Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1893-10-21
A GREAT SOLDIER DEAD.

L
shall of her armies, died ut 10 O'Clock
yesterday ut his home, Chateau La
Foren, on the Loire. He was able to
partake of food until Monday, but
during last night his strength gradu.
ally waned and he grew weaker until
the end came peacefully. The family
were all present ut his death.
BIOGRAPHICAL
In the death of Marshal MacMahon France
loses one Of the most brilliant figures among
her famous men OF deed and valor He had
served well and bravely under several regimes
the kingdom. the empire and the republic.
His sympathies were however, with mon
archical government and OF this fact he made
no secret It had long been his wish that he
might live to see the time when o monarch
should once more rule France. He served as
u youth in Algeria and later In the same land
he was commander Of the French forces. He
fought valiantly in the Crimcan war and routed
the Austrians In the brief but memorable
struggle near the bridge OF Magenta, for which
he was made duke Of Magenta and marshal Of
France on the field OF battle by Napoleon ILL.,
He came Of q long line Of fighters 1t is said
that II was q MacMahon who on the field OF the
battle OF Waterloo ordered the famous charge
OF the Third Cuirassiers OF whom only 100 sur
vived and only eight OF whom escaped wounds
The marshal's full name was Marie Edmc
Patrice Maurice de MacMahon. He was do.
scendent OF an Irish family who went into exile
with James IL He was born In Autun In 1909
and had therefore lived more than four score
OF years. Like several Of his ancestors no
early showed great love OF matters military,
and was sent to the famous school OF St Cyr
When 10 years old an age ut which the average
youth Is still termed o stripping, he was SUBJ
lieutenant OF the Fourth Hussars, OF which his
brother was then captain.
The future marshal soon saw active service
being not long afterward sent to Africa with
the Twentieth regiment He participated in
the Algerian war and when % years old had
won the cross OF the Legion Of Honor. given
him on field OF battle by Gen. Achard The
following year, 1884, he was appointed lieu.
tenant in the Eighth Cuirassiers, and during
the next twelve months departed with the
Belgian expedit on rs aid.dc.camp to Gen
Achard. For bravery ut the battle OF Ant
werp he was given the cross OF the Order OF
Leopold From Europe he once more went
10 Africa and In that country attained
still greater and additional distinctions
as n valiant soldier During the battle OF Con-
stantine he was wounded badly, and for ser
vices on that day he was promoted to the grade
OF an officer in the Legion Of Honor. Several
ycuES OEeuHi.Cu u EcEiiiiChe VI shoo
seurs and rose from one rank TO another until
he became general OF brigade and governor OF
Tlemcen. A year later he was made COM
mandcr OF the Legion OF Honor and governor
OF the provinces OF Oran and Constantine.
From q commander In the legion he passed
through the successive grades until he received
the highest possible mark OF esteem, tho
grand cross, in September. 1876, FOR valor ut
SebastopoL
Napoleon Ill had then been emperor three
years, having successfully carried cut his coup
d'etat In 1852 The Crimcan struggle then de-
scendcd upon Europe, and with the same
readiness that he had served the kingdom and
republic Marshal MacMahor answered the
emperors call and entered upon service In
Russia He was u commander OF division Of
Bosquct's corps, and led the assault upon the
Malakoff in the great battle OF Sebastopol
Malakof was the key to Russia's position and
was strengthened with all the forces possible
TO act there
The intrepid MacMahon cut his way into the
fortress and held his ground steadily against
almost overwhelming odds. Marshal Pellis-
sier, fearing that the soldier and his daring
followers would be annihilated, ordered re-
treat MacMahon ignored his superiors COM
mand and sent back his historical response: i
am here, and here shall stay" And stay he
did Shortly afterward Sebastopol was taken
Following his return to France, Gen Mac
Mahon was sent to Algeria and later given
command OF all the French forces In that land
His stay In Africa was not protracted, rs he
was recalled by the emperor and sent against
the Austrians in northern Italy. His most
notable achievement during this campaign was
near the bridge Of Magenta The French
troops had been steadily forcing the Austrians
before them for week, but one day were un.
al hv M rim reinf0rra-
ments The retreat then turned for time TO
the French side At critical moment when
total rout seemed the inevitable MacMahon.
who was engaged in duty on the outer lines
cast aside all instructions and with his troops
rushed into the center Of battle with impetuous
force and put TO flight the Austrians, taking
1000 prisoners The emperor witnessed the
deed and on the field OF battle made the soldier
duke OF Magenta and q marshal OF Franco
At the coronation OF william Ill OF Prussia
Marshal Mcmahon represented Emperor No
poleon and soon after succeeded Canrobert as
commander Of the Third army corps and then
was sent to Algeria where he had gained a.
most his first practical experience in war, as
governor-general This was In 1854 In this
capacity he was not over successful. He was
harnssed much of the time by absurd schemes
of the French emperor. who wished to make
himself ruler Of an Arabian kingdom. Twice
in 1870. impelled by the intense suffering ana
misery In the province, he sent In his resigna-
ton as governor.
This same year Napoleon became involved
with Germany and issued the declaration OF
war which ended SO disastrously to France.
MacMahon was recalled from Algeria and
placed In command OF the First army corps
and marched against the German frontier He
was defeated at Woerth and forced 10 retreat
Napoleon proved himself no worthy successor
of his noted ancestor and soon brought tho
campaign to defeat ut Sedan MacMahon was
wounded by shell early In the struggle and
took no part in the signing Of the terms OF CO.
pitulation The humiliation Of the French nag
was terrible blow to the marshal who was
carried in an ambulance prisoner into Ger
many.
After NJ Theirs had served his term as presi'
dent OF the French republic MaeMahon sue.
ceeded him OF late years he has lived In re-
tirement
stringency Strikes Penltentiary.
III Dot fQ-COrna radical