The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-08-26
STATE SOCIETY
UNC0vERS TALE
OF LoCkSM|TH
Stormy Life of Jules Leon Cottet,
Once. Resident Of Springfield,
Made Known.

Springfield, ILL.,, Aug. 26-(By the
Associated Press) Few in Spring
field remember Jules Leon Cottet,
locksmith. And few who remem-
Der him know the dramatic story
that lay back of the prosaic exterior
Of the little lock shop and the
equally humble exterior of the lit
tie locksmith.
Jules ashes lie buried under the
pleasant skies of southern Californ-
ia but tale of his stormy life has
just been brought to light in Spring
field by the Illinois State Histori-
cal society with the assistance of
his daughter, Mrs. Felicie Cottet
Snider.
Cottet was for many years an en-
gineer on the Springfield fire de-
partment, but neither this fact, nor
his skill as a .locksmith, has led the
historical society to place him be-
side some of the historical figures
of the state. The people of Spring
field of the older generation re-
member him as the locksmith who
opened the safe of Springfield
bank after an expert" had failed
and because the bank refused to
pay him the $40 agreed on, slammed
the door of the safe and then
charged the bank $40 for opening
it again.
But back in the days Of the sec.
ond Napoleon of France it was
different Jules Leon Cottet. This
is the story uncovered by the his.
torical society.
With Garibaldi.
As a student Cottet fought with
Garibaldi in the republican upris,
ing in Italy in 1S48. Returning
from this first taste Of revolution
he fell a victim a few years Later
to the decree of Napoleon II who
on December /, 1851, ordered all
republicans arrested. The order
came at night and Jules Leon. with
his father, his sister and her hus
band all were arrested in bed. An.
other brother was killed.
The prisoners were thrown into
Easements of stone resembling els
terms that had been used as store
rooms for ammunition in Fort Bice
tire. They had no trial and befor,
they could be taken out and killed
many of them died Of disease ant
filth.
The prisoners were chained il
pairs. Cottet's comrade, to whom HI
was chained, was taken out ant
shot. Cottet heard the report o
the rifles from his prison dun
geon. His turn was next, but be
fore the exeSutioners, reached hin
orders came 10 cease the execu
tions.
The remaining prisoners wer,
exiled, and Jules Leon Cottet ant
his father we're sent to Camp Bier
cadrein near Algiers. Here mos
of them died of cholera due to con
taminated water and putrid food
Cottet assisted the living to sew
the dead in sacks and bury them
He was saved from the same fat
by an influential Arab, who tool
him to his tent and fed him on Bar
barry figs and purified water.
The remnant Of prisoners, afte
a time in the detention camp, wa
again confined, this time in For
Bah Azoun at Algiers. The side
tof this fort ran straight up from
the sea.
! Escapes Prison.
Bidding goodbye to his father
whom he never saw again, julie
with several companions, jumpe,
into the sea from the top of tn
prison walls one night. They wer
picked up almost exhausted by
small smuggling vessel and takel
to Spain. They walked acros
Spain, reaching San Sebastian ant
took a sailing vessel for America
1t required 81 days to reach New
Orleans. where he landed Octobe
"a, 1854.
He made his way to the Icarial
society at Nauvoo, ILL.,, Of which h
became secretary. After its dis
solution, he moved to st. Louis an
later to Springfield, He was
member Of Caughn's Independent
battery in the. Civil war and be
came a captain, He died in Lo
Angeles a few years ago, havin
gone there for his health.