The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-16
NAPOLEON IN TOR BAY.
Scenes Preceding His Departure
for His Ocean Prison.

Tor His ocean Prison.
Il 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-
tand, in VIII oh 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 cru sers.
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 CT July,
Count Las Cases and General AlIemand
came on board the Bellerophon, then
lying in the Basque Roads, with
u proposal to Captain Maitland that
he should receive Napoleon, who
desiIei 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-
veyed them to the BellerOphon, where
he was received with the honOrS due to
a crowned h ead. On gaining the quar-
ter-decS, 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-
scribcd as about five and half feet in
height, strongly made, decidedly stout,
with sallow complexion ard dark
brown hair, as yet untouched with gray.
He wore a green uniform coat with
epaulets and red Collar, n broad re |
sash, star on the left breast, white waist
coat, boots and pantaloons, and large
cooked hat with the tri-colored cock
ade.
The passage, by reason of adverse
winds, was slow, so that it was the
24th 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 sad that on
first beho,ding the Devonshire coast,
Napoleon could not conceal his admra-
ton, exclaiming: AT length here is
this beautiful country! How much it
resembles Porto Ferraio, in Elba -
No sooner was it known that the DIS
tIrber of the peace of Europe, against
whom they had so long and so stcraly
str.ven, was actually on board ship ut
anchor In Tor Lay, than from Dart
mouth, Paignton, Dawlish, Teign-
mouth, and by-and-by from ports more
distant still, the country-folk thronged
IN boats OF every size and shape, strug-
Cling 10 approach the Bellerophon to
catch glimpse of the fallen Emperor.
So Involvement and dangerous was the I
crowding of these innumerable craft
with the cargoes Of sight-seerS, that it |
became necessary to order the Belle /
rophon' S boats to row round the ship to /;
keep them at 4 respectful distance. /.
No fewer than thousand boats
daily put OF from the shore: and !
Napoleon exhibited no little pleasure !
and amusement at the interest exc ted /
by his presence. From London and a /.
parts of the country. people focked !
down TO Tor bay during the time nee- |
essarily occlp:ed in determ ming Napo-
leon s final destination, we'll pleased if !
they succeeded in catching an occasional |
glimpse of hun as he walked backward !
and forward in the stern gallery wit /
his hands behind him, or SURVEYED |
through an opera glass the varied t,xt- 4
uro OF the crowd in the vessels below. !
As he paced the quarterback in CONVEX.
sation with one or other of his follow
crs he would frequently approach the
ships side and acknowledge tn, saluta-
tons of his visitors Two or thre, I
Frenc-. lad es. wives OF memters of the
su te, dressed in the height of the pre-
va ling fash on, were frequently seated
on deck, with whom, as he paused in
MS walk and stopped to look through
the ports at the vessels alongside. Ma
roieon would now and aoain
exchange a word At six O'Clock
tie dinner-bell rang. whsn the
Emperor with his attendants went
below, the sailors 9Th great good
h'lmor putting out loar on which
Was chalked: "He's gone TO dine.''