The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-08
TO REPRESENT THE STATE.
,,p IOHN w. HUEER SPECIAL DEP
rrl TO THE PARIS EXPOSITION.

auI
friendship That Existed Between
,hr Marquis deLafayette and Col.
Francis KinIOck Hugcr-It Was
col. Huger, Who, With One Com
ranfon, Attempted the Rescue of
IntnNette From the Military Pris-
on at OImutz, Austria-Mr. Huger
/. 10 Represent the state at the
TuveiIing of the Statue of Lafay-
cite.
Mr.. John w. Huger of Savannah has
beso appointed by Gov. Gambler his special
d4oitv and the special representative of
Georgia TO the Paris Exposition. The ap-
imminent has particular reference to the
ceremonies attendant upon the unwilling
Of the statue of the Marquis deLafayette
in July.
This statue Is to be presented by the peo-
pe of the United States to the people of
Rance in token of the two countries mu-
nal participation in the glories of Lafay-
eue's name and pride in his invaluable
services to the cause of American indie
penderce. Mr. Huger has been selected
Is the special representative of this state
on this occasion because of the intimate
PERSONAL friendship that existed between
the Distinguished Frenchman and the
grandfather of MIR. Huger, whose daring
and romantic attemptto rescue the patriot
from confinement in the military prison OF
Olmutz, Austria, has passed into history
as one of the most typically adventurous
Incidents of those troublous times
In his letter of appointment TO Mr.
Hueer Gov. Gambler gives expression to
some enthusiastic comment upon the dar-
ing then displayed by Col. Francis Kin
l1ch Huger and makes approving refer
ence 10 the friendship that existed between
him and the Marquis deLafayet+e. 1t is
fuug. says the Governor in his letter
that the commonwealth of Georgia, one of
the original thirteen colonies and SOW
ereign state of the great American Union,
should be represented at the unwilling of
The statue by the grandson of the man
Who risked life, liberty and fortune TO lib
crate the imprisoned Lafayette.
In speaking to a Morning News reporter
Of his grandfather and of the incident in
his life to which Gov. Gamblers letter had
made reference, Mr.. Huger outlined briefly
his distinguished ancestors early history
and services, and gave some account of
the incident itself.
"Francis Kinloch Huger was born in
Charleston, S. c.. in 1773. His father, Maj.
benjamin Huger, was killed during the
Revolutionary War before the lines of
Charleston. In October, 1894, my grand
father, together with Dr. Eric Bollman
native of Hanover, formulated a plan to
effect the rescue of the Marquis della
fayette, who was iucarcerated In the Aus
TRAN fortress at Olmutz They left Eng
land and proceeded to Vienna, and thence
to Olmutz in the character Of a young
Engishman and his tutor, for which parts
both We're we'll fitted. On reaching Oh
muiz they ascertained that the distin-
gQished prisoner was permitted TO take
an occasional drive in a phaetOn under
guard. Their plans were made according
", and, providing themselves with horses.
they attacked the guard when some three
miles distant from the fortress, effected
the rescue of Gen. Lafayette, who was
placed on one of the horses and directed
10 fly for his life. Unfortuna tely, however,
he was recognized when thirty miles away,
recaptured and returned to Olmutz The
same fate befell both DR.. Bollman and
my grandfather. The two latter were
placed in solitary confnement-chaine TO
The floor, where they remained for eight
months and after trial, were sentenced
TO labor on the public works and subse-
quenly banshed from the Austrian do
mlnions. fun account of this incident
VIII be found in the Magazine of Ameri-
can History edited by John A. Stevens,
June 1861, the data for which was obtain
ca from the Imperial Archives in Vienna.
Al the time of this occurrence Gen. Thorn
as Pinckney of South Carolina was United
states minis, er to England, and his
odushler my grandfather married in 1902.
III -ol2 ne offered his services 10 his coun-
NY ana served as colonel on the staff OF
Gen Plnckney until the cessation of hos
ulltieS IN 1915. In 1924, on the occasion of
Gen. LataYette's last visit to the United
states, my grandfather met him in New
1orN and accompanied him TO Yorktown,
Where public reception had been ten
uefed our distinguished guest. to COM
i4enorate his last military service on our
SHORES In 1925 my grandfather again met
Yen. Lafayette at Columbia, S. c., in COM
p'AN with his son, George Washington,
'scofuns him to Charleston, where he be-
came the honored guest of the city Aft
el"alds ne accompanied him to Savan-
IAN ana Florida, whence Gen Lafayette
Ielnfned to New York by the western
Ion'e and babe adieu to the country for
A letter written by Gen. deLafayette
!" '"- Huger ana preserved, with many
',"''s rom the same hand. in the archives
% Che Huger family, viii be Of interest
aH' "lil serve to explain the affectionate
id'ious fubsisting between the two. This |
'''f was written from Hamburg about
NIee wears after the daring attempt made
COL Huger and DR. Bollman TO effect
lows - go
Hamburg, Dec. IT. 1797.-My Dear Hu.
s'r I'VE same friend whose liberties you
GENEROUSLY undertook and whose beat |
'art turns to you in the moment |
.5 iesains his life end liberty, here adj |
w,sss YOU, and hastens to offer you the !
gi'.'e Of his inexpressible and unbounded |
e.9'''de. What you have done for me |
~" now you have done it, binds me for
10 YOU with the ties of esteem and |
Ne sufferings and danger which you
"'l' borne with so much courage and |
'' aid not find in me so much forti- |
~ in the midst Of fear and anxiety |
.'W which l could not free myself from
''y Of your capture to chat of your
! was SO cruelty tortured by my
".'hensions that it would probably have
me my life If the blessed news Of