Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-09-17

nuu 10 PtVv"uay WV ouAy tVaVo" VI
the dead rulers body on the Amcri.
can continent. Its authenticity can
not be doubted and the proofs accom-
panying it are Of the most positive
nature The possessor is Prof. c. H.
Bagley, who has long been resident
Of this city and whose reputation for
veracity is unimpeachable. He is q
native OF the Island Of St. Helena as
we're bis forefathers before him for
generations, reaching back to 1850
His father was captain Of the guard Of
the tomb in which Napoleon lay for
10 years before the body was removed
to France in 1910. Napoleon died in
1921 and his nurse during the last i'll
ness was Mrs. Lowd, . native Of the
island and close friend Of the Bagley
family and especially OF Mrs. Bagley,
mother Of the Abilene resident. The
family left the island in 1860 and be-
fore leaving Mrs. Lowd called her
friend to her and divided with her the
choicest possession she had-a lock Of
hair from Napoleon's head. She told
the circumstances OF her becoming its
possessor as follows:
For some weeks she had been the
nurse Of the emperor and when he
passed away she was much affected
because OF his kindness toward her.
When he was dressed for burial and
was lying in state she took her fare
well view Of her friend and patient.
General Bertrand, who had accom-
panied the emperor to the island and
was his nearest friend, gave her per-
mission to carry out a request that
she preferred-that she might cut
lock Of hair from the emperor's head.
She did so, taking about 50 hairs.
These she had preserved for 40 years
and now gave half to her friend. The
remainder passed to her own daughter
and the original lock was the only
one on the island. To this story the
three daughters of Mrs. Bagley, then
present and being Of age have made
affidavit. The present owner was
then about II years old and has a
clear remembrance Of the circum-
stance. Mrs. Lowd was then about
p years old.
The family came to America and
soon after the father and mother died,
SO that the possession came into the
sons hands. The lock Is sealed in a
bottle and cared for with the tender
ness due its Importance. Once on a
lecturing tour that the father under
took the bottle was accidentally
broken and six of the hairs were lost
So now there are only "a hairs. They
are Of a dark, almost black, brown
and there is one that has agray tinge.
The curling wisp in the glass looks as
if it might have been a ringlet but
when out OF the confinement it Is as
straight as was that o. the emperor.
Prof. Bagley also has some other
relics of the island that are very val
liable. One is piece Of plaster from
the room in which the emperor died;
bit from the mahogany
coffin in which he was first buried
and another piece of the lead coffin
in which he afterward was laid to
rest. Then in the same case is a piece
Of wood that was originally part Of
the willow tree that stood over the
grave and some mortar from the gran
lite that formed the headpiece Of the
collins resting place. A medal given
his father by Napoleon in 1918 is a
medallion Of much rarity. In his
possession is also the copper-plate
from which are made all Of
the pictures Of the grave and Of the
emperor as he lay on bis bier. Then
there is piece of the pail. The lat
ter was formerly velvet but with the
apse of time has lost its original APP
pearance. The pictures were drawn
BY the wife OF General Bertrand in
pencil and taken to France. There
5he copper-plate was made and copy
tent to Mrs. Bagley. That night the
studio burned and the single copy has
,een the original for hundreds Of re-
productions. 1t is stained with age
'ut is still clear and perfect OF
course all these are highly priced by !
he owner and given good care. A o
ock OF Napoleon's hair was sold a