Evening journal., 1888-09-24
Marshal Bazaiine Dead
One of the Most Notable Fig
ures in Modern History.
A FIGHTER ON TWO CONTINENTS.

He Died IN Poverty, of Heart Disease.
sketch q MS Remarkable Military ca
reer on Two cOsstinents-Tho ouuse of
His Downfall
MADRID, Sept. 24-<runcots Achille
Bazaine, eE-fnarsllal Of France, died here yes
terday. He was n years OF age. Heart
disease caused his death.
His exile has been spent fur the most part
IN poverty. The little money which came %
him from time 10 time aus contributed By
some Of the few peTso1s who adhered to the
belief that lie was victim Of circumstances
nnd the ingratitude Of his country
Bazaine was born at Versailles in 1901. He
was destined TO he soldier from the first,
and was educated at the Ecole Polytech-
nique He entered tho army in 1851, aud
after having seen considerable service In
Africa was made a lieutenant in 1886, and
received the cross of the Legion q Honor.
lie fought in Spain against the Cerlists and
then in Algeria and Morocco, and at the out
break Of the CrimeaD war he was sent to the
'front.' in command Of brigade. His career
was gallant one and his promotion had been
rapid.
Bazine first became proninaslt in American
fovey in supreme command a the French
forces in Mexico He fought gallantly to
establish Maximilan as emperor Of Mexico.
and conducted two campaigns against Presl-
dent Jurez and his republican forces, with an
ability worthy Of what In American ewes
would have been better cause To him was
duo the organization OF barbarous system
of guerilla warfare against the natives, which
was carried ON by Col Duptn- Il was during
his service in Mexico Chat he was made
marshal
But there were fatal Observation-Disclosures
between Macmillan and Bazaine. The lat
ter was accused Of secretly plotting with the
enemies of the emperor. He married rich
Mexican Lady whose family sided with
Juarez The drift Of opinion in the United
States was hostile 10 the empire, and there
was danger Of an outbreak ON the border. So,
early In 1867, after having declared Maximil
lans position untenable, Bazaine withdrew
ms forces from the capital and embarked at
Vera cruz, leaving the emperor to his fate.
Bazaine was violently denounced in France
on his return, but nevertheless be was placed
IN command Of an army corps, and on the
outbreak OF the Franco-Gefman war ia 1870
he was stationed at Metz He was then COM
mander-in-chief Of the imperial guard. On
the captulation Of Sedan he retired into the
fortress Of Metz He attempted to retreat on
Aug. H. 1870, hoping to join MacsIahon and
the new army he was gathering at Chalops
but the Germans worstad him at MARSHA
Tour and Gravelotte and Prince. FpNIerick
Charles shut him and his army up in Metz
Bazaine endured a ssige Of seven weeks. and
then surrendered, on Oct z, with his entire
forces, which included three marshals, iifty
generals and 17S0O0 men He left France i'm
mediately, for his life was in danger.
The capitulation Of Metz is one Of the
memorable events in the history Of war. and
It has been discussed almost endlesslv by
military authorities. Bazaine has been Wig
orousy accused Of both incapaeitv ana trea-
son, and as vigorously defended. He was
summoned from England in 1871 by the
national assembly to answer charges before a
special commission, and as a result OF their
report was tried by a court martial Of gen
eral officers, over which the Due d'Aumale
presided. on charges Of military incapacitv
IN allowing himself to be shut in Metz by a
nearly equal force, and Of treason in attempt-
ing to make himself independent Of the gov
ernment of national defense. which had been
organized after the emperor's downfall
no direct verdict was returned ON the lat
ter charge, but on the former he was CON.
victec and sentenced TO death. But the court
added recommendation to mercy, and Pres
ident MacAiahon colnmuted the sentence 10
imprisonment for twenty years in the for
tress. This was in December 1873
Bszaine was accordingly dismissed from
the army and sent to the Isle St Marguerite.
in the Mediterranean, off Cannes He re-
manned there about nine months enjoying the
society Of his family and former aide dc
camp. An effort to secure a modification of
the sentence from imprisonment 10 exile
failed and then Bazaine took the modiica-
tion into his hands On the morning of
Aug. 10, 1874, he was missing. But rope
dangling from the parapet told the story. 1t
afterward came out that Nine Bazaine and
others received him at the base of the wall
and took him aboard ship which lay con
veniently near.
Bazaine then went 10 Italy, thence 10
Cologne afterward 70 England and finally
settled in Madrid, where he has since lived.