NARROW ESCAPE OF THE EMPRESS OF THE FRENCH.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 906, 4 January 1868, Page 3

NARROW ESCAPE OF THE EMPRESS OF THE FRENCH.

The accident is thus described _ m a letter received from a lady at Biarritz: • — " The Empress, who is very fond of excursions on the water, embarked at Biarritz on the 4th, with the Prince Imperial, a naval officer, a pilot, a crew, and two gentlemen attached, I believe, to the Court. All went on very well in the daytime, but as it grew late the wind rose, and there was a heavy surf on the shore. The pilot, who was a Basque, and knew the coast well, made a suggestion to the officer, which, it is said, he took no notice of. It was seven o'clock,, and quite dark, and the Admiral doubtless did not fully take into account the position they were in. The Empress, the Prince, and all were on board flic Government steamer Chamois. When they approached St. Jean de Luz they wished to land, as they were to return to the Villa Eugenic in carriages which were in waiting for them. For that purpose they got into one of the ship's boats, but the boat dashed against a rock and was near upsetting. At that moment the pilot threw himself into the water to push off the boat, but the unfortunate man was crushed between the boat and the rock. It is said that the Empress, seeing the clanger they were in, cried out to pay no attention to her, but to save the Prince. The Prince, too, saw the danger, and wanted to throw himself into the water and swim ashore. In spite of the efforts of the poor pilot, the boat struck repeatedly against the rock and filled with water. This took place quite close to the shore, but it was pitch dark, and all were in danger of being drowned. The Emperor, who had remained at Biarritz, was very uneasy at their long absence, caused signals to be made, and had lights up along the coast from Biarritz to St. Jean de Luz, to prevent accidents, and all Biarritz was in movement. It appears the Empress, when the party landed, would not stop a moment to change her own dress, nor that of the Prince, she was so agitated. She entered the carriage and drove to the villa dripping wet. The whole town is in a state of excitement. Nothing else is talked of. ;It is said that the attempt to double the little cape of Socoa, instead of taking another direction, was the cause of the accident. Everyone feels the greatest sympathy for the poor pilot. He was greatly esteemed, and was one of the finest men as well as the most skilful pilots on the coast."