NAPOLEON AND THE GUNNER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10079, 14 March 1896, Page 2 (Supplement)

NAPOLEON AND THE GUNNER.

After the distribution of the crosses at) Paris, the Emporor proceeded for a similar i purpose to Boulogne, where a portion of the army was encamped in a semi circle facing 1 the open channel. It was here that Napoleon first appeared upon an improvised throne, surrounded by his marshals, and hailed by his troops with the utmost enthusiasm. The British Fleet, cruising in the offing, observing that some unusual ceremony was going forward on shore, commenced a brisk cannonade, to which the French batteries responded, bub without much damage being done on either side. At the termination of the coremony, the Emperor, follows.) by his marshals and a numerous staff, rodo away toward the town of Boulogne. As he was passing in the rear of one of the batteries, he turned; to Ueneral Marmont, who, like Napoleon himsplf, had been originally in the artiliary, and said jocularly : " Let us soe, Marmont, if we remember our old trade well enough to send a cannon ball into that English brig, which seems disposed to amuse herself at our expense, and has the audacity to come within range." Hereupon the Emperor dismounted, took the post of the corporal in charge of 0110 of tho pieces, levelled the mortar himself, and applied the match. The missile passed through one of the brig's sails, and fell into the sea beyond. Marmont then tried his hand, but with no better result, and the plucky captain ot the brig, finding his ship an object of special interest on shore, blazed away at a tremendous rate. " Now, then, corporal," said the limparor, "it is your turn." The artilleryman, taking careful aim, fired the gun, and tho projectilo, hissing through the air, was seen to carry away a portion of the daring Englishman's bowsprit. " Bravo, corporal I" exclaimed the Emperor, " you are a much better marksman than either of üb." And, taking the cross from his own coat, he attached it to the breast of the delighted soldier amid the acclamations of the army.—English Illustrated Magazine.