The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1895-01-15

--Ct-'Sr aLN tie pains NLQ OIleT trees
are larger. The pavilion that was oc-
cupied by Napoleon. Count Las Cssas
and the latter's son stands Just rs they
left 1t, and the visitor realizes what
close quarters IL must have been for
such guests.
4 few days after his settlement at
The B-iars Napoleon fell 10 with Mr..
Balcomb's daughter, Betsy, = sprightIy
miss OF fifteen, who spoke French we'll
and treated the fallen monarch with
true glrllsh cOnplacency. At first she
made fun Of him, saying she did not
see how so small a man could have
made so great a name. In an account
she wrote Of Napoleon's stay at The
Britrs she tells how. one dav. she
grabbed q small dress sword that he
wore and drove him into corner at
its point Betsy Balcomb made an
unhappy marriage, aud died IN Eng
land when still quite young. To her
Napoleon owed the only raw OF sun
shine OF diversion which came into
those years Of miserable Punishment.
In December the order came for the
prlsoner.to be transferred 20 Longwood
and the move was made without the
least regard 10 NapoIeon's comfort.
The old barn was overruD with rats
and mice, and wOrkmen we're still saw
ing and hammering, while no attempt
had oeen made 70 remove the litter
that encumbered the place. Odds and
ends Of furniture had been got together
90 make the dismal structure habita-
BILE, after fashion, and II this re
marNable dwelling Napoleon lived
from December, 1915. 70 MAY, 1921.
and II which he breathad his last on
the fifth day of the month last named.
It Is to-day practically as it was
when Napoleon occupied it. Such al
teratiOns Is have been made were ne
cessiteted by the fact that after his
demise 1t reverted TO its former use,
and became q storehouse for grain and
vegetables and shelter for cattle aud
hogs When the property was ce led
TO the French Government early in
Queen Yictoria's reign a custodian was
sent out, proper fences were built
around 1t, and it has since been kept
IN good order The site Of the tomb
was included N the cessiou. In the
NaplsOnic era, from 1888 10 1870,
much attention was given To the prop
erty, and high priced officers were
sent to the island from France TO
watch over it. But in recent years 1t
has been IN the care Of a sergeant on
small pay, whose Stewardship Is sub
Jet to report and inspection by OH
GERS Of the French navy who touch at
the island He really keeps the place
IN good order, and he and his family
dwell ID the 81 900 house called
Longwood New House, which the
English Government iobbers were
building while Napoleon WAS dying.
The new house was intended 10 pro-
vide the prisoner with quite com
Portable dwelling, but he told his cap
tors when they were laying the foun-
datiOns that he would never live 20 oc-
cupy it. The house was begun in
1919, and was not completed when
Napoleon died.
The island funeral was conducted
with all the pomp that the Governor
and the military could invent, and
great care was taken 60 have the
grave deep and strong. The body was
placed IN a fine casket Of wood. which
W17 LeE4 eBlettty 5cAltl IN lehleu
case, and these were enclosed in .
strong teak box. After the coffin thus
completed was lowered into tla grave
several large slabs OF limestone were
fitted into sockets which hal been
dug n the sides o. the excavation and
securely boitsj together. Upon these
were placed other stol= IS, and the top
filing was Of loose earth.
1t took the Prince lie J5invills's men
all night TO dig up the coffin when he
came 10 remove 1t % France IN 1910.
some ot the friec Is who we're at M
p9lsol's death bel we're present on
the occasion, md aiio his flv5rits
valet, Elrch11f, AMI when the casze5
was opened oil were asto-1j11 20 find
that tine features were scarcely altered.
AMI that the great General, after
twenty years in the comb, looked a. be
had in life
There is now only a cement slab,
without inscription, surrounded byaa
iron railing, 60 mark the empty sepul-
chre. The weeping willow that for
msrly grew beside the grave has died
out entirely and disappeared, but the
spot Is more beautiful, If possible,
than ever IL was.