The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-09-09
BaZaiEe'S Escape.
THE PLAN OF HIS ESCAPE SAID TO HAVE
BEEN ARRANGED IN THE CITY OF
NEW ORLEANS.

and inclosing a letter purporting to
have been received from France, re-
counting the story of Marshal b.
zalne's escape from Ste. Marguerite
and the story of the plan which led
to the event. 1t will be observed
that the letter bears date five DAYS
before the date of Bazaine's escape
as reported by telegraph, and for that
reason is exceedingly liable to be
classed as an unreliable document
without discussing the probability
OF its truthfulness, we give it below
as bit ofinteresting reading matter.
MARsEILLEs,
August 4, l874.]
My DEAR FRIEND:-I hasten to in
form you that the plan you sent US
was put into practice, and succeeded
admirably. When presented your
letter to Madam la Marechale she was
fired with enthusiasm, and common
ced preparations Immediately. No
thing could exceed her nerve, and l
assure you, my dear friend, her won
derful sangfroid as to consequences
inspired US all. We could not if we
wished, be Indifferent when such a
woman commands us. AS you sug-
gested, the boat of Count S. was con-
verified into a fishing smack, and for
several days we were all, including
Madame la Marechale, simple bour-
geoise engaged in fishing for living.
You would have laughed to have
seen her with her dainty hands fill
her basket with fish. For a week we
kept up our ayoeation, passing to and
fro unobserved and unmolested.-
Many time we were overwhelmed
with apprehension when Madame Of
fered her fish for sale. Watching
our time, and signal agreed upon at
the Quay de Provence, Heaven SEEM
ed to have favored US, for as it was
unusually dark we succeeded in sue
cessfully putting to sea. You know
Ste. Marguerite is not very far, still
it was very rough, and it was past
before we reached the
steam yacht Baron de Ricosoli. It
IS impossible for me to describe to
you the excitement of all of us, and
above all the intense anxiety of Ma
lame la Marechale. We were all in
'pired with the magnitude of our un-
'ertaking; we felt our lives depended !
lpon success. The night, as said,
vas unusually dark; the solitary !
light on the high cliff of Ste. Mar c
'uerlte shone like q star in the dis
ance, and all eyes were strained to
atch the signal. We watched and
waited in breathless anxiety. No
ign, no signal greeted us. "Nlon {
)ieu' Madame la Marechale ex- u
laimed, with hands clasped, ':we a
ave been frustrated" Hardly had 9
he words passed her lips when a vi v
let light-the light of Bonaparte- $
hot above the light we had watched h
0 eagerly. a.
"Voila," exclaimed Madame, jump a
lg to her feet, and before we could
ecover our senses we were in our
oat, and with mufled oars-Mad- II
me taking one herself-we were soon
nder the cliff at Ste. Marguerite.- ell
he rope was hanging from the bat
ement; we caught hold of it, and CT
ION felt that some one was descend I
g. A moment later the Marshal
as in our midst! r.
We had no time to talk; no time
r sentiment. Madame la Mare at
lale had tainted away. We rowed ri
r our lives, and l assure you that
If anxiety was so intense that when dc
reached the steamer we were all tn
overcome. Before the
of Ste. Marguerite was til
rake we were safe from all pursuit.
[ merely write You this in hurry, m
l know your anxiety to know all. kr
a few days [ will send you more tn
lgthy details. hi
The Marshall will stop some time hs
the Chateau de Aremenburg, where tn
er Majesty is rusticating. Look SO
t for big news. Most everything hs
prepared. The star of Bonaparte th
about to rise again. Yours, NJ
CONRAD. so