Rock Island Argus., 1895-12-02
ESCAPE OF EUGENE.
HOW IT WAS ACCOMPLISHED AFTER
NAPOLEON FELL

~" ~ WAS ACCOMfliSt16O Ar eH
NAPOLEON FELL
Sent From tho; Palace Practically Alone
aAa Penniicss-Eer Attendants Thought
Only Of Their Own ssSety-shcltcrcd and
Saved by nm American.
Miss Anna L. Bicknell, who was for
many years q governess in the family Of
one Of the ladies Of the Empress Euge-
nie's household, writes of 1.-The Tuile-
ries Under the Second Empire" in The
Century, from which we take the fol-
lowing account Of the escape of the en-
press after the downfall at Napoleon in
the Franco German war:
The chamber Of deputies had been In
vaded by the mob; the downfall of tho
empire had been decreed; the republic
had been proclaimed. The cries Of the
popular fury were heard in the very
gardens of the Tuileries, and the enrag-
ed populace was coming nearer aud near
er. The crowd reached the reserved gar
den in front Of the palace and tore down
the emblematic imperial eagles. 1t was
The Austrian and italian embassa-
dors now cntrcated the empress to leave
the palace, but she warmly rejected the
proposal. The daughter Of a noble race,
with the heroic blood Of tho Germans
flowing in her veins, she could lot but
consider fight as an act of coward1,,1o.
She was n sentinel left to defend the
post, and she would die there. The roar
Of the mob became louder and louder;
the cries of "Vive In republique!' were
distinctly heard
Madame, then said her faithful
secretary, Pietri, ''l,y remaining here
You will cause general massacre Of
your attendants. :"
She seemed struck by this, and turn
ing to General Mellinct she said:
Can you defend tho palace without
bloodshcd:''
Madame, fear not"
"Then all is over" said the empress.
She turned to these present. Gentle
men, can you bear witness that have
done my duty to the last?''
They hastily answered Yes" again
urging her to leave.
Ali her Usual attendants of the serv-
ice d'honneur We're assembled in the
rose colorea room-a fairy bower, i'll
suited as frame for such a tragic pic
ture, and which she was never to sec
again. She bade farewell to all. Strange
to say-and the inexplicable fact has
never been denied nor excused-not ono
Of those present offered to follow her,
nf ,.v, ~x,1~ l. n.
ing refuge. Let us hasten to add that
her ever faithful friend and follower,
the Due dc Bassano, Vas not there. He
was at the senate house vainly trying
to stem the food But there were 9th
ers who could have filled his place.
All were bewildered and absorbed by
selfish fears. One lady who filled q Sec
ondary though confidential post in the
household, Nine Lebreton, sister to
General Bourbaki, followed her unhap-
py mistress into exile With one faith
full attendant, Pietri, and the two en-
bassadors, the empress threaded the gal
lerics communicating with the Louvre
while tine mob broke into the Tuileries
on the other side. There was a door of
communication which was found lock-
ed, and for one brief moment anxiety
was intense, but the key was happily
found, and crossing the splendid gallery
of Apollo i'll the Louvre the fugitives
found their way into the place opposite
the Church of Saint Germain PAuxer.
rois.
, Two columns of insurgents were COM
ing in different directions. The danger
was great, and the Austrian ambassador.
Prince Metternich, went in haste to seek
his carriage Meantime street boy
called out, There is the empress!''
Much alarmed, the Italian ambassador,
Cheyalicr Nigra, hastily thrust the em-
press and Mime. Lebrcton into hackney
| carriage and turned to silence the boy.
The driver, frightened at the approach
of the mob, drove off in violent haste,
and the two ambassadors Immediately
lost sight of the vehicle
The empress had no money about her,
and when, OH reaching quieter region,
the driver asked her where he was to
take her she knew not whittier to 20.
Several calls were made ut the houses
| of friends. None was at home, and the
empress, utterly exhausted, and not
knowing where to find a refuge, sud-
denly remembered that Dr. Evans, the
American dentist, lived near, and to
him she went. DR.. Evans was about to
go to dinner and at first refused to see
the unknown lady who came at such an
unpropitious time, but as she insisted
upon speaking to him he came ont and
was struck with astonishment on finding
himself in the presence of the fugitive
empress. To his honor be it said that
never in the days of imperial prosperity
could she have met with more respect
or more devoted zeal i'll her service than
was now shown by DIR. and Mrs Evans.
Nothing that could be done for her COM
fort 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, and the conduct of
DR.. Evans on this memorable occasion
will be remembered as title of honor