The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-10-08
Died hv His Own Eand

A dispatch from Brussels, dated Sept. |
goth, gives the following particulars OF
the suicide of General Boulanger, at one
time French Minister of War, and the
idol of the soldiery and the populace.
After stirring experience in the legis
lative assembly. and fierce conflicts per-
sonal and political, he was finally exiled
and took up his residence in Brussels
and then in London, fading out of sight
of thepolitical contests and government
tai events which were stirring Paris.
The dispatch, dated as above, says:
General -Bouianger committed suicide today
on the tomb of Madame de Bonnemein, who
died recently in this city.
Madame de Bonnemain has been known as
the mistress of tile dead general. She accom-
panied him to England after his flight from
France, and early inJuly last she was danger
ousIy i'll in Brussels, suffering from copsump-
ton. A Paris physician went expressly in order
TO treat Madame de Bonnemain by new sys-
TEN of treatment, consisting of inoculating the
person.afected with the germs of phthisis with
gayocol which is obtained from creosote How
ever. in spite OF tie efforts made to save her'
Madame de Bonnemain died during the evening
of July nth.
Madame de Bcnnemain, at the height OF Gtn.
Boulanger's career, lived in the Rue de beafl'
arts. where she was continually visited by the
Genefals Spies kept track of their movements
and soon discovered that the two persons re-
ferred TO were very intimate Nine. Boulanger
was Informed of thesefacts, but refused to APP
ply for a divorce Tt greatly through Nine.
de Bonnemain's favor that General bouiangef
was able 10 carry on his political lntrigues, foi
Madame had inherited fortune of Sl,5n0Oo all
of which sum she devoted to the cause of the
then popular leader. To such an extent old
Boulan.ser carry his infatuation for Madame ce
Bonnemain that when the French government
determined to arrest him, he could not be per
suaded' to pose martyr before the french
people by going to jail, prefering to fly with his
mistress from France to England, and event
ualIy to Brussels, where they have both met
their death.
Central Bculanger committed suicide at about
noon He stood alone by the grave of his mis-
tress for some time, appearing to be deeply az
fected by sorrowful recollections. An attend
ant of the General, who had respectfully re-
manned at some distance from Madame de
Bonnelha1n' IS tomb, suddenly heard sharp re-
port in that direction Running to the spot the
attendant found General Boulanger lying dead
upon the ground. with revolver clenched IL
his right hand. A hasty examination OF The
body showed that he had placed the weapon &c
his right ear and fired the fatal shot.
The affair has caused great excitement IN This
CITY and some co,nmotion among the Generals
followers in Paris. The police and the deaC
mans friends here have taken possession or ms
lodgings aud they have not yet announced if ht
left any statement. The Generals position
financial and political. has it is generally ad
nitted, been getting blacker and biacker of re
,ft1,tS, He had m
and his remaining friends were few and be
coming colder as the once famous General drop
bed more and more out of public notice There
IS no doubt that the General was conscious o
these facts, and that they preyed upon his MIND
Coupled to this was the morbid love or infatu
alton which he had for his dead mistress, tt
whom he was undoubtedly greatly attached, al
evidenced by his renouncing what might have
.,een an important political career, in order t(
Nv with her from France 1t is an open cues
ION as to what would have happened in France
mad the General chosen to face Imprisonment
and a possible political upheaved instead o
prsferring the safer sunshine of Nine. de Bon
J, main's favor.
Revelations made by NJ. Laguerre. the wei
h:.own Boulangist member of the Chamber o
.,puties subsequent to General Bouanger'
ii 5ht, show that he had held relations with TIN
mite de Paris with Prince jerome Napoleon
lbitious and active members of the Royals
T. .rty had spent 100000 francs in advancing
A.. caiase of the man who.has just taken his owl
is,.e over the tomb of his mistress. Lord Ran
'.,iph Churchill, the Marquis de Breteuil, ant
tie sofi-in- law Of the Duchesse d'Uzes the Du'
Il lIuynes. were ALSO at one time warmly inter
rested in General Bouianger's fortunes.
General Boulanger came to this CITY iron
,.ldon a few months ago. Recently he has no
,.turied his former gorgeous residence on TIL
.enue Louise, but, owing TO reduced means
I been compelled to live i'll small hotel
:. here his apartments were very different from
sse he had been accustomed to Genera
49,. the French army, as Minister of War, or a
.ia friend OF Nine. de Bonnemain.
i'iie Generals friends say that he has beel
,,onsolable since the death OF Nine. de Bonnie
al. lin, and that he has aged perceptibiy. He wa
lnaith thinner than during his more prosperou
days.