The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-09-20

that rideman's place is among the heroes Of
history. AEYER. j
& Ftanksin, September Z, 1876.
Napoleon at st. Helena.
INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES OF AN OLD
vErERAN-NAPoLEoN's IMPRISONMENT AND
4 DEATH.
An old soldier who served as one Of the
guard over Napoleon at st. Helena has re-
lated the following interesting story to a
writer in the London Times. The veteran
served under Sir Hudson Lowe, and he
says:
Sir Hudson loves quarters were at mile
/ and half distance from Napoleon's. A
captain either OF the Sixty-sixth or the
Twentieth regiment was always stationed
inside Boney's compound, and 1t was
his duty to see him once every day.
Boney knew this was the case, and while
he would not report himself, he would
give him opportunities Of seeing him, I'M
less he were sulky. He was very sulky
sometimes, perhaps would not show him
self for several days. The captain on the
watch would signal accordingly, and after
two or three days Sir Hudson would come
ask, nWhere is Napoleong" Gin his
study" tTell him ] want him." Perhaps
after time he would show himself without
coming to the Governor.
At the beginning Of the year 1921 Sir
Hudson sent Napoleon orders to occupy
four rooms which were completed in the
new State prison. Napoleon, with his gene
rails, came and looked at the apartments,
and said (as was reported), 81 am ordered
by Hudson TO occupy this place, but will
never live q day in it." he returned to his
old quarters, and the next day reported
himself sick to Dr.. Arnott, the physician Of
our fTwentieth) regiment. He was never
seen afterWard by any guard or sentry
never, in fact, came out from his house
again till he was brought out to
his grave about seven weeks after
ward. 7 was one OF twelve who car
distant, perhaps rather more, from his
house. A lieutenant OF our regiment Uieu-
tenant Connorl and a sergeant under him,
commanded the funeral party. The body
was laid in shell Of tin, this placed in
leaden coffin, and this in mahogany coffin
covered with superfne black cloth. MIR.
Darlan (storekeeper) told me that one thou
saEd yarllsof black cloth, valued at a guinea
q yard, were employed to drape the three
weeping willows which were OF the spot at
which he had requested to BIO buried.
The small spring at which he procured his
drinking water was at the same spot. A
Chinan1ar, had been employed at dollar
day to fetch each morning two silver COB
lets Of water, holding pint and n haft each.
The whole garrison was in attendance at the
funeral. Ali had passed through his cham
Der previously as he lay in state.
BOney was the latest man / ever saw.
The calves Of his legs, and his checks, too,
you might see them shake as he was walk
ing; and yet he had not the rudy, healthy
/, look our people had. He would carry
stick about as thick as my walking-stick,
with an iron spud at the end, and If ne saw
o weed he would always spud 1t up, any
where he, went. Four nights out OF seven
was on sentry, and would fall asleep while
walking and stray off the path; and then
nv hair would stand on end with fright and
raise my cap, for knew If were caught
mapping was safe for three hundred lashes.
Z have heard men say that their sufferings
from want Of rest In st. Helena were more
trying to them than the hardships OF cam
paign.
Napoleon died on the 9th. Of May, 1921.
Two priests were in attendance. We who
had to lift the body were not allowed to
touch the coffin until priest had sprinkled
us with holy water. We started at 8 O'Clock.
The coffin was very heavy. We carried it
six at d time, and the men TINT were lowest
down In carrying him suffered all the pun
ishment. i was one OF these. ALL the gar
risen was assembled about the Emperor's
quarters, and followed him to the grave, the
bands playing dead march. Il was re-
ported that Napoleon had requested to be
buried with the honors Of royalty, II guns;
but the Governor ordered 10 guns to be
<lxo ,boyr 10
carried the body where cart with oxen
could not go; but in certain parts Of the
distance the men were relieved, and the
body drawn upon cart. The Roman Cath
ole priests who had been in attendance on
him conducted the funeral service. The ac-
tual funeral took place at about p. NJ.
Nine or ten OF us had been employed for
three days in excayating in the rock cavity
seven feet deep and eight feet square, The
rock was blasted, and where the powder
had made the sides uneven It was filled In, .
and the cavity smoothed all round. In the
cavity thus made by sappeTs and miners, as
sisted by my own abors and that OF others,
Aagstones were inserted in the rock and
formed into q case or box, which re-
ceiVed the coffin. The coffin was covered
over with large fiagstone, and the four
corners were bored and filed In with melt
ed lead, which fastened them firmly togeth-.
er. The remalnde Ter OF the excavation sSas,
filed in with the rubble and leYelled, and o.
mound resembling common grave raised
above 1t. An iron palisade was placed
round, and Bentries kept over II night and
sday until an the troops were Withdrawn.
They were gradually with drawn, and our
regiment left six months after the funeral.
Every manof full ageon the island, what,
ever his ordinary occup alton, was required