Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-05-21
no. 90

introduction, he requested of the jailor
to be supplied with some medicine
which he pretended to want, and desi-
red it might be brought to him at the
hour he had fixed for his friends to
wait for him. The jailor appeared at
the time appointed and entered the
dungeon. Van-halen was young
man and very vigorous. While the
jailor was laying what he had brought
upon the table, and unprepared, he
seized him in an instant and throwing
him upon the bed, covered him with
the clothes, sprung out Of the door
which had been left open, locked it al
ter him, passed through the intricate
winding passages, which the little girl
had described to him hundred times
over, and instead of taking the direction
to the outer door, which it would have
been impossible to pass, obeyed her d.
rections, and followed a course that
led to the apartments Of the jailor.
The jailor's family consisted Of his
wife and daughter, who being occupied
with domestic affairs, were terribly
frightened at the appearance of such
an apparition, and never thought Of at
tempting to prevent his escape, which
he effected by an outer door. 1t was
not long however before the two women
came to their senses, and entering the
prison, began to search for the jailor;
but wandering without light through
the dark and spacious corridors, they
were long in finding the right way
to Van-halen's dungeon, where the
new prisoner was crying with all his
might, but remained unheard at re-
mote distance. "-Precis Hist. &c.
In our paper of Saturday last, we
mentioned the arrival Of this distin-
guished Spanish officer, who is now in
this city, with his interesting young
wife, sister of the celebrated General
Quiroga.
The following is the circular sent by
the Inquisition Of Madrid to the "Holy
Offices" in all parts of Spain, after the
escape of Col. Van-halen. The origi-
nal document fell into his hands in a
remarkable manner after the destruc
ton of the Inquisition Of Barcelona,
and now lies before Us:
ITO the Holy Office Of the hquisition, Bareeima'
Received on the 10th of February, 1913.
On the night of the 3oth of Jan. last,
at seven O'Clock, little before Or after,
Lieut.. Col. Don Juan Van halen, cap
tain of the regiment of Madrid Chas-
seurs, escaped from the secret prisons
of this Holy Office, in which he was
confined. His description is as follows:
He is 90 or 80 years Of age, feet and
S or inches high, Spanish measure0
regularly formed and well proportional
light brown hair inclining to sandy, full
and well formed face, complexion
white, mingled with red, nose more
than regular, eyes bright and with an
expression Of surprize, of restless &
violent disposition:-for which we
pray you to take the necessary precau-
lions, that, in case he should present
himself in yeur city, or in, any other
town ofyour district, his person may
be seized s secured in the prisons OF
your holy Office, giving us immediate
advice, that we may provide for his re-
turn to our own; for the present ac-
knowledging the receipt ofthis, &c.
Our Lord preserve you many years.
Inquisition Of the Court, Feb. 4, 1918.
d. Luis Cubero' d. Mariano Epsranzas,
ID. Ncente. .4ionso de perdSa.'