American watchman and Delaware advertiser., 1826-10-24
Y olunle v.

Monday, March % At seven O'Clock in the
morning, the criminal was carried up the torture
roon From that moment he ceased 70 he under
custody Of the French guards, ard according to rus
tom II was the Lieutenant of the Short.rohe of the
Chaielet who had charge of him
4 ne Recorder read the sentence to the criminal
VINO heard i, through with attention and intrepid.
~ and, OH raising himself, said, that the day would
be sharp one
A .itile before eight o'clock, six Of the Commits.
saries being assembled in the torture room the
criminal was placed on the stool, and underwent his
last lnterrogaory which lasted near an hour and an
halt: Damens oh the time preserving his usua.
thrtnness, lhat over, the exec utoners OF Justice
begen 10 put the legs of the criminal INTO the boot
and the ropes were frightened with iigor than
had ever been prac'ised; end perhaps this is the
most exquisely painful moment Of the whole pro-
cess OF that torture. Damiena began to send forth
the most piercing cries, and seemed even to faint
away out the physicians and surgeons, who al
ways present at the torture, on examination knew
that the swoohing was no, real Damiens asked 10
drink they gave him water, bat he insisted on nay-
Ing some wine in II, now strength is neces-
sary.' 1t was not iii. half an hour Afterwards that
the hrs, wedge was applied. They had let this in
terVal elapse, in order to have the numbsess eas
over, which commonly follows the violent conlp,es-
sion OF the gatnre, and that the s.Hstiiity mighs
be at its height and, indeed, he application Of
the first wedge, Damiens made dreadful outcries,
but without passion any indecent word. Dur
ing the same, the First President renewed his in
erroga,ories, and principally with respect 10 ac-
lcomplces; and having asked who Induced him TO
commit the crime, he cited out, : Il is Gautier.?
(l his was the FIRST moment of his ever mentioning
him.) Being a,ked who Gsutier was, he .oid as
also where he lived; and charged him wish having
used very criminal expressions, IN presence Of
Mons lc Maitre de Ferreres whose affairs this
man managed, and lodged at his house Upon
this declaration, the Commissaries gave orders 10
the Lieu enan oil the Short robe to bring away di. /,
rectly before them, in that room the said De Fer
reres and Gau'ier. Whilst they were gone Tor,
the torture continued, with intervals oil quarter Of
an hour between the driving Of each wedge, every
one OF which Damiens renewed his shrieks and
Ioutcies." The most home and pressing nerru-
cations imaginable all the while put to HIM;
and after having remsined tico hoars and a half
under the torture, the physician and surgeon advs-
cd not 10 keep him longer in il, it could not
be done without danger OF his life. Consequently
he was united and placed upon the mattress, whecc
having heard the verbal process, ard lis answers,
he persisted therein.
The Commssaries seeing there was nothing more
to be expected from the criminals declarations, or.
dered him to be lea back 20 Tie Greye. Ee waited
there some considerable time, because the execu-
toner had net been careful enough to have every
thing ready for which he was afterwards punished
by commitment for several days to the dungeon.
When Damiens stripped, it was obse, we'd,
that he surveyed and considered al his tody and
limbs with attention, and that he looked round with
hrmness on the vast concourse Of Spectators
Towards five O'Clock he was placed on the scaf-
fold which had been erected 10 the middle Of The in.
closed area and was raised shout three feet and an
hall from the grounds the length from eight TO nine
feet, and of about The anne breadth. The criminal
was instantly tied, and afterwards fastened by IRON
gives which confined him pnder the aims. and
nh that tnt~ H. E..t
was that of having his hand burnt IN the fame of
brimstone the pain OF which made him send forth
such terrible cry might be heard great way
oil moment afterwards he raised his bead, and
looked for some lime earnestly at his hand, without
renewing his cries, and without expressing any pas
sion, or breaking out into any impfecalion. o this
FIRST torment succeeded that Of the pnchng him
with red hot pncers, in the arms, thighs and breasts.
At each pinch he was heard 10 Shrek in the same
manner, as when his hand was burnt. He looked
and gazed at each wound, and his cries ceased as
soon the pinching was over. They afterwards
poured boiling oil and melted lead and rosin, into
every wound except those of the breast which pro-
duced, in all those circumstances, the same effect
as the two first tortures. The tenor Of his ariicu-
lated excamaons, at times, as follows
Strengthen me, Lord God strengthen me - Loid
God, have pity or me 20 Lord, my God, what dc
not suffer Lord God. give me patlence
AT length they proceeded 10 The ligaiures of HI,
arms. legs, and thighs, in order TO dsmenlber him.
This preparation was very long and painful, he
cords, straighty tied bearing griesously upon I'r
fresh wounds This drew new cries from the So.
ferer; but did not hinder him from viewing ant
considering himself with strange and singular ca
riosity.
The horses having been put to Tie draught. the
pulls were repeated for long time, with tiigh,iu
cries on the part of the sufferer The extension d
whose members was incredble and vet nothing
gave signs of the dismembernen, taking place.