Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-10-03

The following thrilling account of the execu-
ton of Robert Francis Damcus in the winter of
1857, we take from the London Monthly Review
of the same year. Damicus had attempted the
| assassination of King Louis XIV, of France, from
motives prompted by religious enthusiasm and
nurtured by the enemies of that prince. After
undergoing mechanical torture until the minister
of justice had wrung from him the names of his
accomplices, he was stripped for execution
But let us quote from the review:
''When Damicus was stripped, it was observed
that he surveyed and considered all his body and
limbs with attention, and that he looked round
with frmness on the vast cOncourse OF spectators.
Toward five O'Clock he was placed on the scat
fold which had been erected in the middle of the
enclosed area, and was raised about three feet
and half from the ground; the length from eight
to nine feet, and of about the same width. The
criminal was instantly tied, and afterward fast
ened by iron gives which confined him under the
arms and above the thighs. The first torture he
underwent, was that of having his hand burnt in
the flames of birthstone; the pain of which made
him send forth such terrible cry, as might be
heard great way off.
moment afterward he raised his head, and
looked earnestly at his hand, without expressing
any passion, or breaking out into imprecation.-
TO this first torment succeeded that of pinching
him with red hot pinchcrs, in the arms, thighs and
breast. At each pin III he was heard to shrek in
the same manner as when his hand was burnt
He looked and gazed at each wound, and his cries
ceased as soon as the pinching was over. They
afterwards poured burning oil, and melted lead
and rosin, into every wound except those of his
breast, which produced, in all those circumstances,
the same effect the first two fortunes. The
tenor of his articulated ssxclamations, at times,
was strengthen me, Lord God
strengthen Inc Lord God, have pity on me! .
Lord, my God, what do not suffer Lord God,
give me patience"
At length they proceeded to the ligaturcs Of his
arms, legs and thighs, in order to dismembcr him.
This preparation very long and painful, the
cords straightly tied, bearing grievousy upon the
fresh wounds. This drew new cries from the
sufferer: but did not prevent him from viewing
and considering himself with a strange and sim
gular curiosity.
The horses having been put to the draught the
pulls were repeated for long time with frightful
cries the part of the sufferer, the extension of
whose members was incredible, and yet nothing
gave signs of a ACKNOWLEDGMENT taking place.
In spite of the stranng efforts of the horses,
which were young and vigorous, and perhaps too
much so, being the more FESTIVE and unmanagea-
bic for drawing in concert, this last torment had
now lasted more than an hour without any pros
pect Of its ending. The physician and surgeon
certified to the cOmmisarcs, that it was almost
impossible to accomplish the dismembermcnt if
the action Of the horses was not aided by cutting
the principal sincws, which might indeed suffer a
an amputation. Upon this attestation the COM
missares sent an order to the cxccutioner to make
such an amputation, with regard especially to the
night coming on, as it seemed to them fitting that
the execution should be over before the close Of
day.
In consequence Of this order, the sinews of the
sufferer We're cut at the Joints Of the arms and
thighs. The horses then drew afresh, and after
several pulls thigh and arm were seen to sun
der from the body. Damicus still looked at this
painful separation and seemed to preserve some
sense and knowledge after both thighs and one
arm were thus severed from his body; nor was it
till the other arm went away that he expired.
AS soon as it was certain that there vas no life
left, the body and the scattered limbs were thrown
into fire prepared for that purpose near the
scaffold and burnt to ashes.''
CO The Ninnesotan accuses the st. Paul
Times Of being {" Galena paper.'' We had
thought the Times frst-rate st. Paul paper. 1t
is clean Sheet conducted with ability and integ-
rity, and is an honor to that town. If it favors
Galena, it does so in manly way, which is equal
ly a favor to st. Paul. We repeat the remark,
that our merchants and others who wish to adver-
tise in the same, will find it paper of good repu-
taon, that will seek to repay of their favors
with ingratitude.
Cy The above is from the Galena Advertiser,
and only shows what people think of the Times
abroad. We should not copy it, were it not that
the Minnesotian had sought to injure us in the
estimation Of our contemporaries. Well, he has
not succeeded.
CO Aldermen in New Orleans, are sometimes
like Aldermen in other places-further north
nearer home-fond of the article that Father
Matthew and the Temperance people generally
are opposed to. When the riot in the Crescent
City the other day, at its height Zone of the
papers tells us,) one of the Fathers was sought
for at a somewhat late hour Of the night for the
purpose of obtaining an order relative to the riot,
and was found two-th!rds drunk. In that happy
state of obliviousness the imminency of the dan
ger was strongly represented to him and his exer-
tions were required for the suppression of diff
| culties. The old gentleman bloomed out like a
mammoth cactus, and informed the solicitor that
s'Therc was no difficulty; only every one 60 to
bed, and no body would be killed; he had exam
ined carefully: ne had drank rotgut with both
parties, and peaceable citizens and b-b-better
gentlemen couldn't be found. The shouting was
only for fun. If any body attacks you, ask them
to drink and it'll all be settled. Try i'll did,
And from his appearance We should think he had,
and found it exceedingly sedatiye-on himself.