Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-11-14

metly Tor every disease- Es'o'ne -. ""'
was still a boy, and the fa.her-in>iaw OF Don
Marcelino the chief gaole:, there was French
;eweller confined in these prisons, who was a
most per,iuacious hereto He took il into his
head one day 10 deny every thing to the Holy
Tribunal, and 10 behave unciviIy TO the gaol-
ers. and finally refused to take any food OF see
any one. One day when his dungeon was TO be
cleaned, and himself removed to another, the
gaoier, on opening the gates, found him armed
with log Of wood which he had torn from the
side Of the bed, and with which he threatened
TO knock him down, If he attempted TO enter
Perhaps you imagine he added, with salts
fed air, shat that gubachot had his own way.
and was left there 10 die. cursing like rene
gade, and without conlessing his crime! Not
so, indeed; the gaoler locked the doors, without
attempting to disarm him, and informed the his
cal Of it, who Immediately caused six soldiers
10 CONS from the square OF Sanlo Domingo,
close by, where corps de garde was stationed,
and first administered 10 them the cath OF Sc
crecy, ordered them 10 the dungeon Of the he
re tic to secure him. The first Of the soldiers
who went in was knocked down by the French
man, but Don Marcelino's father in>law, who
was a man of uncommon re soluiion and resour-
ces, suddenly armed the soldiers with lighted
torches, which proved more useful than ther
BAY ouets or any other wfapon. No sooner did
these men commence dabbng his face with the
lights than the son Of Lucifer remained mo-
ment supplied, and the next was rolling on the
ground. No resistance after that; he was as
quiet as lamb, whilst strong pair OF letters
and another pair of manacles prevented his
showing his tricks again, though at last he died
Of despair, without manifesting the leasrcon-
triton; so great was the influence which the de-
yil exerted over his SOUL
There is veIy curious and characteristic
description Of Van Halen's secret interview
with Ferdinand and some sketches of The
method Dissemination adopted by the lnqui-
sitors, which would be ludicrous, il we could
laugh in treating Of such a subject. After a
thousand petty annoyances and positive suffer
ings, Van Halcn is subjected 10 the torture, to
induce him TO discover his accom2lices in a
pretended conspiracy.
CAT about eight O'Clock in the night of the
same day, (Nov 2oh,) Don Juanilo entered
my dungeon with lantern in his hand, follow
ed by four other men, whose faces were con-
ceaIed by piece Of black cloth, shaped above
the head like cone, and falling over the
shoulders and chest, in the middle Of which
were two holes for the eyes. l was half asleep
when the noise Of the door opening awoke me,
and by the dim light of the lantern perceived
those frighlful appar.,iors. Imagining was
labouring under the effects Of a dream, earns
es,ly gazed awhile on The group, till one Of
them approached, and pulling me by the lealh
er strap with which my arms were bound,ga
me- to understand by signs tina, was 10 rise.
Having obeyed this summons, my face was
covered with a leather mask, and liz this man
ner was led out Of the prison. After walking
through various passages on level with that
Of my dungeon, we entered room, where
heard Gorilla order my attendants 10 unite the
strap.
"The agitation Of the moment permitted me
TO utter ohly few words, which, however, were
not listened to, and was hurried away TO the
farther end Of The room. the gaoer and his as
sstants exerting all their strength TO secure
ne Having succeeded in raising me from The
ground, they placed under my arm pits two
high crutches, from which remained suspend
ed; after which my right arm was tied 10 the
corresponding crutcb, whilst the lett being kept
in horizontal position, they encased my hand
oper in wooden glove extending 10 the wrist,
which shut very tightly, and from which two
large iron bars ran as far as The shoulder, keep
ing the whole in the same position in which i;
was placed, My waist and legs were similarly
bound to the crutches by which was support
ed; SO that shortly remained without any OH
err action than that OF breathing, though with
difficulty. After forty eight hours during which
my arms had been constantly pinIoned, did
not, till this moment, very acutely feel the pain
caused by the ,ighiness Of the new binding:
"Having remained short time in this pain
full position, that unmercfuI tribunal returned
10 their former charges. Zorrila with trem-
ulous voice, that seemed 10 evince his thirst
for blood and vengeance, repeated the first of
those he had just read, namely, whether did
no, belong TO society whose object was 10
overthrow our holy religion, and the august
throne of our catholic sovereign? replied, that
it was impossible should plead guilty 10 an
accusation of that nature: "Without any SUBJ
terfuge, say whether i, is SOL he added in an
angry tone.
"'It is not, Sir replied, The glove which
guided my arm, and which seemed to be rest
ing on the edge ola wheel, began now to turn,
and with its movements felt by degrees an a.
cute pain, especially from the elbow to the
shoulder, a general CONFUSION throughout my
frame, and cold sweat overspreadng my face
The interrogarory continued; but Zorrills's
question OF is it so? Is it 500 were the only