The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1913-01-23
A FAMOUS
ESCAPE
By ELSIE B. MATTESON

Doctor" said the prince, "if you
will aid me ! think | can get out Of
this"
IF do | shall but put myself in
your place
'It might pay you to remain in my
place for awhile ] am awaiting an
opportunity to place myself where l
could reward you hundredfold.
Il am aware of your highness' ambi.
tious intentions, but unfortunately
there are those who occupy the posi-
lion 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 l am i'll and that it is necessary
that / be placed where | 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"
"To 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"
s'That may do for a short time, but
sooner or later he will insist on an
examination"
Meanwhile 1 shall have reached
Belgian SOIL
"And will be a prisoner"
-'Trust 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 out openly disguised as one
of them. DR.. Conneau secured for
him worllingman's blouse, trousers
and wooden shoes. He also reported
the prince to he i'll and requested that
he be not disturbed. DR.. Conneau had
smuggled the workman's apparel into
the room and concealed it 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 off his mustache
put on the trousers, the blouse and
the shoes, and that he might have
something with which to conceal his
features if he should pass any one
= familiar with them he picked up ;
bookshelf that was in the room and
! lifted it to his shoulder DIR. Con
neau was with him and when all WA,
ready stepped into the corridor, and
l having assured the prince that thC
: coast was clear, the latter passed from
his room.
DR.. Conneau Immediately steppe,
! back to arrange the dummy.
3 1t was an anxious moment for tn
prince. If detected he would be takel
l back to his room or, more likely, to ,
3 cell and kept doubly guarded that h
b. might not make another attempt. |
2 he got away scot free to n foreigl
country II possible crown awaited him
: Passing along the corridor, he heart
I footsteps approaching. Bending hi
t head and partly covering his face wit
I the bookshelf, he passed a prison Off
r cial unrecognized. At the other end o
2 the corridor a man walked by him, but
- intent upon his thoughts, took no hee
| of the supposed painter. In this wa
r he passed several persons and at las
found himself in the prison yard. .
i keeper was lOunsing beside the gate
: but he had never seen the prince an
4 II ne Hdu NOulu not likely IuNe hnOW
him in his disguise. Walking out int
the town, the supposed workman wen
A leisurely to where a carriage wa
+ standing, opened the door and steppe
t inside. The cOachman-One of hi
0 friends-understOod and without eve
word being spoken between ther
n mounted the box and drove away.
| At 3 o'clock that afternoon the fug
t tive was at Valenciennes.
I At that time there were no telegraph
$ ic lines by which to intercept tn
+ prince. SO long as he was unrecOg
t nized he was safe. SO, retaining hi
t smock and his wooden shoes, he ell
tered a third class railway coach fo
, Brussels. Once across the line h
$ breathed freely, for by information;
! law he was immune from arrest will
2 out extradition, and extradition di
not apply to political persons.