The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-03-11
ESCAPE OF LOUIS PHILIPPE.
The Citizen Kings Flight From France
to England.


], was a narrow escape from France
and the hands OF the revolutionists King
Loyls Philippe had on March 2, lS4S
Louis Philippe's life had been one Of
vicissitudes and a certain amount Of
romance, and the manner Of his escape
to England after the revolution had driven
him from his throne is interesting. more
so. perhaps. because OF the very common
place means employed to compass it.
When we think Of a monarch's escape
from the hands OF his people IL rebellion
We usually associate it with closed cabs
dashing madly at midnight through de-
serted streets, the king disguised as a
nod carrier and the queen as a flower
veEder. and a smuggler's Iugger riding at
anchor in some lonely cove. the royal
persOnages stealing aboard under the
sheItering Swallowed Of a friendly cloud,
all of which is very romantic and well cal
culated 10 thrill the nerves Of the matinee
girl. but there was nothing Of that sort
attached 10 the escape OF King Louis. He
had succeeded in reaching. with Queen
Marie Amelie. without detection. the small
town Of HonGeur. on the coast OF France.
and here he found as asylum in a little
cottage known as Ia Grace and owned
By a Mr. de PerthIus
10 was Louis intention to leave France
for England on some vessel sailing from
this port, but Mr. dc Perthius convinced
him 10 was impracticable. The country
swarmed with agents Of the rcvCiutionist5
and the royal couple were almost in de-
spair when they received q visit from Mr.
Jones, the British vice consul al Havre-
who informed them that arrangements
had been made for their escape on an Eng
Iish packet from Havre If they could sue
coed in reaching that port. This seemed
an almost utter impOssibility when a
way was opened through the trivial Of
Mr. Besson, who had just retl-Ied after
conducting the Duke de EemCurs,
the Princess Marguerite, and the
Princess CIementiue safely to England
He had come to Eonheur on a small
steamer. which was preparing TO return
10 Havre that night and il was decided
10 risk the journey Oh that boat. Sus-
picion had already fallen on the strangers
stopping at la Grace, and il was there
fore necessary to move with the utmost
caution
The king was equipped with an English
passport bearing the name Of william
Smith and the queen with another made
out in the more Gallo Nine. Lebrun. As
soon as the night had fallen the king
and queen left the cottage by separate en-
frances and proceeded TO the quay where
the steamer was mOOTsd. by different
paths The king arrived at the quay first
where he was met by Jones. the vice
consul, and together they boarded the
boat and sat on a deck bench not far
from the entrance. Soon after the queen
arrived, but the couple played the part
Of utter strangers. and she took a seat
on the opposite side Of the boat in the
second-class section
II has been said that the crew Of the
steamer recognized the king but patriot
Cally refused 20 divulge his identity. This.
however, is a mistake. The king was not
recognized by any from the time he en-
tered Honfeurs until he set foot on Eng
lish soil He could speak English per
fectIy and when the purser came around
after the tickets he pretended an entire
ignorance Of FreuCS. Vice Consul Jones
converting with the official and paying
the fare. There was a dense crowd on
the quay az Havre when The little steamer
.rrived and this appeared fortunate TO
sAe escaping couple and their friends
They mingled with the thr0ng the king
and the vice consul cOnversing continually
I'm English. the queen following closely be
hind and thus the English packet was
reached in safety. a few hours later they
were on the waters OF the English chan
mel to find a promised asylum in England
where the king died two years later--St
Louis Globe Democrat