New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-28
BYRON,S FLIGHT FROM PISA.
THE CRIMES OF HIS COMRADES ALMOST
PROVOKE A RIOT.

In q recent issue OF the Berner Tageblatt' D.
pettelheim. the author has written An entertaining
article upon the experiences Of Lord Byron in Fsa ana
the events which led TO his flight from that Hahau
city. o,
In no biography of Byron" says Bettehem, nave
found correct account Of the incidents when caused
the poet to abandon Pisa where according to his own
confessions he was the happlest OF description
Of the trouble which Byron had with the sergeant
Major Etenne Mast Is full Of interest.
aEtienne Mast, with his company Of mounted
hunters was stationed at Pisa. He was not nnsN.
of the Legion of Honor, as has been clahed' iio la"
fought bravely however In several of Napoeons cam
paigns and had distinguished himself BY MS auoDl'y
and absolute lack Of fear
"Late in the afternoon OF March H. loZZ' Naei
was returning home from ride In the country WHEN
about q mile from the city he met group OF eegano
yonnc men, who also on their way 10 the to"h'
As he learned LATER the group consisted OF Lord Byron
and his friends. The young men we're engaged III
lively conversation and took up all the space IN the
road AS Mast was obliged to use his company as
C1ards at the theatre that evening he put spurs 10
his horse and attempted to pass the cavaliers lie
soon saw however that they purposely tried 70 pre-
vent him from proceeding on his way. He lost all
patience His horse too became unmanageable' ana
sprngng to the side Of the street over pile OF stones
he passed the crowd. In doing so, he struck against
one Of the cavaliers whose hat In consequence OF the
| collision fell from his head lie ignorant OF tile
! name Of the man. Mast fastened on toward Plsa,
| but was pursued and surrounded by the cavaliers"
They demanded satisfaction for the insult heaped upon
| them. Lord Byron and an English colonel with
long sweeping mustache handed Mast their cards and
| demanded his own 10 return. He answered only with
| his name and the declaration that he had never
| feared q duel. But Byron was not sstis-
| fed; he insisted upon having card, which
| Mast, however, did not possess. Suddenly one OF
Byrons comrades struck the sergeant in the face with
riding whip. The soldiers blood grew hot. He
drew his sword and swung 1t SO wildly about his head
that his assailants sprang from their horses. THE
man. shouted one OF the Englishmen, "is the devil
himself. The Countess Guiccloli, who came upon the
this rushed up to Masi and cried again
and again PITY us, pity u.s. The crowd separated
| "When Mast arrived in the city, he reported the
Incident at once TO the watch guard at the gates
| While going alone to the DUAL de farm later, past
the Pala Laranchi occupied by Byron, he was again
surrounded by Englishmen. lie pretended 10 r'lcl
| for his pistols, which in reality ne did not
| have hLout his person, and succeeded In keep
ing his assaants at n distance with the exception
| Of one man who pointed a pistol at his face.
| Mast quickly seized the fellows arm and prevented
| his using the weapon
| These occurrences threw Pisa into terrible
state of excitement great crowd Of people marched
| quickly to the Palas Lafranchi. When the noise
! and confusion were at their height, man left the
palace and approached Etenne Mast, who was In
| the throng Before the sergeant was aware OF his
approach he thrust his twoedged swordcane into his
| side Mast did not see tlte man, and the squirt
of blood frst showed him that he had been the
| victim of a wouldbe assassin. lie was taken at
| once TO the nearest hospital. where the physician
pronounced the wound fatal. and declared that Mast
| would be dead within twenty four hours.
ION the following day Lord ByIo9 o sent his own Own
physician TO Masl with present of 100 francs, aud
the declaration that h. had nothing to &c, 40 with the
the assassin Mast declned tue gift, declaring that
he needed aid from 20 stranger. lie added however,
that he Intended to hold Lord Byron responsible foi
the deed I'm case he survived the wound. IL he died
friends would avenge the crime.
Tho entire city was Interested In the allalr
Tho student, held meetings and resolved to hold
the Engshmcn accountable for their actions the Gov
srnor OF Pisa threw ByrOlts servants into prison
| and issued decree OF banlShmeut against the poe
and his comrades. who left the city.
Despite the belief OF the physician Mast. whC
was only thirty years old OF the time recovered from
his wound lie received an annual pension of G0'
francs from the Grand Duke OF Tuscany, 10 whom h
Was Obliged to report his adventure IN person
| Byron's servants were liberated in few days Thu
| guilty person never discovered, and the due
| never took place.