The Globe-republican., 1891-07-15

:" NrMN
CAPT. FRANCIS MARTIN, U. s. n.
ford, who fought SO valiantly for the
stars and stripes, was born under the
union Jack; is by birth an Englishman,
by adoption an American.
One. incident in connection with his
nativity is rather amusing. When the
general married his present wife he
went abroad on albridal tour, and made
London his headquarters. Everywhere
he went he was received as an Aneri-
can officer, and feted as such. 1t was
the time when Bradlaugh was contest
ing his seat in parliament and the polit-
ical and personal contest was very ex-
citing. All strangers were debarred
from entrance to the house. but diver
sion was made in favor of the distin.
guished visitor who was presented with
two tickets. At the entrance carriage
after carriage was turned away by the
liveried lackeys, but when Gen. Pull.
ford's name was announced there was g
stentorian cry: Broom for the Ameri
can generals carriage" and he and his
wife were escorted to seats of honor.
And he is true American in purpose
and spirit, member of the Loyal LIE.
gion and loyal lover of michigan, my
Michigan"
''Ship ahoy!"
"H-a-l-l-O.'
''What ship is thatY'
'Purington-from America bound ia
Java. In need of water"
''Stay where you are!"
This nautical conversation took place
on May 6, 1921, between Capt. Williams,
of the American merchant-man the
burlington, and the British sloop Of war
Rosalie, commanded by Capt. Marryat,
the distinguished novelist, who. with
the Vigo, a 74-gun man of war, lay at
anchor in st. James bay, being there
for the purpose of keeping off all YES
sells coming too near the prison home of
the once great Napoleon.
The Purington was, however, per-
mitted to stop for the purpose of OBJ
tanning wood and water, and in defer
ence to the American flag, but scarcely
had the captain and his mate, Mr.. Mar
tin, then a young man, stepped ashore,
than the wind. which was blowing a
gale, caused the ship to slip her anchor
and she was blown twenty miles out to
sea.
She did not return for several hours,
and young Martin was given an oppor-
tunity of seeing the solemn and lonely
burial of the man who for years had
been held prisoner there by the Eng
lish nation.
''He died at Longwood, part of the
island which is $500 feet above the level
of the sea-" said Capt. Martin yesterday
in an interesting chat on this subject,
land it has always been thought that Sir
Hudson Lowe, who was governor of the
island, sent him up there to hasten his
death. He died in a small frame house,
and his remains were placed in plain
wooden coffin and carried to the grave
in a rough hearse. The pallbearers
we're the officers of his staff, loyal
Frenchmen who remained with him in
exile. An English military band pre-
coded the hearse, playing the Dead
March, and several companies of sol.
diers followed. The grave was beneath
a willow tree in a spot selected by him.
self. His own chaplain read a hurried
service. The soldiers fred a volley over
his grave, and the band marched away
playing quickstep."
There had been a great deal of excite
ment; the English soldiers could hardly
conceal their JOY at the death of their
prisoner, as they were now allowed tc
return to their own country.
Capt. Martin said that his mind was
greatly impressed with the lonely spec
tacle and pageant of death under such |
He believes that if |
Napoleon had surrendered to Russia he
would have been treated as a distin- |
yuished prisoner of war.
Everywhere on the island I heard |
him praised for his fortitude, his cour.
lge, and his courtesy to all about him.
md many incidents were related of his
offerings, and the cruelty of Gov. Lowe
oward him"
Capt Francis Martin, q. S. n, is a
lale and hearty veteran of ninety-one
'ears, being born in New York state
n 1900. He has all his faculties at their
'est. beyond slight deafness, and
eads historical and biographical books
ally. He lives with his agreeable
amily at $50 First street, Detroit, and
S one of the picturesque landmarks of
he past which are left to adorn the
boundaries of the present
MRS II L RAYNL