The National tribune., 1898-05-19

soldiers were exercising, while his follow
ers unfurled his standard, and shouted
Joachim foreverl' but the soldiers made
no response Had Murat been less in
fatuated, this would have sufficed to con-
vince him of the hopeieSsness OF his cause.
He pressed on, however, to Monte Leone,
the Capital of the Province, but had not
gone far before he found himself pursued
Hoping to subdue them by his presence,
he turned towards them and addressed
them. The only answer he received was a
volley of musketry. FOrbidding his follow
ers to return the fire, with the declaration
that his landing should not cost the blood
of one of his people. he turned to fee to the
shore.
A HOPELESS CAUSE.
Leaping from rock to rock and crag to
crag while the bullets whistled about him
he at length reached the beach, when, 10!
the vessel that landed him had disap-
peared. The infamous Captain had pur-
posely left him to perish. a fishing boat
lay on the sand and Murat sprang against
it to shove it off, but it was fast. His few
followers now came up, but before the
boat could be launched they were sur
rounded by the bloodthrsty populace.
Seeing it was all over, Murat advanced
towards them, and holding out his sword
said, People of PiZzol take this sword,
which has been so often drawn at the head
of armies, but spare the lives OF the brave
men with me-"
But they needed him not, and kept up a
rapid discharge of muSketry, and though
every bullet was aimed at Murat, not one
touched him, while almost every man by
his side was shot down. Being at length
seized. he was hurried away to prison.
Soon after, an order came from Naples to
have him tried on the spot. One Ad-
iutant- General. one Colonel, two Lieuten-
r,.In her of
Captains and Lieutenants, constituted the
commission to try a King. Murat refused
to appear before such q tribunal, and dis
dained to make any defense.
During the trial he converSed in prison
with his friends in manner worthy OF his
great reputation. He exhibited a holiness
of thought and character that surprised
even his friends that had known him
longest. Once after a pause in converse
ton he said Both in the court and camp
the National welfare has been my sole
object. | have used the public revenues
for the public service alone. did nothing
for myself and now at my death have no
wealth but my actions. They are all my
glory and my consolation"
After talking in this strain for some time,
the door opened and one of the commits
sioners entered and read the sentence.
Murat showed no agitation, but immedl-
ateiy sat down and wrote to his wife the
following letter
"My Dear Caroline-My last hour has
arrived; in a few moments more L shall
have ceased TO live-in a few moments
more you will have no husband. Never
forget me; my life has been stained by no
injustice. Farewell, my Achlle; farewell,
my Letitia; farewell, my Lucien; farewell,
my Louise. | leave you without Kingdom
or fortune, in the midst of the multitude OF
my enemies. Be always united; prove
yourselves superior to misfortune; remem-
Der what you are and what you have been,
and God will bless you. Do not reprqach
my memory. Believe that my greatest
suffering in my last moments is dying lar
from my children. Receive your 1ather
blessing: receive my embraces and my
tears. Keep always present to you the
memory OF your unfortunate father
Joachim Napoleon.
'Pizzo, 18th October, 1915"
THE EXECUTION.
Having then inclosed some locks of his
hair to his wife, and given his watch to his
faithful valet, Amand, he walked out to
the place of execution. His tall form was
drawn up to it's loftiest hight, and that
piercing blue eye that had flashed so
brightly over more than hundred battle
fields, was now calmly turned on the sol
diers who were to fire on him. Not a
DltdLi Vi dBlLcllOil uiStulDCu ILO PCiiSNe
composure oil his face, and when all was
ready he kissed a comedian he held in his
hand, on which was cut the head OF his
wife, and then fixing his eyes steadily
upon it, said: Save my face; aim at my
hearth A volley of musketry answered,
and Murat was no more.
He had fought 200 battles, and exposed
himself to death more frequently than any
other officer in NapoleOn's army. BY his
white plume and gorgeous costume, con-
slant mark for the enemyS bullets, he
Notwithstanding always plunged into the
thickest dangers, and it seems almost a
miracle that he escaped death.
His Seif-cOmpoSure was wonderful, eS-
pecially when we remember what a crea-
ture oil impulse he was In the most APP
paIling dangers, under the fire OF the most
terrific battery, all alone amid his dead
followers, while the bullets were piercing
his uniform and whiSthng in an incesSant
shower around his head, he would sit on
his stced and watch every discharge with
the coolneSs of an iron statue. A lofty
feeling in the hour OF peril bore him above
all fear, and through clouds Of smoke and
the roar OF 500 cannon, he would detect at
a glance the weak point OF the enemy, and
charge like fire upon it.
As General he failed frequently, as has
been remarked, from yielding his judgment
to his impulses. AS man and king he
did the same thing, and hence was gener-
Gus to fault, and liberal and indulgent
to his people. But his want of education
in early life rendered him unfit for a states
man. Yet his impulses, had they been
less strong, would not have made him
the officer he was. His cavalry was the
terror of Europe. Besides, in obeying his
generous feelings, he performed many OF
those deeds of herOiSm-expOsing his life
for others, and sacrificing everything he
had, to render those happy around him
which make us love his character. He
was romantic even till his death, and
lived in an atmosphere of his own creation
But unlike Ney, he was ashamed of his
low origin, and took every method to con
ceal it. He loved his wife and children
and country with the most devoted affec
ton His life was the strangest romance
ever written, and his ignominious death is
an everlasting blot on Ferdinands char
acter.
That the moral character of Murat coulC
ard is evident from the fact that his life
Judge of such man is to balance his &C
tons, and see whether the good or evi
preponderate.
But whatever his faults were, it will bt
long time before the world will see an
other such man.
To be coninued.)
EDITORIAL EoTE.-No better series of bi
| ographies of Napoleon's Marshals thar
| Headley's has been written. The interesting
| episodes of their lives are described will
| 8delitu IN the i0iua1S and jntensa jutarac