Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-02-11
THE THIRD NAPOLEON.
An Eyewitness Account of Orsini's Da
tardy Course in 1858.


"In January, 1858. the second day
after my arrival in Paris from En-
gland, went to the French Opera
house." said DR.. James F. Noyes.
There was also an opera-house known
as the Italian Opera-house. I went
with gentleman from New York,
who was native of Paris. As we ap-
preached the opera-house in a cab he
remarked that We would not be able
to get seats. I asked him why. and he
answered: Because the Emperor is
going to be there; the street is all illum-
mated / looked out of the cab win
dow and saw it was so.
I'VE found on arriving at the opera
house that the seats were all taken:
then he proposed that we should go
to an opera-boufe in the vicinity. /
told him / would prefer to remain
and see the imperial train arrive. so he
left me at the door of the opera-house.
Soon the police drove all the people
from the front Of the opera-house to
the other side of the street, As the royal
party was then expected. | crossed to
the other side. directly opposite to the
entrance The street was narrow and
the buildings high. a large crowd
gathered upon the sidewalk. and l
was first notified of the approach
os the distinguished party by the COM
motion in the crowd for at that time /
had not learned to speak French. Look
ing down the brilliantly-lighteds street /
saw the party approaching. preceded
by the Cent-gardes. the usual mounted
escort of the Emperor When the
Emperor's carriage came TO
halt at the principal en-
trance a terrible explosion took place
directly. under the horses attached to
the carriage. whichH. in my innocence.
took TO be q grand salute | was some
what dazed by the report. 1t was terri
BILE Instantly a second explosion took
place Immediately under the forward
wheels of the carriage next to the side
on which stood. for. as you will re-
member. there was no one standing on
the other side of the street. In another
moment a third explosion took place d.
rectly under the carriage, when I saw
several gems armes help the Emperor
and Empress out of the carriage, sur
rounding and hastily conducting them
crowd about me PROSTATE on the pave
my might until got around q corner
on boulevard away from the opera
house After walking and running
fully one square in my excitement. /
turned and went back. and when came
to the corner / heard two men talking
English. walked up to them and asked
"a II %o1l
that an attempt had been made on the
Emperor's life. and that they could not
find out whether it had been successful
Or not. told them that had seen it
ali and that the Emperor and Empress
were safe; that / had seen them walk
into the opera-house. What they
said. and you are alive2 Many are
killed and wounded I told them /
stood within thirty feet of the carriage
when the explosions occurred. and
now know my estimate was
right, for I subsequently meas
ured the distance I did not see who
threw the bombs but they came from
the side where | stood. I could not get
TO my original position. every one was
excluded by the police from the street
on which the opera-house stood. so
friend
The next morning full accounts of
the attempted assassination appeared in
the papers. illustrated with pictures of
the hand-grenades which were thrown
by Orsini. In the course of the night
both Orsini and Pianori were arrested.
Orslni had been wounded BY the explo-
sion, and his attempt to obtain surgical
aid led to his arrest These grenades
were charged with Illuminating powder
and fragments of iron. They were oval
IN shape and as heavy as a strong man
could conveniently throw. I subse-
Quently saw some of them. The larger
end had projecting nipples, which were
forced IN as they struck the ground and
thus percussion caps. which ignited the
powder. were exploded It was stated
that Of the crowd on the sidewalk where
I stood one hundred and fifty were
wounded and seventeen killed outright
and tia. the Emperor appeared on the