The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1886-03-26
MONACO'S VICTIM.
His Fathers "Cross Of Honor" Did
Not Save Him.

OnJanuary1 10, 1871, the French army,
besieged in Paris, fought its last battle
the battle of despair. For four weary
months we had suffered mentally and
physically all that human beings can
suffer in this world. Doubt and appre-
hension had succeeded to enthusiasm
and to illusion. Then came the sinister
news of treason and defeat, then cold,
then hunger, then the bombardment,
until our bodies, racked and wasted
with misery, had nothing left but hope
TO sustain them.
Such a condition of things could not
continue indefinitely, and a final and
desperate effort had become inevitable.
The whole population clamored for q
decisive battle; the National Guards,
who were composed of fathers of fami-
lies, many of them gray-bearded,
claimed the honor to march upon the
enemy. The Governor realized that
the hour for supreme action had ar
rived, and resolved to fight the great
battle of Montretout.
Throughout the whole day and night
troops from the forts cross Paris,
marching toward Mont Valerien. The
poor soldiers are terribly exhausted,
and their faces show the traces of their
sulferings.
Think for moment of the weary
long weeks during which they have
slept in the snow, while for some days
they have only subsisted upon meagre
ration of black bread and n mOrsel of
horse-hesh. Nevertheless, they march
proudly with that calm demeanoT
rrrhfnh anpgrrrr,arafau "a frrfaf
On the boulevards, as the regiments
file past, the crowd applaud, and from
time TO time women rush forward to
embrace, perhaps for the last time, q
son or q husband marching to the
front.
But now appears a regiment which
calls forth in an especial manner the
applause of the crowd. From one end
to the other of the boulevards the hur-
rahs ring out, while from the windows
the women wave their handkerchiefs.
1t is the regiment of the "Friends OF
France which, like its predecessors,
is going to the front. In this regiment
there are no Frenchmen-onlyf foreign
ers, friends of France, who by their de.
votion have wished to testify their love
TO a nation whose hospitality they have
so long enjoyed. One soldier in particu,
lhI AALINtAE illN AlLGnAlOn-A UlAAA VI NUkul
forty, with a bronzed complexion, and an
expression of great energy on has face.
ask who he is, and learn that his name
is John Burter, and that he is an
American who for more than fifteen
years has commanded a merchant ves-
sci, of which he is also the owner
One day while on a voyage with his
wife and child he was overtaken by 9
violent tempest when just about to en-
ter Havre. In vain the Captain bat.
tied with all his power against the ele-
ments; his vessel was disabled anC
went aground. John Burter gave NJ
all hope of saving her, for at any mo-
ment his ship might founder, when hi
saw in the distance a little life-boaf
manned by four gallant pilots, who
were making strenuous efforts to reacl
the distressed vessel. Suddenly n hug,
wave carried away one of these brave
sailors, but his comrades were not dis
cOuraged. A second wave swept away
a second sailor, but the hfe-bOat still
struggled onward. John Buffers yes
sci was on the verge of laundering
and he had clasped his wife and hi
son to his breast. when a tOw-rOpt
thrown by the men in the life-boat fel
nt his feet. His vessel was saved, anC
saved through the splendid devotion o
four French pilots.
This devotion had inspired JOIN
Burter with n warm sympathy 70
France. Thus, when misfortune be
fell her, John Burter was one of tn
first to enlist in the regiment of tn
Friends of France" Frenchmen ha,
saved his life, that of his wife, an,
that of his son. In his turn he wOul,
sacrifice himself, if II were necessary
for France. Throughout the day OF
which the battle of Montretout too
place John Burter fought like a lion
and when in the evening the bugl
sounded the retreat, the brave Captain
Law ia the midst of a heap Of the enc
ny's corpses, terribly wounded, bu
still breathing. His gallantry ha
been told to the General commanding
and when the latter passed th
wounded man, he roOk of the cross {
honor which he wore on his tunics an
clasping it on John Buffers breas
said 70 him; Captain, accept thi
cross; It Is the highest reward tbs
France oan bestow on brave men, ]