Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1886-03-20
MONACO'S VICTIM.
His Fathers Gross of Honor" Did
Not Save Him.

OnJanuary l9, 1871. the French army,
besieged in Paris, fought its last battle
the b,ttle of despair. For four weary
months we had suffered mentally and
physically all that human beings can
suffer in this world. Doubt and apprc-
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 a
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 q moment of the weary
long weeks during which they have
slept in the snow, while for some days
they have only subsisted upon a mcagre
ration of black bread and a morsel Of
horse-fesh. Nevertheless, they march
proudly with that calm demeanol
which accompanies a quiet conscience
On the boulevards, as the regiments
file past, the crowd applaud, and from
time to time women rush forward tt
embrace, perhaps for the last time,
son or a husband marching to tn,
front.
But now appears a regiment which
calls forth in an especial manner tn,
applause OF the crowd. From one en-,
TO the other Of the boulevards the hur
rahs ring out, while from the window
SAC women wave their handkerchiefs
1t is the regiment of the Friends o
France" which, like its predecessors
is going to the front. In this regimen
there are no Frenchmen-onlv foreign
ers, friends of France, who by their dc
yotion have wished to testify their low
to a nation whose hospitality they hav
solong enjoyed. One soldier in particu
lar attracts my attention-aman of abou
forty, with a bronzed complexion, and a
expression of great energy ON his face.
ask who he is, and learn that his nam
is John Burter. and that he is a
American who for more than tiftee
years has commanded a merchant yes
sci, of which he is also the owner
One day while on a voyage with hi
wife and child he was overtaken by
violent tempest when Just about to en-
ter Havre. In vain the Captain ba'
tied with all his power against the ell,
ments; his vessel was disabled an
went aground. John Burter gave u
all hope of saving her, for at any mi
ment his ship. might founder, when
saw in the distance a little life-bo;
manned by four gallant pilots, wi
were making strenuous efforts to reat
The distressed vessel. Suddenly a hui
wave carried away one of these bra
sailors, but his comrades were not di
couraged. A second wave swept aw;
a second sailor, but the life-boat st
struggled onward. John Buffers We
sci was on the verge of founderin
and he had clasped his wife and b
son to his breast. when a tow-ro'
thrown by the men in the life-boat {,
at his feet. His vessel was saved, al
saved through the splendid devotion
four French pilots.
This devotion had inspired Jol
Burter with a warm sympathy (
France. Thus, when misfortune
fell her. John Burter was one of I
first TO enlist in the regiment Of I
Friends of France" Frenchmen h
saved his life. that of his wife, al
that Of his son. In his turn he won
sacrifice himself, if it were necessar
for France. Throughout the day
which the battle Of Montretout to-
place John Burter fought like a lie
and when in the evening the bug
sounded the retreat. the brave Capita
lay In the midst Of a heap Of the n
my's corpses. terribly wounded. b
still breathing. His ~gallantry h
been told to the General commandin
and when the latter passed ~
wounded man, he took of the cross
honor which be wore on his tunio. n
clasping II on John Buffers brea.
said 70 bin, Captain, accept u
cross, Il 10 the highest reward u
France can bsstew On brave men,