The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-04-16
NAPOLEON's AMERICAN DREAM.
How Joseph BOnaparte Fled and His
Brother Stayed.

How Joseph BOnaparte Fled and His
Brother Stayed.
Woodwari's ''Bonaparte's Park"
The following deeply interesting ac-
count never before given to the public,
of the escape of King Joseph, from
communicated to the author by Adolph
Maitland, of San Rafael, California, the
son of Louis Maitland, the devoted sec
rotary and most confidential friend of the
eX-king.
"a few hours before embarking on the
French brig which was to take him to
the United States, Joseph sent Maitland
b The emperor, with aletter urging again
his brother to exchange places, and make
his escape from France in Joseph's YES
sell But Napoleon replied verbally to
the messenger: Tell my brother that
have well considered his offer, and that
| cannot accept it. 1t would seem like
flying away from danger; beside, could
not leave behind me so many brave Off
GERS, who have sacrificed everything for
ME. Tell my brother that hope he will
escape the cruisers of England, and ar
rive safely
Joseph on receiving this last answer
sailed Immediately for America. Had
Napolean accepted, he would probably
have reached New York safely, as every
precautiOn had been taken to avoid de-
lection. The vessel selected was a small,
common looking brig, the Commerce.
of two hundred tons, loaded with a cargo
of Bordeaux wines for a market. She
was fast sailor and was strongly built
and was commanded by skillful cap
tain, Messervey, Swede by birth. Al
though three times on the high seas the
brig was stopped and searched by Eng
lish frigateS which were on the lookout
for Napoleon, the passports and papers
OF the passengers on board had been so
carefully prepared under 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
given the name of the vessel, the poor
captain could hardly contain himself, and
called at once upon Louis Maitland who
assured him that it was true, and pre-
sented in all formality to King Joseph.
But why did you not tell meg said he,
Il never would have betrayed him.
Maitland had to explain to him that il
was thought best 10 conceal the real
names and positions of his passengers,
for fear that he might have shown some
hesitation or less assurance when board
ed by the English officers. Il would
have sunk my vessel rather than let
them come on board; you were rightr
Joseph was much amused at this demon
stration of Bonapartism, and sent him a
very handsome present to show that he
appreciated his treatment on board"
1t is well known that some years prior
to the final abdication of Napoleon the
contingency of his being forced to aban-
don France and seek refuge in America
sometimes presented itself to his mind.
The late Esquire Edward Robbins stated
to the author that Louis Maitland relaf;;
ed to him that once when the Emperor
was speaking upon this subject in the
presence of Joseph and some of his Off
GERS, he unrolled a map of the United
States, and placing his finger on a spot
IN New Jersey, 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 arriving at either port" This idea
probably governed the count in his loca-
ton