The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-24
A TITLED HUCKSTER.


Prince Murats Checkered Career in New Jer-
sey-How He Scattered His Love.
Trenton IN. j. Special.
Aside from the fact that this city was the
scene of fierce and decisive battle of the
revolutionary war;. in which the troops
were led by the immortal Washington,
Trenton is a city of historic note. 1t was
here that Prince Murat, of France, lived
in wealth. and where he struggled for
bread in the loneliest walks of life. He
sought refuge in America, first taking up
his residence with his kinsman, Ma
poleon Bonaparte. at Bordentown.
The old mansion where the. two
fallen somewhat into decay from neglect
and age, still stands on the summit of q
high bluff overlooking Crosswick's creek,
the wonderful and picturesque beauty of
which has been so graphically described by
DR.. Charles Z. Abbott in his work entitled
upland and Meadow" 1t is surrounded
by magnificent specimens of American for
estry, with wide-spreading branches and
deep foliage, and is now known as Bona
parte Park. AS far as the eye can reach,
stretch the BOrdentOwn meadows, remark
able for their luXuriance and picturesque
ness of vegetation.
1t was in this beautiful place that Napo-
leon and Murat dwelt. They were both
fearful that they might some day be sur,
prised by their enemies, and SO provided
many avenues of escape Almost as soon
as they began occupancy of the manson
they constructed a secret underground pas
sage running from the house to CrOsswick's
creek At the mouth of the creek where it
empties into the Delaware they kept trim
little schooner in readiness for instant
flight should occasion demand. The plan
was to proceed by the underground pas
sage, which is still in existence, and board
the yacht on emerging at the streams mar
gin.
The fears of the Frenchmen, however.
were without foundation, for they lived at
Bordentown in peace until Napoleon at last
received word that it would be safe for him
to return to his native country.
Prince Murat, however, decided to live in
America, and after Napoleon had departed
he engaged in the widest carOusals. He
frequented the bar-room and passed his
time in all kinds of dissipation, gratifying
every passion. In short time he had run
through his fortune, and in order to main
tain existence was obliged to go to work.
His relatives in France hearing of his
drunken habits refused to aid him, and so
he moved to Trenton and took up his abode
in modest little dwelling on the site now
occupied by the New Jersey steel and iron
works. No one ever dreamed that the
seedy young huckster for he drove a huck-
ster's wagon) would ever be restored as a
prince of the empire of France, and the
poor laborers who extended him helping
hand, and occasionally lent him small sums
of money when he was Short" never
anticipated being repaid, as they were in q
very substantial manner.
The Prince maintained hand to-mouth
existence for nearly a year, selling fruits
and garden truck for Ewing farmer.
Finally he went to work altogether on the
farm which is about two miles from this
city and known as the Harlan estate. The
principal duty of the young Frenchman
was to drive into town with milk. He was
of quite a sentimental nature. and made
love to all the pretty girls along his route.
and proposed marriage to at least score of
them and was refused in every case. He
was seedy-looking and not altogether
comely, and the girls undoubtedly pre-
ferred the dashing city youths. Perhaps
had they known that he was prince of the
great French empire they would have acted
differently.
Finally the Prince received word that his
kinsmen were no longer unfayorable Il
him. and that a fortune and vast estate.
awaited him in France. He made all haste
to begin his new life. He returned Il
| France, came into his possessions and mar
| ried happily. He had two sons and two
| daughters The two latter married Italian
! noblemen. The eldest son came to tn,
| United States and settled in the South. de