The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-01-08
.BON The HUAB[RI
FAMILY ESCAPED
7. P. O'Conner Tells How the
Officers Were Evaded.
STORY OF THEIR FLIGHT
Were Characterized by Their
Courage and Nerve.

In the issue of M. A. p" of London
for December Is, Mr. T. P. O'ConnoI
writes interestingly of the manner in
which the famous Humberts. now in the
| hands of the law, made their escape. AT
the time this article was written the
Numbers had not been arrested in Mad
rid, but the story of their fight is worth
reading.
First, l should say something about
that last great day which Nine. Humbert
and her family spent in Paris. There is
evidence that with the courage and au-
dacity which have characterized them
all through, they felt confident of de-
feating their enemies up to the last
moment On the evening before their
fight they are known to have dined with
appetite and to have been as gay as
usual. Even on the morning of the day
of the fight Mime. HumbeFt still seemed
to he confident of victory. 1t is now
thought that she had made an arrange
ment by which a rich friend, or creditor,
was TO have lent her, for the day of the
opening of the safe, enough of share scrip
10 have satisfied the limbs of the law
an the creditors in general that the
phantom millions did really exist Or
perhaps Nine. Humbert calculated that
some legal technicality at the last mo-
ment would intervene and prevent the
agents of the law from opening the safe.
About midday this final hope appears to
have vanished, and it was then that the
preparations for flight had to begin.
There are always two clues to fugitives
family. The authorities imagined that
they had a certain means of laying hands
on Roumain d.Aurignac, the brother of
Nine. Humbert. in this way. They were
able to discover that he had large trunk
full of yellow leather which accompan-
led him in all his journeys. They looked
for this trunk in his usual haunts. 1t
was gone. Evidently he had left Paris.
then. But they had even a closer clue.
1t was known that he had a small fam
lily consisting of lady and two chill
dren, and il was known that hard as
was his heart his attachment to these
children was deep. Accordingly a watch
was put upon the little apartment where
this family lived Soon, however ii was
discovered that this would not afford
satisfactory and all-sufficng clue. This
Roumain d'Aurignac did everything in
royal style that put to shame even the
luxuriousness and extravaganza Of his
sister, with her country and town
houses furs and jewelry, and carriages
and motors. In time the police dis
covered that Rounain d Aurignac had
no fewer than four ladies in his train,
and that it was difficult to say which of
them could he regarded as the regnant
sultana.
One at last was found, however. who
did seem for the moment TO be the as
cendant star. 4 watch was put upon
.-er, her furniture was searched her cor
respondence was opened. Nothing, how
ever, was discovered. Late in the day
it was found that this lady bore two
names; her real name, which the police
did not know. and her professional name,
which they did. And then it was discov-
cred that while the police had been seiz-
ing the letters which came TO her pro-
seasonal name and TO one address the
lady had been receiving letters calmly
in the other name and at another adj
dress Further Investigations have re-
vealed the fact that the lady. some weeks
ago displayed 4 profound anxiety to
become acquainted with the rich and
sonorous language of Spain. Finally, she
has fed from Paris. All this seems to