Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-04-03

Pail Mall Gazette. I

tfAH Mall Gazette.
1t was not until more than two centuries after
the famous 5th of November that the idea of
employil 6 Illuminating process against the
chief OF the state was adopted in France; where
TO blow up Napoleon, at that time First Consul
1t was in each instance on the occasion OF his
visiting the opera that Napoleon, according to
the designs Of his enemies, was TO be blown to
pieces. The Paris Opera House has In fact,
been the chosen scene for carrying out large
number OF murderous pro. ects directed against
attempts made upon the life OF Napoleon l.. II
was in front of the opera that the Orsini shells
were thrown which so nearly disposed of Napo-
leon H.. in the year 1851. 1t was beneath the
poltico, too Of the old Opera In the Rue Richie
lieu that the Dnr dc BERT was aSsassfnated: but
il would be too long story TO give even the
Or1efeSt account OF attacks made upon Sover-
eigns by ordinary means.
a destructive method or n mixed kind Rockets
and grenadeS were to be hurled from various
parts OF the theater into his box But to ensure
his death conspiratOrs armed with daggers and
pistols were stattOnedin the corridor into which
the box opened. with orders to shoot and STAB
him If, escaping the missiles. he attempted TO
make his way to the outer doors. The conSpl-
racy. according to Napoleon himself. who told
the story at St. Helena, was revealed by a cap,
tain in the line. "What limit Is there, - said
NAPOLEON. Ito the combination of folly and
stupidity? This officer had horror of me as
consul, but adored me as general He was
anxious that l should be torn from my post,
but he would have been very sorry that my
life should be taken ought to be made pris-
oner, he said, In no way injured. and sent TO
the army to continue TO defeat the enemies OF
France. The other conSpirat0rS laughed in his
face, and when he saw them distribute daggers
and that they were going beyond his intentions
he proceeded at once to denouaca the whole at
fair" The fnfOrmer having been brought before
him, Napoleon at first suggested to the Project
OF Police that he should not be allowed to go 10
the opera that evening. 1t was decided how
ever that his absence would awaken the sus-
piciOns of the other cOnspiratOrs: and everything
was allowed to go on as though the plot had not
been discovered. The sentinelS outside Napo-
Icons box were ordered to let no one approach
who had not the password issued Immediately
before the ConsuPS departure for the Opera; for
ators had taken up their position in the corri-
dor to extinguish the lights at the moment when
the rockets were to be fired and the shells
thrown, The opera OF the evening was ''Ins
to founded on Comedies tragedy; and the
signal for action was to be the delivery OF
passage In which the Horatii swear to conquer
or die. Then all the lights were to be put out,
and apart from the shells intended for the En-
perOr, fireworks We're to be cast Unfortunately
about the theater, while the general confusion
was to be increased by cries Of ''Firer' The
leaders Of the plot like the claquers OF the pre-
sent day, had attended the rehearsal of the opera
so as to note the cue given to them for their
grand demonstration and attack But at the
performance the prefecture of police was also
largely represented, and there were altogether
upwards OF two hundred persons In the theater
VIII NtIt pdylER dtuSUulUH w eA-
cept with a view to a particular quartet, in
which the old Horatius opened the piece by call
ing upon his sons to swear .'que lie dernies de
vous sera mort Oh vainquer." The instrumental
introduction to the quartet was, however, the
signal for action chosen by the police; and be-
fore the singing began the conSpiratorS were all
in custody in one OF the vestibules of the thea
ter
The second attempt On grand scale against
the life OF Napoleon was executed two months
later, on the 9th OF December. when on his
way to the opera he was made the mark Of an
internal machine" Haydn's creation was
commenced, when during the soft adagio of the
introduction the dull report OF an explosion
| was heard. Immediately afterwards Napoleon
entered his box, attended by the principal mem
bers OF his staff. Josephine's love Of dress had
saved him. AS she was getting into the carriage
she thought OF making some change in her tot
| let, and, going back to her apartments for Z
| few minutes, caused delay but for which b.
naparte and herself would, following the other
| carriages, have passed before the internal ma
! chine at the moment OF its explosion.