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IIINapoleon tlie First.An old soldier, residing at Battle Creek, Michigan, recently asked the j £writer of this article;“Do you know what occurred sixty 11 vears ago, 011 the 9th day of May, 1.821 ?”The question rather startled us. We could not remember. Our recollection faild us, and we were obliged to tell the old genfclemanthafc wecouTdnot—unless | * we were trying to decide whether we would rather be born a boy or a girl.The old gentleman “smilled a gastly smile” at the cheap pun, and remarked that he could distinctly remember. “Just sixty years ago,” he continued, “occurred the funeral of Napoleon j ] Bonaparte on the island of St. Helena.I remember the event well. Would you like to have me tell of his death and thefuneral?”Now the old gent meant well, but he is getting rather old and childish; to our distinct recollection he had related that momentous occasion in his life, to us, on at least six different occasions; but being resigned to our fate, we replied that we would, when he proceeded totel] the story in about the, followinglanguage:“The island where we were (St. Helena) was well guarded. There were great batteries on every commanding point, and the island swarmed with troops. Besides this a large man-of-war guarded the harbor constantly. The island itself is a natural fortress being a rocky stronghold, and on each point lookouts were stationed to give warnings of the first approach of danger. We had been to enough trouble in capturing the French King, and didn't intend to let them back again. Every step that Napoieon took was watched. An officer walked with himconstantly, and kept him company, asicket lbwell as guarded him, while picket lines surrounded the hill where his house was, and at night pickets were placed all around the fence about the house, and guards at each door and window, so that escape was impossible. He lives’ in an old story and a half farm-house I used to see him every day walking about or riding on horseback, but always in company with a British officer. Whenever he was away from the %housea flag was hoisted on a high pole on theieklt;hill, to give notice to the pickets about the island to be on a watch, and if he attempted to escape to capture him at all hazards; but I never knew of him attempting to get away. He was dressed in citizens clothes nearly all the time, but once in a while he would wear a full General's uniform. He lived on this island in this way nearly six years, until at last he was taken sick and we did not see him walking about the garden or road about his house. As he was a prisoner of war, no one was allowed to speak with him except his companion, and finally we guards never knew how sick lie was until finally, after he had been sick about six weeks, it was announced that he had cancer of the stomach and could no- live long. But still we did not hardly expect that he would die so soon as he did. On the morning of May 5, 1821, I was on picket guard duty at the fence at the foot of the lane leading to the house, when about 6 o’clock I saw an orderly come running down the lane. I halloed to him and asked him what was the matter, and he replied:‘I've got good news. Old Nap is dead!’ We used to call him Old Nap among ourselves. They kept his body four days, and his funeral occurred on the 9th of May,1821, just sixty years ago. It was thejral Ilargest funeral lever attended. Everybody on the island was there. We buried him with all the military honors that we knew, and we buried him so that we did not intend that anyone would dig him up again, either. The grave was dug six feet deep in the solid rock, and then, after letting the coffin down, several iron bars were put crossways of the coffin and cemented into the rock at each end, and then a big, heavy stone slab was put overthis, and all cemented tight. He kept so well that when the French dug him up, about seventeen years after, he had not decayed, and his features were as natural as ever.”As the old English veteran finished his story he lit a cigar—the only bad habit he has—and remarked that it was getting near his bed time (9 o’clock;) so taking the hint, the scribe withdrew, with a cordial invitation to “comeagain. ’ ’Mr. William T. Palmer, was born at Herstley, in the county of Hants, England, on December 20, 1799, and is consequently in the 88d year of his age. He lived at home till 19 years old, when he enlisted in the 66th regiment, and arrived at St. Helena in the following year. Napoleon had already been on the island since 1815. After leaving Saint Helena the 66tli regiment was ordered to Canada, where Mr. Palmer quit, after serving his'country nearly sixteen years. He showed us a yellow parchment stating that he was honorably dis-Tlt;charged at Toronto, tytarch 12, 1834, and certifying that “William T. Palmer wasan honest, sober, and trustworthy man.”Notwithstanding his age, Mr. Palmer isill p:as well as' mentally. He still pursues— • • \ try —o 1 — ■ — —remarkably well preserved, physicallyhis trade of gardening, and does good work. His wife, aged seventy-six, liveswith him, and three daughters, and they enjoy the respect and society of our best citizens.
Newspaper Details
Le Mars Daily Liberal
Le Mars, Iowa, US
Fri, Jul 15, 1881
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 27 Mar 2022
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