The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-09-23

Napoleonic enemies. At present the en-
frances 70 this passageway are choked upi
by the caving in of the earth above, and
tradition has full imaginative sway.
Besides his daughters and his French
servants and officials. Joseph had with
him for period his nephew. Prince Lu-
Glen Murat. son Of the famous Marshal
Murat. who had preceded Joseph On the
throne of Spain and had succeeded him
on that of Naples Lucien subsequently
married an American girl, Miss Caroline
Fraser, and established his home in a
long. rambling house near the park.
which is still extant in disorderly de-
cay in what is known as Park street.
With these relatives and retainers
around him Joseph established a minia-
ture Yvetot. Of which ne was king in
all but name. He refused TO be known
by any higher title than THAI OF Count
de Survilliers, given TO him by Napoleon.
Nevertheless, he was worshipped by his
little court and he was beloved by all
his neighbors He was kindly, courte-
Gus and cons.derate to all. He gave
entertainments to which the local nota-
bilities were invited. He threw open his
grounds TO the public. He was charit-
able to the poor.
The most distinguished Americans,
presidents, statesmen, generals, men of
artistic and scientific attachments. were
welcome to Bonaparte's park. So like
wise were all eminent foreigners, espec-
tally eminent Frenchmen, who landed in
the United States. Lafayette was here
in 1924. Prince Louis Napoleon, after
ward Napoleon III, in 1897. The list
could be indefinitely extended. Mean
while over in France. Louis Philippe had
assembled the throne in 1880. One of the
first acts OF the citizen king was to
grant a partial amnesty to the Bonaparte
exiIes. Joseph Bonaparte determined TO
avail himself of the amnesty. In 1899 he
made his departure from the United
States forever, rejoined his wife in Flor
ence and died there five years later The
Murats remained until ls4S. when they.
TOO, left the United States and took up
their permanent residence in France.
Joseph. by his will, left the park to his
grandson of the same name, son Of the !
Princess Zenaide The young prince
sold iii at auction In 1s47. and later sailed
for France in the wake of the Murats.
In 1850 the park passed into the hands of
Henry Beckett a wealthy Enghshman,
whose father had been British consul in
Philadelphia and who shortly after
ward celebrated his second marriage
with Philadelphia girl.
Mr. Beckett tore down Joseph Bona
parties house and erected a little further
up the bluff a handsome modern villa.
With his death in 1872 the property pass
ed to his grandchildren by his first wife,
an English woman. They have always
resided in England For many years
the magnificent estate was allowed to
run to waste until now few vestiges of its
former beauty remain. After many in
effectual efforts had been made to dis
pose Of it at auction it was finally, in
1888. knocked down to its present owners.
the Lazarist Fathers, for the sum of
$4,000.
Yet joseph Barnaparte had expended
100000 on the estate and Henry Beckett
as much more in improving it.
During the last twelve years the Lazar
ist Fathers used the house built by Mr.
Beckett and its surrounding park as a
sort of summer residence for themselves
and their novitiates
The last chapter in the history OF this
famous spot has already been told.