The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-31
NORTH SIDE NEWS
Petition for ]. b. Billiard to Run
for Mayor.
Will Accept Candidacy-An Old
Resident Here.
HIS FATHERS CAREER.
Was French Political Prisoner
Under Napoleon III.
Banished to Island Near South
HIS FATHERS CAREER.
Banished to Island Near South
America But Escaped.


A petition is being circulated on the
North side for the candidacy of ]. B.
Billiard, an old resident and a we'll
known miller and business man, also
president of the North side drainage
board. as MAYOR under the
commission fern of government
which will be established this spring
Mr.. Billiard was a Republican several
served as police commissioner under
Governor Leedy. He came to Topeka
in 1854. He says he will accept the
candidacy.
He was born near Lyons, France,
department or state of Allier,. July 8,
1916. His father. Gilbert Billiard, was
Republican leader. He was arrested
by Napoleon III in 1851. when the lat
ter usurped the Republic and declar-
ed himself emperor of France. Then
Mr.. Billiard, ST., was sent prisoner
to the island of Cayenne, near South
America. He escaped in boat and
accidentally landed on some Holland
territory known as Paramaribo. There
he communicated with his family and
who Joined him on the island and later
went to New York. as the ex-prisoner's
health WIS failing him.
In August. 1854, the Billiards, along
with Freeman Sardou'S parents, moved
to Kansas. They settled on home
Topeka. Here they endured much OF
the hardships of pioneer times.
Mr.. Billiard. ST.. died in 1870. His
son is a graduate of Washburn college.
August 81, 1875. He did surveying and
civil engineering. He has been in the
mill business for about 25 years. He
says he has come to believe in Demo-
cratic principles.
The story of Mr.. Billiards. fathers
career, reads like a tale of Victor
Hugo or alexander Dumas.
Although I was quite young at the
time, 1 will never forget how the sol
diers searched our house for father"
said Mr.. Billiard, this morning. Faith
er had been an active leader in stir
ring up the people against Napoleon
| III, when the latter usurped the Re
public and declared himself emperor of
| France. He had been arrested at
small cafe near our home but the SOL
diers did not know this. He was con-
sldered SO dangerous a man to the
new empire that 300 men were sent at
| ter him. Our house was on hillside,
so we could see the approach of the
men. Only my mother. brother and
servant was at home. The soldiers
rushed into the house. and looked the
house over from cellar to garnet. Every
| bed mattress they ripped open with
their swords and hayonets, thinking
| that father might be hidden there
Finding no one, they arrested my broth
| er, who was a little older than 1 and
took him with them, trying by threats
| to make him tell where the political
| leader was hidden. but as l said, he
| had been arrested. He had been eating
at a restaurant, with his gun beside
him. When the soldiers came, ne made
| a jump for the weapon, but was seized
and captured.
s"Then he was sent to dungeons and
the hulls of prison ships for a time.
Later he was exiled to the island of
| Cayenne, off the east coast of South
America. The climate was deadly and
his health failed Finally, one night
with eleven others, he evaded the SEN
ticed a small skif in the harbor and
further beyond. a pilot boat. Those
who could swim out to the pilot boat
The others. who had secured provisions.
loaded the row boat and rowed out to
the large vessel. Then boarding the
pilot, and transferring the food and wa
| ter. the men hoisted a small sail and
put to sea- In the darkness they had
but a vague idea of directions, but
hoped in some way to reach some Eng
knew was not for from their recent
! prison. However. instead the boat land
ed at Paramaribo owned by the Dutch.
Here a French war vessel which had
| been searching for the escaped men
| soon anchored. It's officers demanded
of the Dutch governor that he surren
der the escaped men, but the latter re-
fused upon learning that they We're
political prisoners. He also told the
| captain of the man-of-war that as his
vessel had entered the harbor without
the customary signals he must leave at
once The captain obeyed.
Meanwhile my father wrote to
mother, telling of his circumstances and
asking that she join him. The revolu-
ton had brought debt to US. partly