The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-05-18


OF the most surprising narratives we have any
where met with is contained in the history of a
scene of the Reign of Terror" which we
copy from recent work entitled the Journal of
Nobleman.
Two men, by the name of Roux. father and
son, who are sill living, and are emploved in
the Navy Office at Toulon, were condemned r.
death after the evacuation of that place bv the
English, on Dretence of having BETRAYED the in.
terests of Fance. They were, with 900 Others
ordered to he shot at plane called " LIE Champ
de BataIlIe" Without being made to undergo
any form o. trial, without even having had an
opPortunit! OF being heard in explanation of
their condtct, they were torn from the bosom
OF their family, and taken to the place of exc
cutlon. When all the intended victims were
placed in heap in the middle of the plain, sew
eral tic'd pieces loaded with grape shot were
brought Up close to them, as we'll as a repi.
ment OF cavalry and one of infantry, which
were to charge those whom the cannon had not
wholly destroyed, and finish them. The two
toux had been separated from each other. The
son fearing lest the discharge of cannon should
not dispatch him with sufficient speed, placed
himself as much forward as he possibly could
lie was so close to the battery, that when the
guns wento the power of the explosion knock.
ed MN down. That instinct which impels man.
KIND to the preservation of life, made him fegn
that he was dead when the cavalry were Or
dered to charge. dragoon gave him sabre
cut, winch made large though not dangerous
wound on his back. The infantry came after
and one OF the soldiers perceving that voung
honx mad not ceased to breathe, gave him vi
client blow on the head with the butt end of his
% %e %ssb so f88mlPssy stgnned him. that
The slain having been left on the Champ de
Bataie, to be all removed the next morning
for interment, were soon stripped of their gar
ments by the liberated prisoners Of the bagnio,
and all left nearly naked. During the night
young Roux gradually recovered the use of
his senses. 1t was with the utmost difficulty
that he recalled to memory what had occurred
The horrors Of the day presented themselves at
last fully to his mind. He rose to omit, if pos
siblc, the scene of death, and it was then that
he perceived that he was naked and covered
with blood. He sought to find some garments
among the dead by whom he was surrounded,
and IN his efforts to take off Fl ON the body of
one otthe unfortunate men some clothes which
had escaped pillage, he found that life was not
extinct in him. The desire of saving fellow
creature prompted every means that could bring
timely relief and they were not used in vain
| The Joy and surprise of both may be easily con-
ceiVed when they discovered that they were
the iather and son. lhey alone had escaped
the carnage 1t was with difficulty they could
procure sufficient clothing from among the sur
rounding victims of this act of unheard of afro.
city, in order to withdraw from the horrid scene.
Fortunately for them, no sentinel had been sta
toned to watch over this field of butchery, and
the Roux returned without any obstacle to their
house. 1t was with the utmost difficulty they
obtained access to it. At that time of night
the afflicted family did not suppose that they
were reused for any other purpose than that Of
furnishing new victims to the blood thirsty
agents of anarchy and destruction. No words
| could express the sensations of the wife and
children on beholdng again those whose sup
posed destruction had plunged them into grief
and despair. The wounds were Immediately
dressed, and before daylight, they retired tc
their country house, situated a few leagues r
the interior of Provence, where they remained
concealed until the Reign of Terror was nc
more, and the cannibals Of the South had ceas
ed to have their day. They then returned tc
( Toulon, to the amazement of their friends ant
acqualntances, many of whom could not, for
long time, persuade themselves that they were
not the ghosts Of the two men who had beef
included IN the massacre of the Champ do Ba
taille. These two men to this day live, esteem
ed and respected by their fellow citizens, b.
whom the particulars of their most fortunat
escape are not forgotten.