Washington sentinel., 1898-04-16
The Flight of an Empress.

L III Ahc dilt InOOus the message Oh the al
of Sedan, the defeat Of the French army
and the capture ofNapoleon Ill. flashed
over the wires to Paris. II meant the
fall OF the Empire and the nation plunged
into chaos and crime. With
curses and vile epithets flung at the
Empress, the infuriated crowd stormed
the palace gates, which already began
to give way. Eugenie's peril was as
terrible as that of the Inflated Austrian,
Marie Antoinette, in the Revolution.
Instant fight alone could save Eugeuie,
but it meant frightiul risk =
The Empress escaped from the palace
Just as the iniuriated mob had succeeded
n forcing the principal gates in front
nd were rushing madly on IN search Of
their intended victim. The clamor of
their frightful howls was in her ears as
she and her faithful attendants passed
out on TO the threatened plaza. Such an
emergency as this had been anticipated
and in measure provided for, During
several days number Of the heetest
horses in the Imperial stables had been
harnessed to ordinary closed street cabs
andstationed within hailing distance OF
the principal entrance OF the Tuileries
with faithful servitors OF the Emperor on
the boxes. Won Metternich hastily
signalled one of these incongruous
attachments, AS Eugenie was hurriedly
stepping into the cab, a street gamin
suddenly cried out THAT is the En-
pressp Chevaler MIRA caught the
little villain by the throat and exclaimed,
"Say that again and 1 will strangle
youP' Madame lie Breton in a low tone
ordered the man on the box to drive to
the residence of DIR Thomas W. Evans,
in the Avenue de rImperatrice-uOw
the Avenue du Bois de Boulogne. Then
sprlnging into the cab, they were driven
with all speed possible through the
rlotous crowded streets to a temporary
haven of comparative safety. Arriving
safely at the handsome hotel, Madame
lie Breton inquired for its master. The
servant informed them that M. lie
docteur had not yet returned from his
Office The ladies', asking permission
TO enter and remain until he came, we're
ushered into the library. The whole
house was a museum of treasures rich
and rare: malachites from Russia,
marbles from Italy, magnificent paint
ings from Germany, colossal vases from
Sevres. tapestries from Gobelins,
characteristic gifts from England-all
graceful testimonials from the ruling
potentates OF empires and kingdoms, Tor
the pulling OF royal teeth and the fitting
of golden crowns in kingly Jaws,
At about six O'Clock DR.. Evans re-
turned home, accompanied by his conf
dential fsiend, DR.. Edward A. Crane.
The servant at once informed DR., Evans
that two ladies we're awaiting him in the
library. Shortly he returned from the
library very pale and excited Taking
DIR. Crane aside, Evans whispered:
"My God, Crane, the Empress is herel
What shall we dor" He dared not trust
his serv ants with the terrible secret,
for, naturally. they were all French and
of class opposed to royalty on princi-
plei and we'll he knew that il they we're
aware of the presence of the Empressi in
the house they would not hesitate to
depounce her and yield her up to the
blOodthirsty mob-regardless oil the
danger or destruction 1t might entail
upon him, their master. There was
another complications DR. Evans was to
dine party of gentlemen at his house
that evening. The dinner must be served
as if nothing unusual we're happening
in the household. Wishing to be in
attendance upon her unfortunate Majesty
DIR. Evans delegated DR.. Crane 10 pre-.
side in his place; apolOgizing for his
absence and explaining it on the theory
that the riotous condition Of the city had
prevented his returning home, Imme.
diately after the departure Of the dinner
guests a conclave OF four was held in
the library, with closed doors; at which
it wa decided to tell the servants that
the ladies were friends OF DR.. and Mrs.
Evans from out Of town, who had been
detained in Paris, IS, on account of the
disturbances, no railway trains were
running. They were to remain over
night, and IN the morning DIR. Evans and
DIR. Crane would drive them out to their
home.
In accordance with this programme.
on September s. 1870, just at the first
faint break OF dawn, Eugenie began
the second course of her memorable
flight. The party OF fou, left Paris in
DIR. Evans private carriage, driven by
his own coachman. They passed
through the gates of the citY-or, more
properly, at that time, the fOrtIfcations
without difficulty, merely stating that
they were party of Americans They
drove az good speed directly towards
Nantes. DR.. Evans carriage was then
driven back to Paris; and the distin-
guished travellers, securing a common
cab, drove to a small place about twenty
miles farther on. where they took an
other relay to Exreux. Often it was
nearly impossible to get any kind of
conveyance; when they did succeed in
securing one il was a dllapidated old
affair that unless driven TO desperate
straits nobody would risk his neck in
save Tor one reason-the cOnhdent assur-
ance that the horses would not run away.
They were also obliged to change often,
as no one would take them more than a
few miles on their course. Finally. after
many wearisome hours, the fugitive
party reached La COmmandere, and
thence continued almost Immediately
on to La Riviere de Thibouville, arriving
there on the evening OF the sth, at nine
II. a.. a D. -