The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-09-13

on their Shoulders, as though they had
been deaf to all the nqsc Of the attack
and defence, and had just learned
what was going on, they addressed
themselves in tho language of rebuke
to their own soldiers, saying, " Why
do you fight arr friends Tie French 2"
Their tentior, no doubt, was to-
mako us think that this defence was
wholly unauthorized by them. hoping,
il they could MAKE. u4 believe that
they were friendly, they should have
better opportunity, in the confusion
OF the moment, to escanc. Their ar
tifice was too shallow, and did not
succeed. caused them ,tq be placed
under guard, and all The soldiers Of the
lnquisition to be secured us prisoners.
We then proceeded to examine all the
rooms Of the stately cdiiice. We
passed through roorn after room; found
all perfectly in order, richly furnished
with affairs and crucifxcS, aid wax
candies in abundance, but could dis
cover no evidences of inc9uity being
practiccd therc-nothing Of those pccu.
liar features which we expected TO find
in all lnquisiLion. We found splendid
paintings, and rich and extensive
library. Here was beauty and splcn-
dor, and the most perfect order on
whici. my eyes had ever rested. The
archi,ecture-thc proportions were
perfect. The ceiling and floors Of
wood were secured and highly polish.
ed. The marble pavcments were ar
ranged with ?, strict regard to order.
There was every shing to please the eye
and crafty cultivated taste; but
where were those horrid instruments
Of torture Of which we had been told,
and where those dungeons in which
human beings were said to be buried
alive. We searched in vain. The
holy father assured us that tfioy had
been bclled; that we had seen all; and
was prepared to give up the search,
ccrvin@cd that this Inquisition was
different from others Of whi0l-l had
heard.
{" But Col. Dc Lille was not so ready
as 'n!ysalfto rel;n1rish our inYcs,iga
ton, and said to nc, Colonel, you
are commanded 10 day and rs you say,
SD it must be; but it you will be ad.
vsed hy me, let this marble floor be
examinej. = Let water te. hirpggilt and
poured npor ii, And we Will watcf,, and
sec if thre is any place through which
it passes more freely than Others" |
replied to him, DO as you please Co.
loncl,' and ordered water to be brought
accordingly. The slabs of marble
wcEc large and beautifully polished. -
Wien the water had been poured over
the floor, much to the dissatisfaction of
the lnqn:si:ors, careful examination
was made of every seam in the floor,
to see ifthc water passed through -
Presently, Col. DE Lille exclaimed that
he had found it. BY the side of these
marble slabs the water passed through
last, as thou.N there was an opt ring
beneath. All hands were now at work
for further discovery; the officers with
their swords, and the soldiers with their
bayoncts, seeking TO clear out The seam
and pry up the slab with al their
might to break it, while the priest rc. .
monstratcd against our desccratnu
their holy, and beautiful house. While
thus engaged, soldier who was stri
king with the butt of his muskct, struck
d spring, and the marble slab flew up.
Then the face of the Inqu;si,ors grew
pale rs Belshazz;ir, when the hand
writing appeared Oh the wall; they
tremble1 all over. Beneath tha mar
bic slab,, now partly W, their vas a
stair. lstepped 10 the alta:, and
ok fLcm the candcslick one ni' the
candles, four feet in length, which w.. :
burning, that | might explore the room
below. AS was doing thus; was
arrested by one of the lnquisitorss, who
laid his hand gently on lily arm, and
with very demurc and sanctimonous
look, said, MY son you must not
take those lights with your bloody
hands. they are Holy 'tycll,' ! said,
will take n holy thing to shed light
on iniquity; viii bear tile rcsponsi.
bilityI! took the candle, aid proceed
cd dawn the staircase. AS we reached
the foot of the stairs we entered large
square room, which was called the
Hall of Judgment. In tile centre of
it was Huge block, and a Chain faslcn.
cd to it. On this they Ead been nc.
clstomcd to place the accused, chained
to Ills seat: On one side of the room
was an elevated seat, called the Throne
OF Judgment. This the Inquisitor
General occupied, and on either side
were seats less elevated, for the
prics'ly fathers, while engaged in the
solemn business Of the Holy lidtiisi.
ton.
From this room VIC proceeded to
the right, and obtained access to small
cells, extending the entire length of
the edIfice; and here such sights were
presented as wo hope never to see
again.
"IhcSc cells wera n1acos of oo1;torv