Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-01-21
FRENCH GENERAL
DIXIE GARDENER
President Finley of Southern
R. R. Writes of BonapartiStS'
Colony in Alabama.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 21.-Prestdcnt W.
". Finley, OF the Southern railway. has
taken time from his duties as a railroad
executive to write an interesting histori-
cal study Of an attempt to COLOMBO Ala
bama BY few hundred of Napocons
veterans after the downfall of the Bona
partist empire in 1915
The location Of this colony was In what
is now the fertile and prosperous region
in southwest Alabama OF which the thirty
ing city of Dcmopois is the center
For pioneer romance. hardship and mis-
fortune which later gave place TO cuI-
tured and wealthy ante bellum civiliza-
ton and present day prosperity and de-
velopment, that region enjoys a historic
interest unique in American annals.
In the early history Of this country
then dense forest and wild cauehrakes
arc woven the names Of men and women
who have played conspicuous parts I'm the
greatest drama Of war and nations the
world has ever seen. Men who had led
armies in conflicts tho result of which had
changed the map Of Europe. and women
who had adorned the imperial court Of
France. took M the life OF pioneers I'm
the cndeavor to found in the primeval
forest colony TO cultivate the vine and
the olive The story Of their misfortunes
and trials in the rude life of the frontier
and the final utter failure Of the venture
IS one fun Of interest.
Live In 5ackwoods
Tho officer who had commanded Napo-
Icons advance guard on the march to
Paris after the return from rIba, Colonel
"a
woodsman, and his wife. marchioncss
who had been maid Of honor at court,
cooked his meals over the open fire in a
cabin home Colonel Cluis who had once
had the captured King Ferdinand of Spain
in his custody. became the keeper Of
tavern in Greensboro.
General Count Bertrand Clauscl an Of
f1cer Of merit who commanded at Bor-
deaux during the hundred days. raised
vegetables on little farm and hawkcd
them through the streets of Mobile. lie
afterward returned to France, became
marshal and governor Of Ngiers
Count Lefehvre Desnouttes, a cavalry
officer with the rank of lieutenant gen
eral, who had fought with honor in Spain
and Russia, had ridden in the carriage
with Napoleon on the disastrous retreat
from Moscow, and whom the emperor had
embraced for all his officers on bidding
them farewell at Fontainebleu, was
one OF those who shared in the hardships
in the wilderness. He was lost at sea at
tempting to return to France.
Henry rAlemandee, a lieutenant gen
eral; NJ. Peniers, member OF the Frehch
national assembly, who had voted for the
death Of Louis XVI, and son of the cele-
brated Marshal Grouchy, whole failure
10 arrive at Waterloo sealed the fate of
the French empire were among other dis
tinguished persons who made up the un-
fortunate colony
CoIonists Are Unfortunate.
The colony was founded by between 300
and 400 followers of Napoleon who had
been exiled by the Bourbons after their
restoration on March d. 1917. congress
gave the exiles, then gathered in Phila-
delphia. a grant Of four townships at 81
per acre, on fourteen years time, on con-
dition that they cultivate the vine and
the olive.
From the outset the colony seemed
doomed TO misfortune. The ship on which
they sailed from Philadelphia ran aground
in Mobile bay, but all on board reached
shore The Colonists were totally unpre-
pared for the work Of clearing the wilder
ness and the difficulties of pioneer life.
They lacked teams and wagons and
knew nothing of agriculture, and the pro-
vision that they must cultivate the vine
and olive proveS great hardship. since
the country was not suitable Misunder-
standings as to the location of the land
granted them caused much distress. as
many colonists cleared and improved land
only to ind that they must abandon &c.
Inscriptions sQuatters added to the
troubles of the colony, and in two or three
wears Ii began to disintegratC, as many as
could returning to France