The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-11-14
A FAMOUS
ESCAPE
By ELSIE B. MATTESON

place for awhile | am awaiting an
opportunity to place myself where !
could reward you hundredfold"
II am aware of your highness' ambi-
tious intentions, but unfortunately
there are those who occupy the posi-
ton to which you aspire, and there
seems no reason at present why they
should give it up to you No; if save
you it will be from loyalty rather than
the hope of gain"
you as my physician can testify
that am i'll and that it is necessary
that l be placed where l may be kept
quiet-in other words, where ] will not
be seen. Meanwhile may get out.
have friends who will have transporta
ton waiting for me that will take me
across the border"
Where you may renew your at
tempts made at Boulogne in 1910 and
again get yourself in limbo"
THAT was six years ago, when the
pear was not ripe"
II do not believe it to be ripe now"
ITO return to the more immediate
problem, you as my physician, after
my departure. may use what argu-
ments you think will be effective to
persuade the governor that l am i'll
and must not be disturbed"
But supposing he insists on seeing
you"
Let him look upon dummy"
aaFNNN- q -
sooner or later he will insist on an
examination.
meanwhile shall have reached
Belgian soil"
"And will be prisoner"
-'rrust to me for your reward"
"If you are able to reward me-
A week passed. during which the
prince communicated with his friends
outside the prison walls. and they
agreed TO keep a carriage waiting at
all hours of the day and night at an
appointed place. This was to continue
till the prince appeared or informed
them that the contemplated attempt
had been abandoned.
Painters were at work in the prison,
and the prince conceived the design Of
walking ont openly disguised as one
of them. Or. Conneau secured for
him a workingmans blouse, trousers
and wooden shoes. He also reported
the prince to be Ill and requested that
he be not disturbed DR. Conneau had
Struggled the workman's apparel into
the room and concealed II there. He
had also got ready some extra bed
clothing that he proposed to roll into
the form OF dummy to be placed in
the prisoners bed.
On the morning that the prince in
tended to attempt an escape he arose
at o'clock. shaved of his mustache.
put on the trousers. the blouse and
the shoes. and that he might have
something with which TO conceal his
features II he should pass any one
familiar with them he picked up a
| bookshelf that was In the room and
lifted II TO his shoulder. DR. Con-
neau was with him and when all was
ready stepped into the corridor, and.
having assured the prince that the
coast was clear. the latter passed from
his room
DIR. Conneau Immediately stepped
back TO arrange the dummy
Ii was an anxious moment for the
prince IL detected he would be taken
back 10 his room or, more likely, TO a
cell and kept doubly guarded that he
might not make another attempt. IL
he got away scot free to a foreign
country a possible crown awaited him.
Passing along the corridor. he heard
footsteps approaching. Bending his
head and partly covering his face with
the bookshelf, he passed prison OIL
cial unrecognized. At the other end OF
the corridor n man walked 10y him, but.
intent upon his thoughts. took no heed
Of the supposed painter. In this way
he passed several persons and at last
found himself In the prison yard. A
keeper was lounging beside the gate.
but he had never seen the prince and
if he had would not likely have known
him in his disguise. Walking out into
the town, the supposed workman went
leisurely 10 where carriage was
standing. opened the door and stepped
inside The coachman-one Of his
friends-underStood and without even
word being spoken between them
mounted the box and drove away.
At o'clock that afternoon the fugi-
tive was at Nalenciennes.
At that time there were no telegraph
ic lines by which 10 intercept the
prince So long as he was unrecOg-
nized he was safe. 50. retaining his
smock and his wooden shoes. he en-
tered a thiri class railway coach for
Brussels. once across the line he
breathed freely. for 10y International
law he was immune from arrest with
out extradition. and extradition did
not apply 90 political persons.
At Brussels be found friends. chang
ed his clothes and after a brief stay
departed for London. where he ar
rived two days later.
Between two and three years after
this escape Louis Philippe king OF thu
French, abdicated and a republic wan
instituted. Prince Louis Napoleon Bo-
naparte, who escaped from the prison
at Ham. was elected its president and