The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-12-15
NAPOLEON IN TOR BAY.
Scenes Preceding His Departure
for His Ocean Prison.

for His Ocean Prison.
1t is all but impossible to realize the
scene of excitement with the calm blue
waters of Tor bay, crested with the
bright sunshine of the summer of 1915,
presented, when the Emperor Napoleon
arrived on board the Bellerophon, soon
to be transferred to the Northumber-
land, in which he was conveyed to St.
Helena. After the world-earthquake,
Waterloo, when the allies entered Paris,
and the French army declared for Louis
XVIII, Napoleon made his way to
Rochefort, where he arrived on the Sd
of July, and whence his attempts at es-
cape were frustrated by the moonlight
and the vigilance of the English cruisers.
Two frigates had been placed at his dis
posal to facilitate his flight to America,
and arrangements likewise made with a
Danish smack which was to await him
out at sea; but to reach her under the
circumstances was deemed an attempt too
hazardous. At last, on the 14th of July,
Count Las Cases and General Allemand
came on board the Bellerophon, then
lying in the Basque Roads, with
a proposal to Captain Maitland that
he should receive Napoleon, who
desired to proceed to England for the
purpose of throwing himself upon the
generosity of the Prince Regent. Cap
tain Maitland clearly explained that it
was out of his power to grant terms of
any sort, and that his instructions only
permitted him to convey Napoleon and
his attendants to England; on which
understanding the ex-Emperor, with his
baggage, embarked the following morn
ing on board French brig, which con-
yeyed them to the Bellerophon, where
he was received with the honors due to
a crowned head. On gaining the quar-
ter-deck, the Emperor said in French to
the Captain: Il am come, sir, to claim
the protection of your Prince and of
your laws" In appearance he is de-
scribed as about five and half feet in
height, strongly made, decidedly stout,
with sallow complexion and lark
brown hair, as yet untouched with gray.
He wore green uniform coat with
epaulets and red collar, broad red
sash, star on the left breast, white waist
coat, boots and pantaloons, and large
cooked hat with the tri-colored cock
AIDE.
The passage, by reason of adverse
winds, was slow, so that it was the
Oath ere the Bellerophon arrived in Tor
bay, when Captain Maitland was Sig
nailed to stand out three leagues from
shore, and there wait further orders
from the Admiralty. 1t is said that on
first beholding the Devonshire coast,
Napoleon could not conceal his admira-
ton. exclaiming: "At length here is
this beautiful country! How much it
resembles Porto Ferrajo, in Elba."
No sooner was it known that the dis
turber of the peace of Europe, against
whom they had so long and so sternly
strlyen, was actually on board ship at
anchor IN Tor bay, than from Dart
mouth, Paignton, Dawlish, Teign-
mouth, and by-and-by from ports more
distant still, the country-foR thronged
in boats of every size and shape, strug-
Cling to approach the Bellercphon to
catch glimpse of the fallen Emperor.
So inconyenient and dangerous was the
crowding of these innumerable craft
with their cargoes of sight-seers, that it
became necessary to order the Belle
rophon's boats to row round the ship to
keep them at respectful distance.
No fewer than a thousand boats
daily put off from the shore; and
Napoleon exhibited no little pleasure
and amusement at the interest excited
by his presence. From London and all
parts of the country, people focked
down to Tor bay during the time nee
essarily occupied in determining Napo-
Icons final destination, well pleased if
they succeeded in catching an occasional
glimpse of HIM as he walked backward
and forward in the stern gallery with
his hands behind him, or surveyed
through an opera glass the varied text
ure OF the crowd in the vessels below.
As he paced the quarterback in CONVEX
sation with one or other of his follow
ers, he would frequently approach the
ships side and acknowledge the saluta-
tons of his visitors. Two or three
French ladies, wives of members OF the
suite, dressed in the height of the pre-,
vailing fashion, were frequently seated
on deck, with whom, as he paused IN
his walk and stopped to look through
the ports at the vessels alongside, Ma
poleon would now and again
exchange word. At six o'clock
the dinner-bell rang, when the
Emperor with his attendants went
below, the sailors with great good
hnmor putting out board on Whlc y,
was chalked "He's gone to dine.
He usually remained about half an
hour, when another board announced
his reappearance on deck. It was as. about at
destination became known to him
through the newspapers. and he was