The morning call., 1894-07-15
THE EMPRESS EUGENE.
An Account of Her Escape After
the Empires Downfall.


Miss Anna l.. Blcknell, who was for
many years a governess IN the family of
one of the ladies Of the Empress Eugenie's
household. writes of ''The Tuileries under
the Second Empire" in the March Century,
from which we take the following account
OF the escape OF the Empress after the
downfall OF Napoleon in the Franco
German War:
The Chamber Of Deputies had been in
vaded by the mob; the downfall of the
empire had been decreed; the republic had
been proclaimed. The cries of the popu-
lar fury were heard in the very gardens of
the Tuileries, ard the enraged populace
was coming nearer and nearer. The
crowd reached the reserved garden in
front of the palace and tore down the
emblematic imperial eagles. 1t was then
q quarter past in the afternoon.
The Austrian and Italian Elm bassadors
now entreated the Empress TO leave the
palace, but she warmly rejected the pro-
posal. The daughter of a noble race, with
the heroic blood of the Germans flowing
IL her veins. she could not but consider
fight as an act of cowardice. She was a
sentinel left to defend post. and she
would die there. The roar Of the mob
became louder and louder; the cries of
"Vve la republiquew were distinctly
heard.
Madame" then said her faithful sscre-
tary Pietri, by remaining here you Will
cause. general massacre of your attend
ants" She seemed struck by this, and,
turning to General Mellinet, she said,
Can you defend the palace without blood
shed ?" Madame, | fear not" Then
all Is over" said the Empress. She turned
TO those present. "Gentlsmen, can you
bear witness that l have done my dury to
the last?' They hastily answered Yes"
again urging her to leave.
Ali her usual attendants of the service
d'honneur were assembled in the rose-cOl-
Ored room, fairy bower, ill suited as q
frame for such tragic picture. and which
she was never to see again. She babe fare
well TO all. Strange to say-and the mex
plIcabie fact has never been denied nor
eXcused-n0t one of those present offered
to follow her; not one asked her where
she was seeking refuge. Let US hasten
to add that her ever-faithful friend and
follower, the Due de Bassano. was there.
He was at the Senate house vainly trying
TO stem the food. But there were others
who could have filled his place. All were
bewlldered and absorbed by selfish fears.
One LADY who filed a secondary though
confidential post in the household. Nine.
LebretoD, sister to General Bourbakt.
followed her unhappy mistress into
exile. With one faithful attendant
Pietri, and the two ambassadors,
the Empress threaded the galleries
communicating with the Louvre, while
he mob broke into the Tueres, on the
other side. There was a door of commu-
ncation which was found locked, and for
one brief moment anxiety was Intense
but the key was happily found, and cross
ing the splendid gallery of Apollo in the
Louvre, the fugitiyes found their way into
The place opposite the church of Saint
&c, main pAuXerrOs.
Two columns OF insurgents were coming
in different dTectioDS; the danger was
great, and the Austrian Em bassadOT. Prince
MetterDich, went in haste to seek his car
rage. Meanwhile a street. boy called out.
There is the Empress!" Mucn alarmed
the Italian ambassador. Chavaler Nigra,
hastily thrust the Empress and Madame
Lebret0n into hackney-carriage. and
frightened at the approach OF the mob.
drove off in violent haste. and the two
INN ediately lost sight of the vehicle.
The Empress had no money about her,
and when, on reaching Queter region,
the driver asked her where he was 10 take
her, she knew not whittier to go. Several
calls were made at the houses of friends !;
none were at hone, and the Empress, ut
terly exhausted, and OF moving where to
find refuge. suddenly remembered that
DR.. Evans, the American dentist, lived
near. and to him she went. DIR. Evans
was about to go to dinner, and al first re-
fused to see the unknown lady who came
at such an unpropi ious time; but as she
Insisted upon speaking to shim, he came
out, ami was struck with astonishment on
finding himself in the presence of the
fugitive Empress. To his honor be it said
never in the days OF imperial prosperity
could she have met with mole respect or
more devoted zeal in her service than was
shown on this occasion by DR.. and Mrs
Evans. Nothing that could be done for
her comfort was neglected, and DR.. Evans
never left his imperial guest until he had
safely landed her on the English shore
here, at least, there WAS neither ingrati-
tude nor selfish fear, ana the conduct of
DR.. Evans on this memorable occasion
will be remembered as title of honor to
his name and to his country.