Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-05-02

81 once enioyed the high honor OF carry
ing letters from the Emperor Napoleon to
Josephine, remarked Mr.. Charles Martel,
French wig maker, at No. SO2 Walnut
street. Mr.. Martel, a venerable looking
gentleman, who is in his eighty-fourth
year. feels very proud of the services ren
derei his Commander ln-Chief on that oc-
casion. Whenever he can be persuaded to
talk of the affair his wrInkled countenance
lights up with emotion, and the oid man
relates with evident pleasure the particu
lars of how he came to be selected courier,
and how well he discharged the task as
signed him.
MIR. Martel was rather disposed to evade
the Interrogatories of his visitor at first,
but he was eventually prevailed upon to
.elI the story. "The Emperor was ad-
vancIpg upon Moscow at the..lme | speak
of. which was in the early par. of the year
1872" Mr. Mariel began. The army
had arrived at Warsaw when Napoleon
issued an order for courier to instantly
set out tor France. | was but thirteen
years of age at the time. and was drum
mer boy ln the Fourth Regiment OF Hus-
sars. Our General came TO me, Knowing
that was good horseman, and told me
that the Emperor wanted to see me- Upon
being led into the presence of Napoleon, /
found three ether soldiers there, who had
also been recommended by their respective
Generals to act as cOuriers. HIS Excel
lency had summoned the four Of us, in
order to see for himself and make his own
selection. When | entered the camp Ma
poleon smiled. and, turning TO my General
asked: do you think the boy will do I "
Though was only lad, and knew moth
ing of the contemplated mission beyond
the fact that there was a long distance 10
be covered on horseback, | was ambitious
to be selected. You NAV imagine how
my heart leaped when my superior vividly
recommended to the Emperor the tricks
he had seen me perform with several OF
the cavslrymen's horses. had learned TO
ride well, and even at the age of thirteen
| could manage a horse as well as any
0ody. Napoleon appeared somewhat
pleased at the rt commentator nf myGener-
al, and remarked: ''He will do" He then
selected another man, much Older than |
was, because at the time II was customary
to send two couriers by different routes
with the same messages, for fear that II
only one were dispatched the letter would
not reach its destination. After dismlssIng
the other two soldiers my cOmrade and L
remained 10 receive our instructions
When all was ready and we were about to
mount our horses, Napoleon said: 81
think the boy will arrive 3rst, though his
route is nine miles longer. Snch encour-
aging words from the Emperor OF France
| fairly set me wild, and resolved to hand
nv packet of letters to Josephine before
my companion, though should fall dead
at the feet of the lady the moment after
dong SO.
81 securely placed my package in a
belt around my waist. The only fo8d
TOOK was some crackers, a few slices Of beei
and flask of brandy, which 1 slowed
away in my saddle bags. Upon Receiving
the word go | sprang lightly INTO the
saddle and dashed away, closely followed
by the other courier. | determined tc
draw away from him before arriving a.
the forks of the road. Digging my spur:
into the horse / gave him the whip, anc
IN few moments had the Subtraction of
seeing him falling behind enveloped IN {
cloud of dust. | mounted fresh horse
every twelve miles along the road, whIcf
were kept in the Government stables fol
the especial use of the Government
couriers. For sixty hours rode along il
,this way. Though | was very Much ia
tigued | never gave up, for | was deter
mined to prove the truth of the Emperor
prophecy that would arrive first. Nigh
and day sped along through the snow
and ram, with only one idea on my mind
and that was TO win the race. The dis
tancv is over 500 miles, but l managed t
get to Paris one fall hour ahead OF ever
competitor. Arriving at Josephine man
sion, which was seven miles outside o
the city. was Immediately ushered int
her reception parlor, though | was covered
with mud from heal to foot. The nobl
LADY gracIously took from my hand tn
} letter, and, with SIMPLE thank YOU,
turned away and departed. The Empero
caused a message to be conveyed to m
rendering his sincere thanks for what
had done"