DEATH OF A FRENCH HERO.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2459, 14 April 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

DEATH OF A FRENCH HERO.

Commandant Brassedji, the heoric defender of Le Bourgot, lias just died in the Hotel dca Invalided. His deeds are in - crilied on the roll of fame, and the Germans esteemed him a foeman so worthy of their steel that his sword was returned to him after ho had been made a prisoner. The deceased warrior was admitted to the Invalided immediately after the. war, owin" to the severe injuries which he hail sustained. He had completely lost the use of his lower limbs, and was rolled about every morning in a little car by a pensioner. M. Brasseur was an ollicer in the Imperial Guard at tho time the Franco German war broke out. When general Vinoy's army corps entered Paris he was appointed to the command of the "iSth Regiment, and in October, IS7O, he succeeded iu dislodging the Prussians from Lo Bourgot, which they had held for a month. For two days Brassetir defended his position with Ki'JO men. The Germans attacked the positions with overwhelming numbers, and at noon on the second day of the seige 1200 of the defenders were put linn tie combat. Commandant Baroohc was killed, and Brasseur fought every inch of the ground with a handful of men until he reached the church, where he made a last gallant stand. The German Grenadiers were obliged to put ladders against the building, whereby they reached the windows and fired in on the defenders. M. Brasseur was wounded in the head, and the devoted band surrendered. The episode is well known, owing to Alphonsc do Neuvillc's picture of the Defence du Bourget," copies of which are in the shops of photographers and printsellcrs. It was the Prince of Wiirtemburg who ordered M. Brasseur's sword to be given up to him after the fight.