Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1880-02-12

Woodwar,l'5 "Bonaparto's Park"
The following deeply interesting a,
count, never before given to the public, {
the escape of King Joseph from France
and his voyage to America, was commit
nicated tothe author by Adolph MailliarC
Of San Rafael, Cal, the son of Loui
MaiIliard, the devoted secretary and mos
confidential friend of the ex-King:
"a few hours before embarking on th
French brig which was to take him to tn
United States, Joseph sent Mailliard
the emperor, with q letter urging agai
his brother TO exchange places, and max
his escape from France in Joseph's vessel
But Napoleon replied verbally to the mes
sanger: 'r,ll my brother that | hav
well considered his offer and that canno
accept it. 1t would seem like flying ava,
from danger; beside ! could not leavt
behind me so many brave officers, wht
have sacrificed everything for me. Tel
my brother that hope he will escape the
cruisers Of England, and arrive safely
'Joseph in receiving this last answer
sailed Immediately for Ameica. Had Ma,
poleon accepted, he would probably have
reached New York safely, as every pre-.
caution had been taken to avoid detection.
The vessel selected was a small, common.
looking brig, the Commence, of two hun
dred tons, loaded with cargo of Bor.
deaux wines for market. She was a
fast sailer and was commanded by a skill
full captain, Messervey, Swede by birth.
Although three times on the high seas the
brig was stopped and searched by English
irigates which were on the lookout for
Napoleon, the passports and papers of the
passengers were so carefully prepared un-
der fictitious names that they were not
discovered. The captain of the brig did not
even know who they were until a few days
after they landed in New York.
"The newspapers having published an
account of his successful escape, and Civ
en- the name of the vessel, the poor cap
tain could hardly contain himself, and
called at once upon Louis Mailliard who
assured him that it was true, and present.
ed him with all formality to King Joseph.
But why did you not tell me? said he, I
never would have betrayed him. Mail.
hard had to explain to him that it was
thought best to conceal the real names
and positions of his passengers, for fear
that he might have shown some hesitation
or less assurance when boarded by the
English officers. 4 think you are right,
said the captain; 4 would have sunk my
vessel rather than let them come on
board; you were right Joseph was
much amused by his demonstration Of
Bonapartlsm, and sent him very hand.
some present to show that he had appre.
ciated the treatment on board"
1t is well known that some years prior
to the final abdication of Napoleon the
contingency of his being forced to aband.
on France and seek refuge in America
sometimes presented itself to his mind,
The late Esquire Edward Robbins stated
to the author that Louis Mailliard related
to him that once, when the emperor was
speaking upon this subject in presence Of
Joseph and some of his officers, he un-
rolled a map of the United States, and
placing his finger on spot in New Jer-
sey, said in substance: "If | am ever
forced to fly to America, | shall settle
somewhere between Philadelphia and
New York, where can receive the earliest
intelligence from France by ships arriv-
ing at either port" This idea probably
governed the count in his location.