, 1881-03-20

Straapss Attempt upon the Ltfo of the
First Napoleon, Etc.

| political affairs III Russia are so depressing
! that it Is no marvel il the people are driven
to desperation. Notwithstanding the gloss
| of civilization thrown over her high society,
| Russia sill remains the country of Ivan the
| Terrible. and Of Peter, equally great on ac-
count of his cruelties Us his gcnius; and a
desire for yengeapce has probably iMpelled
the assassin Of the Czar to commit all i'll
famous deed in the heat Of infuriated pas
sion.
The wretch who attempted the life Of
Alphonse XII. OF Spalnlwas actuated BY de-
sire for notoriety. He had resolved to conl-
nit suicide, but was advised by certain COM
rades to murder the King, and thereby gain
renown in the manner of his death, instead
Of descending to nanleless grave. The
most singular case on record, however, is
that Of the First Napoleon, whose life was
attempted by Frederick Straaps ade1uded
fanatic, who persisted in the belief that God
had appeared to him in dream and con'-
manded him to commit the deed.
This was early in October, 1868, when
Napoleon was in Sch0nbrun, arranging d
treaty of peace with Austria. Every day..at
noon the Emperor reviewed his soldiers in
the court of the chateau OF Sch6nbrun; which
event attracted large crowd Of spectators.
Alost " "uoln calie eAEHessly lioui fleAlla
to witness this pageantry.
On Tuesday, the l2ttl Of October, after hay-
inc descended from tI,e chatnon hn c,ossad
~ - .,o s1.s ~. ;1i. az ssossu
tne cou,1 10 app1olcl .ue .lsnl VI Jug lesl-
mem ment which formed 4;, the flrst l'ne, when =;
rection, as If desiring to accost the Emperor,
Tic pr;nr. pa1tbiar no+;cod th;s .no,.s1,an+
and snnTrin, h;s horse ala ,11sd tta sa,,tl,
aau' spuII1ns MS NURSE '1oresta14ea lue youth,
and fflnc 1duraeSa6 him.
WheTe are YOU going =,
II wish to speak to the Emperor,
One does not THUS address the Emperor.
he1rs 1 'mmeaiatelE ;1l'; H., .,,o .o+;o .+
AHu, making sign TO n6 Sentlnels Sta-
toned here and there TO preserve order, the
young l' man was conuueteu oulslde the lines.
But It was not long before the same indic
v!aual aga'n appearea 9enlna the hle Of
Erehaalelse M @ esaoen1ay ~ enqeavof,ng 10 reaet
tne llcaa OF Lne colunin. NotWlinsta1lalngt ne
was again repulsea, ne persisted SO torribly
IN adyancmg that II vas necessary to sun
mon 4e gendarmes TO conduct nlm to the
post OF u.e M palace; On ne way It was als-
ny one OF ne Tn ogeeS fat ne na
under the right side Of his redingote.
why are you thus armed - asked the
ofhcer OF the post
the nas la,,ae rs NAM my secret 1eashly answered
The Duke de Kov1go, summoned oy the
gendarmes, arrived promptly and questioned
the offender. me prisoner, without heslta-
tlon: declared tfat he mad formed the project
OF k,ii!ns y, lt me E;mPeror. ;, +o
full Of disdain; / au! Saxon, and am nine
zen years @d n a. 1ia MS 'aff Is
Placing him securely between two gen
darmes, he Duke &c KovlEn hastehed e tile
s nlo ta orf waf of wat6R t6 v oe9v n ol
had already s3 een Of bt the e. snEs5 h
he did not place mueR talth until the Duke |
de Koy1go showed him the knife found on !
Straps, when he remarked, In almost jest
Ing tone:
All! this IS Inherent. There really seems
to be something in it. Let the young man De
brought to me: will question him myself
After the dehle tne Enlpeforfetaillcu some
of the Generals who had assisted at the pa
riSine at at the salon Dc service, lie found il,
de EhaAlpasny awaiting hlm.,
do you know" said he, calmly, "that the
Prince de Llchtensteln f2s right Whenshe
Informed you ~, tilat a PROJECT was on loot 10
What does your Majesty mean by these
words - asked Lile Minister.
Yes. to assasinate me-" repeated Napo.
leon. line attempt was made noment
you will Enow all.
An instant afterwards, the Duke de Rovig |
ordered Straaps to be brought by all officer
INTO the presence Of the Empepr; and, on
seeing man 50 young, Napoleon was over
come with pity:
1T cannot be possible. he exclaimed,
- tEa- inns youIn mas conceived SUCH Il nlol-
;trous idea!''
Then, having asked the prlsoner.lf he rec
ogl;ixed him; Straps, whom the presence OF
ne Emperor did not seem in The least to i'll
Limitla1e, answered, coolly:
es. Sire"
And where have you seen me -
At Erfurth, last autumn.
Notwithstanding this information Napo-
con cherished his first idea, and. addressing
himself to Corvlsart, the head physician Of
he Court, who had just entered, he pointed
owartls the young German, rent"Fk!ng:
- lon will discover. Doctor, that THIS poor
ellow,ls either derangeu or all lnbecl!e.
!! He then questioned the prisoner netore @