The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-09-10
Bazaine's Escape...How II was Effected.

Bazaine's Escape.--IIOw II was Effected.
Correspondence New York Trbuns.l
The news of the escape of Marshal
Bazaine reached me upon the Terrace of
Saint-Germain, and L interrupt my
promised repose to give you the details
as they are now reported. If the Radi-
Gals were to succeed to power again, by
any chance, the first act of the new Gov
eminent would be to sign the death war
rant of Bazaine. Although this is an
exaggeration, there can be no manner of
doubt that his life would be i'm danger.
1t was by constant pleading with him
that the faithful wife finally won his con-
sent to leave the island. Some of the
journals pretend that he was on parole,
but this is absurd. A prisoner does not
promise not to escape unless he gets some
privileges in return, and Bazaine has had
none whatever. He has been constantly
subjected to rigid prison discipline, has
never been allowed to walk, except upon
the parapet, some ten feet square, and
has been refused nearly all the privileges
he has ever demanded. He had right
to escape, therefore, if he could, but
whether it was good policy to do so is
question which can hardly be decided 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 losing his own
hope of advancement, was not allowed to
sleep upon the island, but was granted
the privilege of coming over for Il few
hours each day. During the winter Nine.
Bazaine and her children had been upon
the island, but owing to the unhealthy
air of summer they had to be sent away.
AS Nine. Bazaine could no longer be
confined in the walls, under guard, she was
allowed to visit her husband at stated
periods only, and forced to procure per-
nit in advance. On Saturday she made
night that Bazaine escaped. The care Of
the prisoner was confided to only four
guards, drawn from the company of 100
men who comprised the garrison. AT
night squad of men picketed before the
gates of the fortress. Upon the side of
the sea there is perpendicular descent
of thirty metres, nearly thirty-five yards,
and as this side is narrow, no spot was
found for placing sentinel. The guard
had to march upon the other angle, at
some distance from this tolerably safe
point. Indeed, owing to the enormous
size of the prisoner, and his advanced age,
it was thought impossible for him to es-
cape from this dangerous point. More
over, as in the case of Rochefort and the
Communists of Noumea, it appears that
the Government counted upon the sharks
with which the waters are filled to guard
the sea side of the castle. On Sunday
the Marshal had passed the greater part
of the afternoon upon his narrow para
pet, pacing up and down with Col
Villettc; but soon after the departure of
the latter, Bazaine went to his room, and
in a short time retired. About 10 o'clock
the Commandant made his usual visit,
finding the prisoner in bed. The guard
had been set, and the picket post was also
visited. 1t was dark and stormy night,
the mistral bowling about the fortress,
and raising menacing white caps upon
the sea, and the black clouds hanging
low in the sky, giving promise of rain.
Although steamer had been signaled
Just ut dark, the Commandant felt that
the conditions of the night were favora-
bic to repose, and after seeing all things
in order, he too retired. What then
passed could only be OWNED. 1t is
known to-day that about 1880 on Sunday
evening. Nine Baziane hired boat, and
accompanied by very young man,
started out for row. A Croisette fisher
man recognized the lady, and saw her
pulling an oar with feverish anxiety, and
steering toward Sainte Mars uerite. The
boat was soon lost to sight. 1t was very
dark when the boat came upon the island,
where Nine. Bazaine and her companion
must have laid for several hours, tossed
about by the storm. Meanwhile, the
Marshal had risen, and after having at
tached his knotted rope to the iron bars
of the window, had let himself down this
giddy height. The rope was found there
in the morning, and bearing eleven fresh
blood stains upon it to show that the
descent was not effected without danger.
AS the small boat had to epbeyOnd the
surf Bazaine had to swim in for some
distance; but he was soon drawn in by
his courageous and loving wife, and the
boat was quickly pulled off to the steamer.
The next morning the Italian coast was
reached, and Bazaine safely landed at
Saint Reno. 1t was not until next
morning that the guard had any intima-
ton of the escape of their prisoner, but
it seems strange that no one on the is
land should have seen either the boat
close under the walls or the steamer only
short distance away.
Win in1
Nine. Bazaine was a member of her
family, 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. Col. Villette
waited at Cannes until the news arrived
when he started for Paris to state what he
knew, but was arrested before arriving
He is now in close confinement at Gresse.
Nine. Villette has gone to meet her bus-
band, but has not yet been permitted to
see him. As have above remarked. the
comments of the press are extremely
varied, and the Republican journals are
generally ferocious. One thing is GER
tain, and that is that the State has been
very considerably relieved. An immense
burden has been removed. 1t cost over
200, 900 francs year to guard Bazaine,
and he is a constant source of anxiety.
Ofcourse great fuss will be made about
an official inquiry, and about the punish
ment of somebody, but if the press will
only let the matter rest, MacMahon will
be only too glad to dos" In short time
"good radiance" will be the popular
verdict.