Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-03-13
Select MltsteIIanp.
An Extraordinary Adventure.

An Extraordinary Adventure.
The "Augsburg Gazette" gives the following
account of most extraordinary occurrence:-
On the 9TH of November, Mr.. Reichel, usu-
rer of great wealth and known influence at Vi
eEna, received an anonymous letter whereby he
was summoned to be in the PrGteS, the Champs
ELySes of the Austrian capital, at late hour on
the following night, unattended, armed, and with
out letting any one know where he intended to
60. This strange summons, although it looked
somewhat suspicious, did not much surprise the
worthy merchant. He had, It seems, been in
the habit of occasionally loaning large sums to
the extravagant Austrian nobility, and employed
several men in watching the movements of his
debtors, that by taking their notes, he might, in
spite of the enormous interest he took, not in
the end become loser. In this manner he had
managed to keep clear of any heavy losses, for
the moment he received notice of threatning ru-
in or intended escapade, he came right down
on his debtor, and made him pay as long as he
had form to bless himself with. He held at
that time, notes to very large amount, and had
vague notion, as all creditors have, that one or
two of his customers would take wing for q
more genial cline. The letter, therefore, as we
said, did not surprise him much some friend of
his, or, perhaps, some speculator, who was anx
ious to get his good graces, in all probability,
had written it, wishing to put him on his guard
yet not daring to visit his house for fear Of being
watched But why 60 armed? Well, Mr.. Rel
chel did not much trouble himself about that, on
ly armed could be interpreted in two ways, arm
ed with weapons, or armed with the more need
ful-money. He took it into his head to inter-
pret it in the first named manner, and put pair
of double -darrelled pistols with dagger, into
his pockets, and went cheerfully to the Prates
to meet the nameless one.
1t was ten o'clock at night, and the great tho
roughfare was entirely deserted The hustle of
Viennas hundreds of thousands of merry burgh-
ers was growing fainter, and soon ceased alto
gether. A single horseman and now and then
a carriage, driven in the Austrian way at light
ming speed, alone interrupted the silence Of the
grand promenade, and Reiche listened to their
distant rumbing with some sort of delight, for
even he, armed as he was, did not feel altogeth-
er at ease. At last st. Stephens clock struck
eleven, the time fixed for the interview, and at
the same moment closed carriage came rapid
ly up to the spot where lie stood leaning against
poplar tree. 1t stopped, and two men present
ed themselves 10 the usurer. He was astounGed,
and well might he be, for the men wore masks,
and he could not even see their eyes to Judge
what were their intentions with regard 10 him.
" Is it you, Mr.. Reichel ?" asked one of the
strangers.
A faint and tlemulous eyes," told him that he
was that identical individual.
care you armed ?" asked the same deep but
calm voice.
81 ann
"Folow u.s."
There was no resisting this summons, and Mr..
Reichel bestirred himself to comply with the re.
quest, but at the moment that he stepped into
the carriage he felt his arm seized from behind,
and bandage was passed over his eyes, while
he was firmly bound at the wrists. All this had
been the work of a second, and Reichel felt HIM
self entirely in the power of his assailants. He
feared further violence, but the carriage rolled
rapidly away, and not a word was spoken by his
strange companions, except warning not to cry
for assistance when they entered Vienna, at the
peril of his life. The anxiety of his mind left
him no chance to think of means of delivery
every moment seemed to be an age, and at last
when the carriage stopped, he was near fainting
His companions bade him come out, and led him
into house. They passed through many doors
and passages, the cold air in which told him they
were subterranean. At last they stopped, anC
after short delay, another door seemed to open
they descended flight of steps and entered {
hail. where Mr.. Rechel was relieved of his ban
dage and unbound, his weapons having been pre-
viously taken away from him. He found him
self in the midst of a large and well-lighted hall
amongst numerous assemblage, but he alone
was standing, all Others being seated upor
chairs along the walls. man, who was dis
tinguished by seat above that of all the others
but like them, closely Masked beckoned the as
tonished Reichel toward him. The imposing
dignity of this man, and the stiffness Throughout
the crowded hall, made it moment of over
whelming soemnity.
Poor Reichel felt his last breath on his lips, &c
thick did it come from his chest But he wa.
mistaken. The person who had now approach
ed him, bade him kneel down, and be initiated il
the first secrets of the society of Freemen.
''lnitiated? !" gasped Reichel.
"Thou hast been deemed worthy of that hon
or, Brother Rechel," quoth the Chairman, "and
in solemn convention we have decreed that thot
should become one of us Thy liberal ideat
and hatred to the detesed ruler of these reaml
have been reported to us; we are freemen, ant
henceforth thou art one of us. Kneel and take
the OATH"
Reichel knelt, in fact he was so astonished tina
he would have done anything at that moment
A dagger was placed at his heart and on tht
cross-formed hilt lie was ordered to put his righ
hand, whereupon the formula Of solemn oatI