Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1853-10-21

they began 10 feel uneasy. This annoy
ance soon ceased; but the violent knock
ing against the wall Of the room in the
adjoining house created much alarm, il
not being by any means unlikely that
the wall might fall in and crush them TO
death. Yet their courage never tagged,
though il was afterwards tested to the
uttermost.
The night was very cold, and after
time, the two gendarmes, who were sta
toned in the garret, lighted large
wood fire in the cheminey. At first
this was arelief to the prisoners behind
the fireplace, who had been very imper-
fectly sheltered from the cold by the
slight roof; presently, however, this COM
forting warmth was converted into al
most insufferable heat. The portal TO
their narrow prison-the iron chimney
back-soon became red-hot; and the
cracking flames, so cheering and vivi-
flying to the gendarmes, while stretch
ing out their limbs in front of them, pro-
duced state Of purgatory to the unfortu-
nate who were closely packed together
behind the glowing screen. 1t being
impossible Tor any one of the party to
remain long in front OF the red-hot
plaque, the only method Of relieving
each other was to change places in rota-
ton; but the space was so confined, that
they could scarcely accomplish that
needful gyration. To these sufferings
were added hunger and thirst, the latter
aggravated by the scorchisg heat.
Itwas a night of agony. hefoicslly en-,
dured. BY dint of various contrivances,
they held out until towards morning,
when the fire was allowed gradually to
expire, and the iron door became COOL
This relief was, however, speedily fol-
lowed by fresh alarms. Before day.
light, brisker search than ever COM
menced, especially in and about the gar
ret. Some masons and other workmen
arrived, and sounded the walls of the
attic with mallets and crow-bars; the
blows being so heavy that brick in the
chimney wall was cracked. A clatter-
ing assault was then made on the brick
work surrounding the plaque, and some
of the plaster with which it was covered
gave way and fell on the hearth. But
nothing was discovered, and the work.
nen left the room; the fracture they had
made in the brick proving, for the mo-
ment, relief rather than a danger to
the courageous party in the cachette. in
asmuch as they obtained little fresh
air through the fssure.
At night, the commissary- general
once more quilted the house, leaving
detachment of soldiers in occupation Of
the general floor, and police officers in
all the other apartments. The two
gendarmes, whose places had been sup
piled by other watchers during the day,
now resumed their post in the garrett
Again they lighted fire in the chemi-
nee; again the plaque became red-hot;
and again were the exhausted occupants
OF the cachette forced to shift about to
relieveeach other from the intense heat.
Once the duchess dress touched the
red-hot iron and caught fire; but II was
crushed together by the hands in mo-
ment, and no further mischief happened
in that way. Doubtless, the high spir-
tied duchess and her faithful compan-
ions would still have held out, in the
hope that their pursuers would ere long
retire after so many defeats, had n not
been that what, in the early morning.
was saiety-valve, became the source
OF imminent peril at night; for the elem
in the brick, which had admitted "A the re-
freshing air, now afforded passage for
the .pungent smoke arising from the
roaring wood fire. They were suffoca-
ting, and must either abandon the ca
chette at once or perish.
In this extremity, the duchess desired
that the plaque might be opened forth
with; but the iron had become diIated
oy the excessive heat, and the spring
would not act. IL was case of life or
death--moments were now aces. The
Count de Mesnard and M. Guibourv
kicked with all their might against tho
plaque; red-hot as it was, whilst the
smoke poured in more and more through
the cracked brick. No sound was heard
from without, however; and they must
all have perished in few minutes, had
not the plaque at last given way TO the
desperate iorce brought against II by
the two gentlemen. The gendarmes
were panic-stricken at the bursting
open OF the plaque, scattering the FIRE
over their legs and into the room, and at
hearing vehement human voices issuing
from the cavernous aperture.
"Qui va lal"-Who goes there!-
they cried, in military phrase.
"Your prisoners, who surrender: ex-
tinguish the frel" replied female voices.
The gendarmes rspidy obeyed; and
after the plaque and the hearth had be-
come sufficiently cooled, the captives
crawled out, the two gendarmes gallant
ly assisting the ladies. As soon as the
duchess could rise she did so with calm
dignity, saying:
slam the Duchess de Berri. You are
Freedmen and soldiers, and rely on
your honor.
The gendarmes, who had both former
ly served In Napoleon's Imperial Guard,
respectfully kissed the duchess hand,
and showed her every possible atten-
ton. Some Of the soldiers who were
stationed In the lower part Of the house,
mounted 10 the garret on hearing an unu-
eual noise; and the news rapidly spread
that the Duchess do Berri had been cap
turcd. The general commanding at
Nantes, and other superior military off,
GERS arrived, as we'll as the perfect OF the
department, and the commlsssry-gen
eral OF police.
All the duchess asked for, AFTER hav-
Ing been 10 long IN the frightful state
we have described, was glass Of water,
she then took tho arm Of General d'Hcr-
mancourt and proceeded 10 the castle,
At very short distance from Mesdames
Duguiny's house. Breakfast was soon
served for the dnoheas and her faithful
companions by order OF the colonel
commanding tho artillery at the castle.
aud every delicate attention was paid 10
the princess. On the 9th OF November
Ahe went In n steam vessel down the
Noire as far as 81. Nikalre, where she
embarked In the Capriceux frigate early
on the morning OF the llth ior Blaye--
arrived there on the same day, and was
lodged In the castle, where, under tho
guardianship Of the late General Bu-
geaud, she vas detained for some months
n a pris ner, but was eventually re-
laakeI mud ailawad "a rafnrn IN Ifnlv.