Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-24
pecial Correspondence of The Star.

w YITH the death of David Balmat.
the aged Adirondack guide,
NM few days ago at his lonely
" cabin upon the shores of Lake
Bonaparte, a score of miles
from here, has come to light facts OF sreae
interest to historians and to multitudes OF
common people who are always eager 10
grasp new facts regarding the man OF
destiny and his family.
The new light is shed by the opening Oh
the diary of David -Balmat's father, the
Count Jean D. Balmat, who, with number
of other distinguished Frenchmen, seltieo
in the Adirondack wilds in 1l96 and estao-
lished in these then almost 1mpenetrapie
Businesses a sort of royal court upon the
shores of that beautiful sheet OF water
which is now down on the maps as Lane
Boraparte.
To this place came Joseph BonapaIt re-
eX-King of Naples and of SPAIN a1ter me
downfall of Napoleon, and to these WAos
he brought his American wife, as wen as
many notables of Europe. Regarding the
life, thoughts and aspirations Oh l!e
king and of his associates In the prllheNi i
court the Count Balmat was prlvy, ana ne
took pains to record many of the deeplg
interesting scenes and incidents OF tne
period In this valuable book OF RECORDS
are given not alone the views of the eX-
king and his friends upon the dream OIL
an American empire, but extracts from
letters of the great Coriscan himself ana
Gen. Bertrand
David Balmat was himself of distinguish
ed blood and a most interesting character
He was a man of remarkable aplnty, anu
notwithstanding that he had passed all ms
years in the woods and had earned MS
livelihood as hunter, trapper and GUIDE
was person of culture, possessing pecul-
lar refinement of speech and manner. he
was ever proud of his lineaSe-his ma
hos
Oldenburs-and he could trace the family
tree back to notables of the sixteenth cen
fury, but his greater pride was IN the TACT
that his father had been for so long the
close friend and coniidant OF Joseph
Bonaparte.
Some time ago The Evening Star corre-
spondent made trip to Natural Bridge
(the village established by the French near
Lake Bonaparte) and talked with the aged
guide In spite of, his eighty seven years,
Mr. Balmat was lively and affable, and 1t
required but little urging to start him upon
the road of interesting narrative. and he
proceeded to relate many things incident
to the life of his father and the Bona
parties. But the diary?
All that is a closed book, so to speak,
said the aged woodsman for my good
father told me to keep it in the family
as an heirloom to our children and our
children's children; but, alas and the old
man sighed. Il have no cniid TO leave it TO-
You see" he continued, producing the
treasure and turning the leaves, 1t con-
tlins many tributes to our family from
great men and women. See! here Is the
signatures of the King of Naples and OF
Spain, under this testimony Teadng):
'Affectonate words to my friend and
brother of the forests and noble son or
La Belle France, Count Jean de Balmat'
and here is another testimony to Wnlcn Is
clio, trlra of
And so the old man dilated upon the
treasure book in his hands, turning over the
leaves one after another, reading mere an
interesting bit of Count Balmats own
recording and again fragment of verse or
prose sentiment crowded into the volume
by distinguished pens. But the diary itself
David would not let out of his hands, ana
now that he is dead. the document is in
the hands of Capt. r. r. James of Water
town, N Y, the executor of the little es-
tate
Capt. James has allowed some portions
of the book to be translated for The Star,
but the diary itself will be sent to the
French Academy. as directed in the last
will and testament of Balmat.
Joseph Bonaparte is generally referred to
in the book as King Joseph. but in one OF
or the King of Naples
To-day" writes the elder Balmat (Au-
gust 2o-the year not given in any part OF
the book, king Joseph arrived to look
over his estate, and to visit US He is
pleased with the turnpike built through
from Wilma. making it much easier to ar
rive at and depart from the lake. ms
makes me feel better, for l have spent
much time and money upon it. The time
was mine and the money was his
August pa King Joseph is enjoying
himself in the forest to all appearances.
We, the king, Bossout and Girard, will go
on a hunting trip to the other end of the
lake tomorrow. Some of the others may
decide to come. The deer are very penti-
full all about here, but since we Killed
few they are keeping to the north end
King Joseph says that he is anxious TO
kill a deer, a big one, so that he can take
tic head and hide to his place In Borden
town.
same day Evening. A number of let
tiers and documents were brought in by
the runner from Natural Bridge, and king
Joseph is busy with his pen one OF ms
has read it aloud to US. He is to be Of
fered the crown of that country. 1t seems
that a number of leading men OF that coun-
try are soon to be In BordentoWn' "hlch
is on the coast This will make it a neces-
sty for him to go from here soon. But
he may send for them to come here
Goodar believes the Mexicans should come
here. So do l..
throne in the new world did not interfere
with the hunting expeditions; that nature
did Balmat writes under the next days
date:
Our party started out shortly after 10
this morning. King Joseph, Bossout
Goodar, LeRay and Lamaine. We took the
big boat and padded along until Point
Ramon was reached. All the time 1t looked
like a rainstorm to me, and advised that
we go ashore and erect a shelter. LeRay
and Lemaine, who are o!d naval captains,
did not agree with me, but the king
thought we would do better to land. This
we did, and no sooner had we the shelter
built than the rain came down in oceans.
King Joseph laughed at our friends, and
to i.eRay asked what he thought of the
fresh-water prophet (myselD. LeRay
eood-naturedly acknowledged that he had
lost. but that he could beat me at sea, any
way. The rain continued until after 3,
and as it was quite cold, We returned to
the lodge.
On the next day, however, according 10
Balmat, the hunt was again taken up, and
this time Joseph Bonaparte had the salts
faction of killing a deer. I'VE neared the
other end of the lake and several shots had
been fired by Goodar, but each time he had
failed to hit the mark. You are not an ex-
merit shot, colonel; let me try at the next
one was the remark of King Joseph. we
remained quiet for some time, with our
two boats floating not far from shore Ihen
toto xh1 lnl-.