The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-22
FAITH IN DESTINY
A Newly Told Episode in the Life OF
Napoleon B~onapartc.
Paris Figaro.

On the 9Th OF October. 1873, a little before
Ajaccio, three men with a military appear
ancc and wearing long overcoats stood look
ing out upon the sea Although the weather
was in sight; the gulf was deserted. Al
the foot of the mountain a portion or the
town appeared, and the port, in which TOUR
big war ships were at anchor. This was
the squadron which on the 24th of August
left Alexandria TO bring General Bonaparte
The three observers were Bonaparte him
self, his chief of staff. Berthier. ana Al
saThere is no possible doubt about it,"
said the Admiral, holding his glass; there
the distance 1 notice two others.
do you suppose that the English have
receives eae's sald Bonsparte :ag gfssse ships hgrsn are
putting to sea without paying any atten-
tion to Corsica"
their course is nor nor west. and they
are moving slowly, with very little wine
departure twenty-four hours
THAT is impossible, Admiral; we must
leave this very night"
as everything seems to indicate, the En-
glish fleet is there, we would be obliged to
pass through its line, and it would be very
difficult for us to do SO without being per-
ceived. On a clear night like this the
changes are all against U.S. s,o,v,- 49,,
the East a man becomes a ~fatalist. Now /
believe firmly that destiny is on my side
A llkS iOltiCi OhC VI tiC GIN eAAoe
escorted the three chiefs came up. He re-
ported a singular discovery. On the crest
cut shrubbery, evidently intended to make
a bonfire. This, in all probability, was in
tended to be a signal that night.
AS the sailor finished his report two gum
shots were heard and shortly afterward
two sailors brought a struggling man before
the chiefs. Two individuals armed with
guns were found in ambush behind the
rock near the path. When hailed they took
to flight. on being pursued they fred.
(na yUnG fI1r nnd fhn 0iInr Wara
stu pursuing the other.
The prisoner was a young man about
and a hood. His dark face wore a savage
expression. His dark eyes sustained
haGa antheau ,ne p aneatien ssan Sim Of "W T1napa we're
you doing there, hiding near the road and
armed with guns?'.
w were watching for a wild boar"
why did you not answer when you were
hailed? Why did you run away, and why
did you fire upon French sailors?"
sWe are mountaineers, and We are not
acquainted with uniforms. We believe that
We were attacked, and naturally we de-
You are spies in the employment of Eng
land sale. Bonaparte. You were prepar-
ing a signal for the English cruisers; but,
on seeing US, another idea came into your
heads; you thought you had a good chance
to assassinate General Bonaparte, and you
put yourselves in ambush so thai you
might fire on me as ! passed by. But it
seems to me that ! know you. What is
Another report was heard, and voices
cried out, HE is deadr'
An expression of savage despair con,
tracted the features of the prisoner. and
his eyelids became red,
"You are a yalturio.'' continued Bona
parte,' one of the bittarest enemies Of my
a are Giovanni mi va nanf seen you
Giovanni is the mar whom your hirelings
have just assassinated. / am his brother
Giuseppe. the last of the Valturios" :.
You hate ms pretty hard, don't your
IF 1 had three souls I would sell them
with delight to. the devil for the chance or
Bonaparte ooked at him for a few Sec
onds in silence.
"At FIVE hundred yards I can drop an
eagle. DO with me what 1 would like to
Bring him over to yonder bush,' said
Bonaparte. to one Of the sailors. 'and
The sailor placed himself at the foot of
the bush with the prisoner, after having
give him his gun, said Bonaparte.
The sailor, almost stupefied, looked at
the General. hesitated, but at last, obeyed.
Bonaparte then said to the bandit, Take
good aim"
Without losing a second over his sur
prise Giuseppe pointed his gun.
The scene was so rapid and so extraordi-
nary that the two companions of the Cen
eral We're unable to interfere. They re,
until the shot was fired.
With his back against the trunk of an
parte never budged. A few pieces of bark
fell over his clothes. The ball lodged in
the trunk a few inches over his left shoul-
der.
Giuseppe, almost weeping with rage,
threw his gun into the bushes.
LET that man CO." said Bonaparte.
Before disappearing the Corsican shouted:
You may reign, but will never be your
subject"
That same night the French fleet left
Ajaccio. On the 9th of October it reached
Frejus, and one month afterward Bona
parte celebrated the eighteenth Brumaire.
Giuseppe Valturio kept his word. He left
Corsica and established himself in Tunis,
where he became a Mussulman. His grand
son. by whom this singular episode is re-
lated. lived at Tabarca at the time of the
occupation.