The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-07-15
st. JOhnsbury, Vt, July Is, l84S.

nue.. Right ana lett, uetachments OF drag
oons, sword in hand seemed waiting the
signal TO discharge. On the mounds ofeurlh
extracted from this ditch, the most eminent
members ofthe neutrality-suspicious. and
orators ofclubs, functionnries, military author
tiles, the staff oftle revolutionary army, Dor
feuille and his judges-were grouped, as if
on the steps of an amphitreatre while from
the top ola balcony of one ofthe confscated
hotels in the Quai du Rhone, Colot dHerbois
and Fouche, with telescope in hand, seemed
to preside over this ceremonious eXIermina-
ton.
The victims sang in chorus the hymn which
had led them into battle. They seemed 10
seek in the words of this, their last song, the
forgetiulness Of the blow which was about to
strike them.
"To die for ones country,
Is the happiest and most enviabe fate !"
! The artllerymen listened with lighted
match in hand TO these dying men singing
their own death-song. Dorieuile allowed
the voices TO finish slowly the grave modula-
tons of the last verse, then raising his hand
MS a signal,the three cannon exploded at once
The smoke concealed the guns, and for n
moment lowered over the ground drums
beat, to stife all cries. The mob pressed for
ward to contemplate the effect of the carnage.
The artilerymen had been deceived the I'M
dulations of the line ofvictims had allowed
the balls to deRiate, and twenty prisoners had
fallen beneath the fire, dragging down with
them their living companions, who were
thus associated in their dying throes, and in
undated with their blood. Shrieks, means,
fearful gestures, came from this confused
heap of mutilated members, carcasses and
survivors. The artilerymen then loaded with
grape and fired; but even then the massacre
was incomplete. A heart-rending cry,heard
across the Rhone, even into the city, rose
| from this field of agony. Some limbs still
palptated, some hands were still extended
toward the spectators, imploring the final
blow. The soldier shuddered. "Forward,
dragoons," cried Dorfeulle, snow charge"
The troopers, at tbs command, put spurs TO
their horses, who dashed forward at gallop
aud with the point of the sabre and pistol
shots they killed the last victim. This scene
of horror and agony was protracted for more
than two hours
A sullen murmur of indignation hailed the
recital of this horrid scene in the city. The
people felt dishonored and compared itself
TO the most cruel tyrants of Rome, or the eX-
ecutioners of Saint Bartholomew. The rep
resentatives stifed this murmur by procla-
nation which commanded that all should
approve, aud declared pity to be conspiracy.
Citizens, even the most elegant females, then
affected revolutionary rigor, and concealed.
their horror beneath the mask of aduIaton.
The NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. punishment
became for some weeks civic decoration and
Hu ornament ut FESTIVALS The taste of The
day, in compliment TO the representatives,
made ofthis machne in miniature, n hdeous
ornament ofthe furniture and dress of the
Jacobins. Their wives, daughters and mis-
Tesses wore small guillotines in gold or as
buckles, in the bosom, or as earrings
Fouche, Collot d'Herbois and Dorfeulle
sought to stile remorse beneath the most un-
blushing contempt for public feeling. Two
hundred and nine Lyonese prisoners were n
waiting their sentence in the gloomy prison
ofRoanne. The sound ofthe cannon which
had slaughtered their fellow countrymen had
penetrated the dungeons of these captives.-I
They prepared for death, and passed the
night some in prayers and confessing them
selves to disguised priests, the youngest in
last adieus 10 their youth and life in libntions
and songs that braved death. Colot dier-
bois came to the prison that night, and hear
ing these voices, exclaimed; ''What is the
temper of that youth which thus sings It's
death-songm
At ten o'clock in the morning battalion
drew up before the gate of the prison, whose
iron Jaws opening, allowed two hundred and
nine citizens to pass out. The jailer counted
them with his finger rs they issued forth, like
a herd of cattle being marked for the days
They were fastened two and
two. The long file, in which each recognize
ed n son, a brother, a parent, friend or
neighbor, advanced with firm step toward
the Hote-de-Vile. The last farewells, eX-
tended hands, deploring looks, mute adieus, |
were addressed to them from windows and
doors, though the hedge Of brstling bayonets.
Some Jacobns and crowd photographed wo-
men apostrophized the victims, and over
Whelmed them with outrageS, 10 which they
Only replied with looks of disdaln, and said
to those whose corntenances were sadden-
ed or eyes filed with tears "Weep not for
us-one bewails martyrs"
The Hall Law was too small 10 receive
them, and they were sentenced in the open
air, under the windows of the Hotel-de-V ille.
The five Judges in the costume and parapher-
MALTA of their functions, appeared in the bal
cony, made out list of names, pretended to
deliberate, then prouounoeda general verdlcti
a formality ofsentence to death which gave
TO assassination en- n,dsSe the hypocritcal ap-
pearance of Il legal verdict. Nainly from
these two hundred voices were individual
appeals, protestatons of patriotism. made to
the Judges and the people. 1nt1exble Judg-
es and the sullen people only replied by con-
temptuous silence. The column pressed for
ward by the soldiers. advance toward the
Pont Morand. On reaching the bridge, the
officer in command counted the prisoners, TO
assure himself that no one had escaped on
the way: instead of two hundred and nine.
there are two hundred and ten. There were
more than the due number of victims. WHO
was the innocent man?-who the guilty.
Who would legally be put to death?-who
was to be assassinated without judgement?-I
The officer felt the horror of such situation,
halted the column, and sent word of this aw-
fnl doubt to Colot d'Herbois. The solution
of this scruple would have required fresh
nxaninntinn, the examination would hive adj