
lege of coming over for a few hours
each day. During the winter Madame
Bazalne and her children had been
upon the island, but owing to the IN
healthy air Of summer they had to be
sent away. AS Madame Baz iine could
no long L be confined within the walls,
under gnard, she was allowed to visit
her !f'Is band at stated PERIODS only,
aud forced to procure permit in ad-
vance On Saturday SHE made her
/ n~u;tt visit, aud Ii was on Sunday
! night that Ea1:ino escaped. The caro-
! of the prisoner was confdod to only
four guards, drawn from the company
i OF one hundred men which COMPRISED
! he garrison. ~ Ii! ght a s41:ss, of men
-'soieted isefpr- the gates = lie E~r:-
+ .s>s. Upon the side Of tia, &, ti.aru
+ i Perpendicular descent of .t.irty
/ n.etres, ne:sriy thirty five yar.i- ~ d as
/ lass sid" - uurruW, no spot. WAS f"nnd
! :Hr l:'ac.l.es 1t sentinel Tie Guard had
/ "a march upon III" oth. p ,.ngI,.. at
I some distance from this ;..;. rabv sale
/ point. Indeed, owing t. th.. ennr-
mons siz- q the pri>on,-r AID hI, sd
v.ntc1 az, it was !i,eugit i!uin-~Ibi..
+ for him !" escape ffarl ia ,lu;. g-rous
/ point. Moreover, is III the case OF
/ hocnefort ald Ire Communists Of
! NouUea, it apAars that t Govern
with which the waters are filed
to guard the sea SIDE of tl,- castle.
| On Sunday the Marshal had passed
the greater part Of the Afternoon oprn
his narrow parapet, pacing up and
down with Col. NIllette; but soon after
the departure of the latter Bazaine
went to his room, and in IL short time
retired. About 10 o'clock tue Com
mandant made his usual visit, fudirG
his prisoner in bed The guard had
! been set, and the picket post was also
visited. 1t Was Il dark and stormy
night, the minstrel howled about the
fortress and raising menacing white
caps upon the a AMI The black clouds
hanging low in the sky, giving prom
Use OF rain. Although a steamer had
been signalled just at dark, the Com
mandant felt thai the conditions Ct the
night were favorable to repose, and
after seeing all things in order he, too,
retired. What then passed could only
lie devined. 1t is known to- lay that
about $50 on Sunday evening Nine.
Bazine hired a boat, and, accompanied
by very young man, started out for a
row. CrOlsette fisherman recognized
the lady, and saw her puIling an oar with
feveflsh anxiety, and steering toward
Sainte Marguerite. The boat was soon
lost to sight. 1t was very dark when
the boat came upon the island, where
Nine. Bazine and her companion must
have lain for several hours tossed
about by the storm. Meanwhile, the
Marshal had risen, and after hayipr
attached his kncttcd rope to the iron
bars of thewinIow, aud let himself down
this giddy height. Therope was found
there in the morning, and bearing
eleven frcsi, blood stains upon it to
show that the descent was not effected
without danger. As the small boat
had to keep beyond the surf, Bazaine
had to swim III for some distances; but
he was soon drawn in bT his coura-
geous and loving wife. and the boat
was quickly pulled oil TO the steamer.
The HeXt morning tue Italian coast
was reached, and Bazaine safely land
ed at Saint Reno. 1t was not until
the next morning tha5 the guard had
any lntimatiOn Of the escape of their
prisoner. but it seems strange that DO
one on the island should have seen
either the boat clsse underline wall, or
the steamer only short distance
away.
The young man Who accompanied
Nine. Nine. Dazaine was q member of
her family. a Young Mexican, by the
name of Rull. He has several times
cruised off the island in a steam Yacht.
but it was only the other day that the
Marshal could be persuaded to leave
Colonel Fillette aited at Comes
until the news arrived, when lie start
Ell for Paris to state what lie knew.
bat Y as arrCst5! before arriving. He
lie IS how i'll close confinement at
Greece. Mme. Villette has gone to
me ct her husband, but has not vet
teen permitted TO see him.
The Raleigh News says: The Sec
rotary Of the Treasury has decided to