Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-03-27
NEY AN AMERICAN.
A CLAIM THAT THE FAMOUS MARSHAL
WAS BORN IN GEORGIA.
He Attended School In His Native Town
of sunbury, and II Was One OF His Old
schoolmates Who Recognized Him A He
Rode With Napoleon In Paris.

|
ed and the squadron marched out on tn
field. The major commanding them CAV,
the order, Captains, take charge Of you
companies and drill them, " and as / haC
nothing TO do, In company with Lieuten
ant A. ,. Way, adjutant of the squadron
lay down on the grass in the shade o.
Il tree and between the puffs from fra
grant Havana he told the following story
as i tell il It you:
Over 100 years ago, down on the coast o
Liberty county, Georgia had city OF 2, 00C
or 5000 inhabitants. Situated on high
blutf amid the grand old oaks festooned
with waving fringes Of the Spanish moss
lay old Sunbury, now naught but pile OF
decayed ruins. In the distance across the
harbor, where men-Ofwar might lay ~
anchor, St GATHERINGS rose blue and
misty, and beyond was the great void OF
trackless ocean. Near by was a fort with
Its iron mounted war dogs and pacing
sentries, while over all shone the bright,
warm sun OF the semitropics. Here lived,
loved and died the forefathers Of many of
Liberty's many citizens and many who
oftimes sedately paced the quaint old
streets now lie sleeping meath the waving
trees of the little cemetery near by.
The town was the birthplace of many
noted men, but none more so than one Of
the brothers Rudolph, whose name rung
through the world as one of Frances
greatest marshals-Ney.
Born in Sunbury, Of wealthy and aris-
tocratic parents, he attended tho Sunbury
institute of DR.. Mcguire where into him
were instilled the rutiiments Of the educa-
ton which he afterward went TO France
70 complete.
4 a I
again visited his American home, a French.
man in everything but birth. His man.
ners were those of the Partisan. and the
language of the French fell far more flu
emily from his lips than that of his native
land. Sunbury, quiet and isolated, after
the gay life of the French capital was too
dull and one day, as the sun was glim-
mering over the sound, young Rudolph
left home TO visit Florida then the land OF
the Spaniard.
Months passed, and no word was heard
of him. The months passed into years,
and still the fate Of the young man was
unknown, but soon an incident occurred
which threw much light on the subject
native of old Sunhury visited Paris at
the timo Napoleon was at the zenith OF
his power and glory and CHANGED 10 be on
the street one day when the emperor, nc
companiod by his magnificent train,
passed. Among the followers clad in al
the panoply OF war and rich materials Of
his high Office, rode Ney, Napoleon's great.
est marshal
The gentleman from old Liberty recog.
nized him rs his old playmate Rudolph,
and starting forward exclaimed "Why
that's Rudolph" As the familiar name
md language struck the ear Of Ney he
quickly turned bis hcud, but rode on with
n face rs immovablc as "a statue
soon an aid presented himself TO the
Georgian, and saluting announced that
Marshal Ney wished TO see the gentleman
at his headquarters and under the guild.
ance of the officer the gentleman soon
found himself alone with the man before
whom armies had trcmblcd Ney fixed on
him keen, scrutinzing glance and in the
language Of The tronch said. why did |
you call mo Rudolph on the street today"
" Because you are he, " answered the |
American \ moments thought and Ney |
asked, How do YOU know | am hef"
"Nhy, because ! knew you rs boy in old |
Sunbury, In Georgia, whore we used TO |
play together and went to school TO DR. |
Mcguire.
Yes, said Ney, II am Rudolph. but
for its price would be my head To Ma
poleon | am "a trcnchman. Rudolph never
lived Go and never breathe that name
again"
Time went by. and this same gentleman
visited Paris again. 1t was at the second
capitulation, and Ncy stripped of his glory
and power, lay in prison. His sentence
came, and he was sentenced TO die the
death Of a traitor by having his head sew.
cred at the block. When he heard the YER
diet be asked that three requests might be
granted him, and after due consideration
they We're allowed They were first,
that a. he had always been soldier
he might die u soldiers death; second,
that ne would not be shot in the face;
third that as he had commanded the
most famous armies of the world so might
he command the squad who were to exc.
cute him.
Two days aftcrward, Dec. T. 1915, the
gentleman from Suubury was strolling IN
he Luxembourg when his attention was
by a. rapidly approaching file of
soldiers, carrying with them prisoner
As they halted and the condemned took
his place against the gray, blank wall he
raised his head, and the American recog-
nizcd the playmate of his youth, Rudolph
to the French, Ncy.
Ney drew himself proudly erect, and
ylancing over the small crowd which had
gathered recognized his old Sunbury friend
md gave him a smile Of recognition,
hen, turning To the soldiers, in n clear
'oice in the English language, gave the
command: Ready Aim Fircl" The
oldiers stirred not "a muscle, and then Ney
;ave the command in French at which
he rifles cracked
Marshal NeyRudolph was no more.
The soldiers rapidly returned TO the city,
md Ney lay on the frozen ground, face !
downward. with one hand above his head
nd his military cloak around him. So
erished one of Georgia sons. for he was
ne despite historys contradiction. Al.
'ert ID. Akin in Jesup Sentinel.
Russians Are Economical.
The Russian workman spends very If.