West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-12-06
ON the Bellerophon.

In Fulton county, Ca. there is now living
an old man who enjoys the distinction OF
having guarded the great Napoleon during
HE short captivity on the Bvllcrophon. pre-
viOus 90 his departure FOR 81 Helena Mr.
Gregg, for that is the name of The old man,
is now eighty 1--WE years OF age, hut is still
IN the enjoyment of good health, and his
memory seems To- hc uuimpaiyvd. In the
course OF a conversation with the veteran
some time ago. a few facts were elected
which will doubtless bo OF interest 10 the
many admirers Of the French Emperor
Gregg. according to his statement, was
one OF The British marines on the Bcllclo.
phon. After the Emperor Napoleon. or
General Bonaportc, as lac was studiously
called 10y the officers OF the vessel, came ON
board and surrendered hmsch to Captain
Maitland, claiming the hospitality Of Eng
land, he was assigned cabin and one of
the marines always ON duty at the door.
This post fCll TO Grcgg's lot number of
times, and he soon began 20 feel friendly
interest in the illus,r.ous prisoner
'llow did Bouapartc look and act 2" /
asked.
He was the graudyst looking man | ever
saw, replied Gregg ale had "A splendid
head, dark brow hair and face like mar
blr. His eyes were a light blue, and when
I'm high spirits his smile was the sweetest
Imaginable
''llc was cheerful at All tunes, was hr ?"
''Ch, yes; sometimes he would speak To
me and TO the common sailors as pleasantly
as YOU please. lie would utter few words
oi English, and then ask if what hc said
was correct, and when we would point out
his mistakes rs well as We could lac would
laugh like boy; and then hc would turn
the tables by picking flaws in our French
oh, he was rare one, sir
always in good humor, thcng"
"Wcll, no, sir. Sometimes he was very
blue, and then again lac would yet mad,
and, Lord, sir, how he would swear"
''Swear The great Napoleon swear ;"
Yes, sir, that lac did. lie would swear
by the hour at anybody or anything that
crossed his path.
"how did he pass his time ~ qucred
"llc read some, and talked with tho OIL
GERS a good deal, and then lac was very fond
of pacing the deck. Sometimes he would
shut himself up IN his cabin all day, but
generally lac was was walking about motto
ing everything Nothing seemed 10 escape
him. and hc was i'm the main very willing
W NHiN ~ oti bP'll tl4AN tdlilt dDuB. sNOillc-
times hc was unasSuming, and then again,
considering his position as "A prisoner, and
all that, it did look as If he was a little too
naughty
'ljid he ever appear at all COwcd ~
"Cowed! Not bit of il. Why, sir
nc walked the deck as though he owned the
vessel and everybody ON it, He would get
blue and mad, as ! said before. but he al
ways carried himself grandly, and every
body, from the Captain down, showed him
the greatest possible respect In fact, we
all tool, liking TO him, and that's the truth
about it. ="
"What was Napolcons height, as near
as YOU could guess p
"Wcll, " replied old Gregg, mcditativcly,
they tell me that he was a little man. but
! did not think so when I saw him. 1t was
because was "A raw youth, suppose, and
The sight of the greatest man in thc worlds
history dazzIcd me. But, then, his man
ncr was always SO dignifcd and impressive
that we never thought Of his small
stature
what was the opinion Of those on the
Bellcrophon in regard to the Emperors fu
turcY'
'Why, sir, VIC all thought that hc would
be received as England's guest, and by some
provision in the treaty be allowed pension
on condition Of not again taking up arms.
We had no idea Of anything else and sir,
Our men shed tears OF humiliation when
they learned that Bonaparte was not to be
permitted TO land on English soil-thcy did,
sir, and our officers, too, were a great deal
ruflled and they felt that the British Go
vernment was doing something that WAS
mean, petty and a Vicious