The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-01-09
proudest families in France:
THE DEATH WARRANTS.

wv" ., oiia Hio"O S'oiJ oiio olutt utio
shuddcr. There was sudden silence.
1t was the noise Of the tumbrels. A
sound but too we'll known; it was like
thunder once heard, and never forgot.
ten. 1t was not like the sound of com
mon wheels; there was sort Of screcch-
ing, grinding noise like that of rusty
chains, or the rattling of the earth up
on our bicrs: I turned sick, 'and the
hair of my skin arose. 'IIa make
haste Eat and have done with it,
said the hoarse voice of la femme 81.
mon. No movement, no answer; VIC all
rcmaindd as if fixed in the posi-
ton in which we had first heard that fa.
tai roll. We are like the families of
Pompeii and Herculancum, surprised
by death in the very attitude they
were i'll. La Simon charged plates,
knives, and forks in vain; all remained
fixed, no one stirred, the astonishmcnt
at this unhcard-of cruelty seemed to
have pctri!icd us. 10 have allowed
them to meet once morc--to have per-
mittcd this friendly intcrcommunion of
few hours--to have taken them from
their drearincss and their solitude to
enjoy once again society, friendship,
even love and all to render this sud
den parting more inexprcssibly bittcrs.
'Thc door was flung open. and three
commissarics entered. They were
clothed in long-skirtcd, dirty coats, top
boots, and wore red scarfs; and they
were followed by a fresh company Of
the rabblc in donnets rouges, and armed
With pixies. These last rushed in ut
tering cries Of joy, and clapping their
hands as at pantominc. What they
saw struck even thcm--..the slaughtercrs
fell back abashed before their victims,
for, recovering Immediately from their
first sentiment Of dismay and astonish-
ment, contempt gave them courage to
meet this supreme moment. Thcy tc!.t
themselves So far above their enemies,
that it almost filled them with mo.
mcntary satisfaction, and they turned
their eyes, with composure, upon one
of the commissaries who advanced,
paper in his hand, and prepared to
read. TWAS the appel nominal. AS
soon asa name was pronounced, two
men stepped forward, and led off the
person mentioned. He was given in
charge to the mounted gems dn'mcs
outside, and Immediately placed upon
one Of the tumbrcls. The accusation
was, that of conspiracy in prison against
the sovereign people, and planning the
assassination of the members of the
committee lie salut public. The first
person accused was woman of eighty
years Of age, the abbcss of Monmartre.
Madame dc Montmorcnci. She rose
with some difficulty, and, when she
was standing, salutcd all present with
a tranquil smile. Those who were near
kissed her hands. Not a tear was shed:
the sight of blood seemed to have dried
up such vain demonstrations of sorrow.
She went out, saying, 'Fathcr, forgive
them, for they know not what they don
a mourntul silence cnsucd. 1t was
interrupted by the shouts and screams,
which announced that she had made
her appearance among the populacc
outside, and shower of stones struck
against the walls and windows. In the
midst Of the noise l could distinguish
the explosion, now and then, of fire
arms. There were moments when the
gems d'armes could scarcely preserve
the prisoners from being massacred.
The appel continued. The second
names was that ofa young man of TWEEN
ty, NJ. de Coatcral, if l remember right,
who was accused Of having n son, an
cmlgrant, bearing arms against his coun-
try. The accused was not even mar.
ricd. lie burst out laughing. lie
pressed the hands Of his friends, and
went out. The same shouts and clat
ter OF stones. ~ mourniul silence round
the table; all waiting the sentence Of
death at their post, us soldiers expect
the fatal bullet. AS soon as prisoner
went out, his plate was cleared away,
and those who remained closed their
ranks, as III a battle, smiling sadly at
their new neighbours. Andre Chenicr
was still standing by Madame dc ST
Afghan, and | was near them. AS in
a shipwrcck the crew gather instructive
ly round the one who possesses the
highest courage and energy, SO the
prisoners collected gradually round
tins young man, He stood, his arms
crossed, and his eyes raised to Heaven,
as if in apostrophc. Did Heaven look
on, and would not take their part 2
Mademolsclle de Coigny, standing at
tho other end of the room, saw, at eve
ry successive appel, the circle Of her
protectors diminish, till at length she
was lett almost alone. Then she slowly
advanced, supporting herself upon the
edge of the now empty table. till sbe