“Its That Changed History.”

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 19, 8 May 1912, Page 62

“Its That Changed History.”

THE BROKEN “SADDLESfTRAP ’ THAT MAY HAVE ALTERED THE .STORY OF FRANCE.

BY

A. P. TEHUNE.

A French lad—handsome, melancholy, foolishly courageous—was acclaimed by many thousands of Frenchmen in 1873 as "Napoleon IV., Emperor of the French.” A mighty nation is said to have backed liss claims. Many of the wise men of the time prophesied that in a very few' years he would sit upon the imperial throne of France. France to-day might perhaps be an empire and ruled by this same daring youth bad not a grafting army contractor tried to save a little money by using paper instead of stout leather in making one of the straps for a cavalry saddle. Here is the story: For eighteen years—up to the autumn of 1870—Louis Napoleon (Napoleon 111., supposed nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte) had ruled France. Thea came the Franto-PrussianWar. France tr.reugit the incompetency of its Emperor-> advisers and generals, was" humble * to tlic dust. The French people, in rage * - their humiliation, drove Napo'ccn HL, into exile. AN EMPEROR IN EXILE. The dethroned Emperor found refuge in England — almost the only country whose ruler had been on terns of warm personal friendship with hitr. •h.tnag h.a reign. With him were liis set wife «ihe Empress Eugenie, whose love for meddling in politics had done hiucli to wreck her husband’s fortunes) an I their iifteen-year-old son, Eugene Louis Jean Napoleon, the “Prinee Imperial.” The boy. known affectionately to the Parisians as “Lou-Lou.” had been present at one or two battles of the disastrous war. Now he was sent to the Royal Military Academy at Wooiwieh, England, to receive an education as a soldier. For the ex-Fonperor had by no means given up hope of returning to his throne. Napoleon HI. had more or less good reason for his hope. France was now a republic, and thousands of Frenchmen disliked that form of government. A large part of the labouring classes ant of the army were eager for the Emperor’s restoration. England, it was generally beKeved, would do all possible to bring this about. In fact, a daring plan was actually made whereby Napoleon 111. was to appear on horseback at the French army manoeuvres, be received with joy by the soldiers and march in triumph to Paris. But in January, 1873, he died, before this spectacular scheme could be put into effect. The hopes of theFreneli imperialists now centered wholly about his only son. A strong faction in Frarrce worked feverishly to overthrow the republic an 1 to make the “Prince Imperial”—or • Napoleon IV.” as his supporters now called him — Emperor of th? French. EnglanJ was thought to favour the idea. It was even said that the Prinee was not a wholly unwelcome suitor for the hand of Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter, the Princess Beatrice. But before making a daSh for the French throne it was thought necessary for the lad to show himself worthy of the warlike Napoleonic tradition--. With a war record of a sensational sort lie might hope to become the idol of the French. His chance •ame. in 1879, when conflict, between England ami the Zulus- of South Afri.-a began. He obtained leave to go to the front. “The Prince’s campaign.” writes Archibald Forbes, the great war-eorre-pon-

dent, “was nothing other than intrigud of the -English court ... to help toward changing republican France intd imperial France and to contribute toward the elevation of this young man to the throne which his father had lost. 5 * THE PRINCE’S LAST FIGHT. Th*’ Prince plunged into the war wittt a reckless, daredevil courage (hat greatly worried the officers who were responsible for Ins safety. Throughout; the campaign he wore at his side th** sword which Napoleon Bonaparte ha<t carried at Waterloo. On June 1. 1879*, he was a member of a small scouting; party that dismounted for lunch at :1’» empty Zulu village. While the soldiers were resting a band of Zulus swept down upon them. The handful of Englishmen mounted and galloped to safety. Tha Prince was one of the finest riders in. the army. He sprang to his excitest gray charger and tried to vault into the saddle. To gain leverage for the jump he seized with one band a leather strap that ran across the strong-looking pommel from holster to holster. Later investigation proved that the strong-look-ing strap was of paper coated with leather. 11 broke under the strain put upon it. Baek to the ground tumblesl the Prinee ;ts the support gave way. His frightened horse galloped off. The Zulus rushed in upon the helpless youth, slaying him and cutting bis body almost to piece*. Ami thus, nexS day a rescue "brigade found him. histeously mutilated, stripped save for .i sacred amulet around his neck. The hope of imperial France, the chosen leader of a mighty faction, t.ia expected destroyer of a republic, lost: his life and perhaps changel a nation’s whole future because st bit • f cheap saddlery ihar.eed to break.