The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-07-15
ed in vain against this fearful error
The file resumed its march, singing
Gt'Io dta Gnr onn,s conutrv

$40 die for ones country
Is the happiest and most enviabe fate"
until it halted between the willows in the
narrow caliseway, still moistened with the
blood of the previous evenings. The cuttings
became shallower, and covered with fresh
and soft earth, showed TINT the bitches were
but half filled up, and were awaiting other
carcasses. A long rope was extended from
ono willow TO another. They fastened each
prisoner to this rope by the end Of the cord
which confined his hands behind his back
Three soldiers were placed four PAGES off in
face of each victim, and the cavalry placed in
small bodies behind. At the word fire! the
nine hundred and thirty soldiers at once di-
rected three bullets against every breast. A
cloud Of smoke covered the scene for mo-
ment, and then lifting, there were seen, be-
sides the corpses strown on the ground, or
hanging TO the cord, more than one hundred
young men still erect. Some with wild look
seemed petrifed with horror;others halfdead
entreHted their eXeculiouers to finish them;
others, freed from the rope by the balls,
crawled on the ground, or fled staggering
towards the willows. The terror-strucly
spectators, the soldiers, affected by the scene,
turned away their eyes in order to allow them
TO fee. Grandmaison, who presided this day
al the execution, gave orders to the cavalry
down by the dragons beneath their horses
feet One only, named Merle, the Mayor of
Macon, patriot, but devoted TO the Gironde,
contrived to drag himselGbleeding as he was,
10 the reeds of the marsh. The troopers in
pity turned aside, affecting not TO see him as
he made his way 10 the river. lie was Just
entering boat, in order TO reach the city I'M
perceived when group of merciless Jaco-
bins recognized him by the blood that flowed
from his wounded hand and threw him head
long and living into the Rhone---dead at the
same moment and the same hour by the two
fold death offire and water.
The soldiers, with great reluctance, finish
ed with the bayonet and the butt-cnd of their
muskets, the victims expiring in the cause
way, and falling night extinguished their dy-
ing groans. Next day, when the grave dig
gers came TO bury the dead, several bodies
still palpitated, and the pioneers killed them
outright with blows of the pickaXo before
they covered them over with the blood-stan-
ed mould. awe hive revived" wrote CoIot
dIlerbos TO the Convention, 1.-THE progress
ofrepublican justice-it is prompt aud terri
BILE as the peoples will; it should strike like
thunder. and leave but ashes"
The Revolution had found its Attillas.
Montbrison, Saint Etenne, Saint Chamoud,
all Lyonnese colonies, were the theatres of
the snme atrocities, or supplied victims. ia
vogues, the representative of the people, Ind
set up guilotine at Feurs,nhd n revolution
airy tribunal established by him, gave TO the
instrument of punishment the activity ms at
Lyons. The river provinces of the Haute
Loire were purged ofnll aristocratic, royalist
and federalst blood which flowed like water
under the axe, which like that of Lyons, was
deemed too slow, and gunpowder was used
Instead of steel. A magnificent alley oflimes
was converted into place ofeXecution, like
the funeral willows ofBrotteaux, and twenty
two persons per diem were shot there. The
same impatience for death seemed TO possess
eXecutioners and victims. the one had the
frenzy of murder, the other the enthusiasm
of death. Young girls and children begged
10 fall themselves beside their fathers and
kinsfoIk thus shot down; and daily the judg-
es had 10 refuse the suppications of despair,
Imploring the penalty of death, less fearful
than the punishment of surviving. Every day
hey granted or refused these requests. The
of these proconsuls did not await
crime, but prejudged it in name education
and rank. They struck in anticipation offiI-
ure crimes. They anticipated years. They
infancy for its opinions TO come.
Did age for It's past opinions, woman for the
crimes of tenderness and tears. Mourning
was forbidden, as under Tiberias. Many
we're punished for having had a sorrowful
or mourning garb. Nature
was distorted into an accusation, and to be
pure, it had become necessary to repudiate it.
All virtues were reversed in the human
Ieart. The Jacobinism ofthe proconsuls of
Lyons had overthrown the instincts of mem
alse patriotism had oyerthrown humanity
Touching and sublime traits shone in this
of vengeance. The human mind
'ose to the tragic height of these dramas
leroism burst forth in all ages, in all sexes.
Love braved the eXecutioners; the heart re-
Tealed mines Of tenderness and magnanimi-
~
Young Dutaillon, only fifteen years of age,
conducted to death with his family, rejoiced
1t the foot of the scaffold that lie was not sep
lrated from his father, but by n stroke of the
Ike. ole is keeping me place above" he
said to the eXecutioner; 'ido not let us keep
him wailing"
A son of NJ. de Rochef fort was conducted,
with his father and three relatives, to the av-
enue to be shot there. The soldiers fired the
three condemned fell, the boy, saved by the
pity of the men, was not touched. "Mercy,
mercy for him!" exclaimed the softened spec
Iators. Gle is only siXteen,and may become
n good citizen" The eXecutioners hesitated
Javogues promised his life. "No, no; none
Of your mercy-none of your life" cried the
youth embracing his father, bleeding to death,
II wish for death! am a royalist!- Yiue ie
Roi'"
The daughter Of mechanic, very lovely
girl was accused ofrefnsing TO wear the re-
publican cockade. "Why are you so obsiin-
nte?" inquired the President, "that you re-
fuse to wear the redeeming emblem of the
peopieP" "Because you wearit," answered
The young girl. The president, Parrein, adj
miring this courage, and bushing to send so
much youth to DEATH made a sign to the
turnkey to put wreath in her hair. She,
however observing this, snatched it thence,
it under foot, and then went to
death.