Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1881-03-31
ORSINI AND NAPOLEON iii.

Secret History of the Attempt at Assassina-
ton, Told by Lieut., Carlo de Rudio, of
the Seventh United States Cavalry, who
was one of the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Exc
cution and De Rudio's Escape.
The tragic death of the Gear of Russia
re calls the attempt, in 1858, to take the life
of Louis Napoleon by means similar to those
employed by Roussakof and his associate,
an attempt which, while it failed in its
purpose, sent two of the conspirators to
the guillotine in front of La Roquette Pris-
on in Paris, aud two others to that dry
guillotine," as Victor Hugo terms it,
the penal colony of Cayenne
An account of the whole scheme from be-
ginning to end, will be none the less inter-
esting because it came from the lips of
Lieut.. de Rudio, of the famous Seventh
Cavalry, one of the conspirators, who is
well known in Minnesota and Dakota.
Of late years many regicides have been at
tempted, but few of them possess so many
interesting and remarkable details as this
attempt to assassinate Louis Napoleon. The
exact causes leading to that act on the part of
Felix Orsini, Carlo de Rudio, Pieri, and
Gomez, who were the agents OF central soci-
ETY. in London have never been made public.
The story of Napoleon flight to Belgium
and England is well known, together with
his ultimate return and election to the As
sembly, which was largely brought about
by the money of the "Giovana Italia" 1t
was this body, also, who joined the Bona
partists in electing Napoleon to the presi-
dency, in 1S49, the news of which was re-
ceived with extravagant delight by the Itali-
an patriots everywhere. How we'll Napole-
on repaid the assistance given him by tall
ans is known, the Oudinot expedition to
Rome displaying the base ingratitude of the
emperor. AS a member of the "Giovane
Italia, he was bound by solemn oath to
domestic and foreign tyranny, and in the
establishment of their independence as a
nation. Thus it came about that Napoleon
was selected for the assassin's hand.
On the Sth of January, 1858, De Rudio
received nete from Orsini, then in Paris,
directing him to present note to his mis-
tress in London, and secure a box like a
toilet case containing some Illuminating
powder. This and some clothing he was
to take to Paris. De Rudio said to the
writer Of this article some years ago in de-
scribing the plot:
Our intention was to wait for an occa-
sion when the tyrant should proceed to the
opera house, escorted by his Lancers, and
the streets would be well guarded by gend-
armes and Sergeants de Vile. Orsini and
I had agreed that none of the other con-
spirators should know that I was one of
them. AS to myself, I knew some of the
conspirators by name only, to others I had
been introduced. and knew them slightly,
and of others again knew just enough to
doubt whether they were sufficiently brave
for this dangerous undertaking, although 1
believed all of them loyal and capable of
keeping the secret. 1t was further agreed
between US two to destroy all cur CORES
pondence as soon as read.
AS soon as he reached Paris, De Rudio
sought out Orsini, who was living there as
an Irish linen merchant under the name of
Alsopp. He met there for the first time a
man named Antonio Gomez, one of the con-
spirators. Soon afterward they were Joined
by Joseph Andreas Pieri, an old acquaint-
ance of De Rudio. Thus these four men
became known to each other, by accident as
it were, the plan originally being that while
Orsini should know them all they should
not become &C !uainted with each other.
De Rudio, upon Pieri's solicitation, took
lodgings at the latter's hotel Ode France and
Champagne, Rue Montmartre,) registering
as John da Silva, of Portugal, a CONNER
cial traveller from London, and being as
signed to room with Pieri. Iftrouble came
De kudio was to swear he had made Pieri's
acquaintance on the train. On the 14th of
January Orsini told De Rudio the project
was to be carried cut that night. The party
numbered IL, each csnspirator having a
hand grenade, revolver, and stilleto.
The scene of action was Rue Lepellitier, in
front of the Opera house which Napoleon
was to visit that night. De Rudio relating
the affair to the writer, continued:
My grenade contained four pounds of
powder. All the conspirators had their re-
spective posts previously assigned to them.
Four hand -grenades were to be thrown by
| Gomez, myself, Orsini, and Pieri. respec-
| lively. Gomez was to be stationed at the
right hand corner Of the Opera-house,
where he could see the imperial carriage
draw up in front of the grand entrance
The instant the carriage door was opened,
and Napoleon's foot appeared on the step,
he was to throw the grenade as near to him
as possible. Pieri was placed at the opposite
side of the entrance to the Opera house.
Stationed OH the opposite side of the street.
before wine merchants directly, in front
of the Opem-h house, was to watch Gomez's
action. When he threw his grenade, was
to drop on the ground, SO as not to be killed
by the explosion, for both Orsini, (whose
station was opposite the carriage, though to
the left, as well as myself, were in quite as
much danger of being killed as the usurper
and his suite. Immediately after the ex-
| plosion of Gomez's grenade was to throw
mine in the direction Of the carriage. 1--WE
carried the grenades in black silk hand
/ Gx.ro sne eay,l - n.