Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-10-26
Gen. Boulanger's Fortune.

Tbs recent suicide of Genersl RcrlaDSer
recalls 10 my rnlnd the incident that really
laia ;ae Foundation Of his military fortune
and fame.
when Napoleon III. decided to send Max
mllian TO hle1cc, In the vain bope OF being
cbIe to establish on empire Ia that part Of
the American continent, be eeiected Mar
shal Bnzslne TO com land the French cou-
tingsut of troops. Among the oficere or
darad on this service wss B lulspeer,. He
wss .hen csptsiu OF Sps HE. havirg but
jast retained from Algeria.
The ptiucees Cerlot,a Tas an enthusiastic
ct daring rider. While her husband W :
holding his abeurd court in the city of the
Mouttzumt 8, Cerlotta used to mount her
besutifai hor5e nearly every day and ride
cut Of tho maio gate into the cpsn country.
Oo such occasions che vas Eeldom attend
ed by more than one groom. The Princess
wss woman of extraordinary beauty and
extremely fascinating msnneis. Like Maxi
miiiaD she YVES intoxicated by tho pride and
pleasure oaused by her imperial, bat evap-
q c ut rsus.
Whenever the Empress left the City of
Mexico 70: rios, 1t wss Der habit 10 go
gallopny ever the sr!d plains for m'iss In
straebt direction Thua eneeged, she made
p picturesque figure in the semi-'ropicsl
landscape, and many Mexican wes forced
70 admire The woman. though bis native pa
tfiotifm led biEs 30 hate the imperial couple.
FoT weeks did Csrlotta taSe these wild
rides. She wsa never interrupted, aud none
oi the court imsetued that che was st any
tins in dsuger. One blszlDg hot afternoon
Captain Rouanger was the efice. command
ing the guard st tbe principal gate of the
city. He had just rolled fresh Cigarette,
using the tender inner leaf OF g oo'n ear fof
rhe wrapper. While lighting 1t he hsppen-
ei to loor do~n the road and cav small
cioud Of duet rapidly approaching.
L5iliug sgsinet the email portal Boulau-
ger watched she progress Of the rider, cup
Dt sing it 10 be a courier. Nearer and near
er cams the dust, when to bis astoniebment
the young captain eaw that 1t wac raised by
boreewomsn. second glance told bin
that she geIlopiDg rider IVES bis Empreee.
As o. rlotta swep5 round slight bend 10 the
| road, scarcely half mile from the gate.
Boulenger discovered small body OF horse-
men In bot pursuit'
| As it W. evident that these MeXcans were en- :
; deevoring TO capture Carlotta as war prize,
Boul4nger saw the necessity OF speedy action.
Throwing away his cigarette the captain summon
| ed hls guard, ana ordered the gate thrown Wlue
| open. Then he and his men rushed down the
| road, forming in line as they advanced.
! Car!otta galloped on, and soon reached the gate
and eafety, Boulanger and his guard opening
q rapid voley on her puIsuers. The latter, Sec
ing that their prize lad escsped them, rained in
and then gslloped of IN safety.
| For this action Boulanger was made Mexican
brig adler by Maximilian. On the return of the
French troops to Paris, sf!er Maximillian's exc
cuton at Q1e1etaro, Emp ,ror Nspo con gave the
| principal officers an audience He noticed Bou-
anger smong them, and greeted him very c0tdi-
| silly, slluding TO the Csrotta incident. From
that day until the Second Fren ch Empire ex-
pired ut sedsn, Poalanger was one Of Louis Napo-
| lcons fsvorites, and rose rapidly to the rank Of
| general.
! Ms1imillian met q shameful death, Csrlotta is
lunatic, Napoleon died in exile, and row Bo1l-
anger is suicide Truly, the invasion Of Mexico
has been terribly syengcd.-G F. w., in tho Rider
| and Drirer