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

dows, and made every one start and
shuddcr. There was sudden silence.
1t was the noise OF the tumbrels. A
sound bus 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 biers: [ turned sick, sand tho
hair of my skin arose. 'Ha! make
haste Eat and have done with it,
said the hoarse voice of la femme 81.
mon. No increment, no answer; we all
rcmaindd as if fixed in the posi-
ton in which we had first heard that ia.
tai roll. We are like the families of
Pompcii and Herculancum, surprised
by death in the very attitude they
were in. La Simon charged plates,
knives, and forks in vain; all remained
fixed, no one stirred, the astomishmcnt
at this unhcarl,of cruelty seemed to
have petrifcd us. 10 have allowed
them to meet once more--to have per-
mittcd this friendly intcrcommunion Of
a 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.skirted, dirty coats, top
boots, and wore red scarfs; and they
we're followed by a fresh company of
the rabblc in bonnets romges, and armed
with pixies. These last rushed in ut
tcring cries Of joy, and clapping their
hands as at pantominc. What they
saw struck even thcln---the slaughtcrcrs
icll 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. They felt
themselves 50 far above their enemies,
that it almost filled them with n 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 as name was pronounced, two
men stepped forward, and led off the
person mentioned. lie was given in
charge to the mounted gems Ta,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 de sal"t public. The first
person accused was woman Of eighty
years Of age, tho abbcss of Monmartrc.
Madame dc Montmorcnci She rose
with some difficulty, and, when she
was standing, salutcd all present with
tranquil smile. Those who were near
kissed her hands. Not tear was shed:
the sight Of blood seemed to havc dried
up such vain demonstrations of sorrow.
She went out, saying, Gather, forgive
them, for they know not what they don
A mourntul silence cnsuc1. 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 / could distinguish
the explosion, now and then, Of fire.
arms. There were moments when the
gems darmes could scarcely preserve
the prisoners from being massacrcd.
The appel continued. The second
names was that Of a young man Of TWEEN
ty, Nj. de Coatcral, if remember right,
who was accused of having son, an
cmigrant, 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 cIat.
ter of stones. a mournful silence round
the table: all waiting the sentence of
dcath at their post, as soldiers expect
the fatal bullet. AS soon as q prisoner
went out, his plate was cleared away,
and those who remained closed their
ranks, as i'll battle, smiling sadly at
their new neighbours. Andre Chcnicr
was still standing by Madame dc St.
Afghan, and | was near them. AS in
a shipwrcck the crew gather instructive
ly round tho one who possesses the
highest courage and energy, so the
prisoners collected gradually round
this 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
Mademoiscle 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 left almost alone. Then she slowly
advanced, supporting herself upon the
edge of the now empty table, till she