The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1905-04-21
IS EesaQa 1p'<llsspceD
BEL AIR, Md, APRIL ri. 1905.
The Escape of Lavalette.

gave a shout of joy as he saw it was &C.
cupied, rushed forward, threw open the
door and called upon the inmate, whom
he supposed to be Lavalette, to surren-
der The only reply was a shrek from
the occupant, who proved to be Mile.
Lavalette.
With curse the young man returned
| to the prison, and general alarm was
sent out. The military and the police
swarmed into the streets and joined in
the search. Handbills, containing his
portrait and a most complete description
of his person, were sent all over France
and there was not postmaster, postil-
lion or gendarme on any of the roads of
the kingdom who had not one of these in
his pocket. Their vigilance was quick
ened by the proffer of immense rewards,
and as an additional precaution the is
sue of passports was suspended for
time, so that he would be unable to pass
the frontiers and escape.
|
remained in Paris, and though the gen.
darmes often swarmed around the place
of his concealment, his retreat was never
discovered.
He was, however, in constant danger,
and brace of loaded pistols were always
ready for instant use, leaving him the
consolation of knowing that he should
never die upon the scaffold, as he inten-
ded. in case of discovery, to lodge their
contents in his brain.
! After few weeks the excitement of his
escape partially subsidized, and he began
to cast about for au opportunity to leave
the country, but difficulties almost insur-
mountable presented themselves, and ap-
palling dangers attended every moment.
When all other means failed, in his des-
peration he wrote to an English gentle
man residing in Paris, James Bruce, in
which, representing himself as friend of
| Lavalette, he threw himself entirely upon
Mr.. Bruce's generosity, and frankly
made him a conhdant. He assured him
that Lavalette was still in Paris, but
could only escape with his assistance, en-
treating him not to betray him, and if he
would assist him he was requested to
send letter to a designated place, ad-
vising the writer of the fact The letter
was not signed, and sent to Mr.. Bruce
by the mail.
That gentleman was touched with COM
passion, and counseled with two of his
countrymen, Sir Robert Wilson and Cap
tain Hutchinson, and the result was the
three entered into the effort to place the
unhappy man beyond danger. So the
letter was answered, the parties met and
the scheme of escape formed. They first
provided him with the uniform of quar-
termaster of the National Guards and
then selected person of his own height,
complexion and general appearance to
procure passport under feigned name
and proceed with it as far as Compeignc.
Lavelette, in his uniform, and other
wise disguised, left Paris in an open car
riage, in company with Bruce, who had
assumed the uniform of an English gen
eral, and the man whose portrait was in
the possession of the principal policemen
and detectives of Paris, whose person
had been so frequently and fully de.
scribed, the individual for whom all
France had been thrown into feverish
excitement, rode boldly along the popu-
lous Streets, in the broad glare of day,
under the eyes of thousands of gen
darmes, who saluted him as their supe-
rior officer, and presented arms to his
companion, the English general Arriv-
ing at Campeigne, he was met by the
friend who had secured the passport, and
in few hours he found himself in neutral
territory.
Batfled in the pursuit of Lavalette, the
| government turned its rage upon the
poor, loving vile who had so cleverly
proved her bravery and devotion. She
was Immediately thrown into close con-
finement, the charge of treason against
the state was preferred, and long series
of annoyances, threats and prosecutions
were commenced, the certainty of trial,
condemnation and execution were I'M
pressed upon her, until her constitution,
already shattered by anxiety and care,
gave way, reason became clouded, and,
after an incarceration of fifteen months,
she became confirmed maniac, raving
almost constantly about the danger to
her husband, and calling upon those
around her for help.
Then, satisfied with their work, she
was handed over to her friends, but her
life was ever after blank
In 1922 Lavalette was pardoned and
permitted to return to France, but wrote
to a friend:
"She, who would have given her life to
save mine, is now mental wreck, and
knows not that am saved"
Lavalette died in 1880, but his poor
wife lived until 1855, when death kindly
ended her sorrow. Napoleon by his will
left Lavalette a bequest of 100000
francs, but only $4,000 francs were paid
over. In 1858, however, Napoleon III
ordered the balance to be paid to his
heirs, and it came in time to minister to
the last necessities of the noble woman
who had sacrificed so much for her con-
jugal love.