The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1855-04-21


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Der the earths enamored bosom .,f,
.-,.- IA Live slway! Y Il.e @r II
wheresoeer thy presence fingers, ysa
e.. wheresoe'er thy frightening beams, g
Fancy weaves, with cunning fingers,
~ ~ Sweetest dreams! .s
-{ And the heart forgets thee never, 4a.,4
,fr Thy young beauty's one delight; ~
There It dwells, and dwells for ever,
Ever bright ,, +.-.,.. ste.
Huxsr and Bolllnan's Attempt to Resc ue
80 s6s ~ Lafayette. zssessft
In the year 1894, Lafayette after having sui-
fared all the horrors Of imprisonment in the dun
ceops Of Magdebourg, VESSEL and Neisse, was.
At length immurcd in the cells of the Castle at
Olmutz. Despotism never chose filter place
for the Incarceration Of its victims The prison
was an ancient convent Of Jesuits, built with
that regard to durability which marked the
architecture Of the monks of the middle ages.
Walls Of immense thickness, double doors Of
iron, gratings of massive iron bars, rendered the
task Of securing the prisoners easy and certain
10 the guards who, night and day, watched in
every corridor, and never, for q moment were
out Of sight Of the door of the cells. The i'm
prisonment Of Lafayette naturally awollc intense
feeling in the United States, where he was uni
versaly beloved, and where his services were
held in fresh and grateful remembrance. Wash
ington had addressed an earnest supplication to
the Emperor in his behalf, but it was ,,nheeded.
There were others, however, nearer to his place
X confinement, whose sympathy was not only
warm but active DIR. Erick Bollman, a Hano-
verian, had in vain presented, in person, to
Friedrich, petition, praying for the release Of
lafayette; but, rs it was treated with con-
tempt and ridicule, he formed the bold design
u ofrescuing him by stratagem. Taking advan-
tage OF his acquaintance with the surgeon who
attended the prisoners, he managed to conlmu-
nicate with Lafayette, and to learn that the
prisoner had at length, been granted permis-
sion in the enfeeb!cd state of his health to take
an airing in q carriage surrounded by mounted
guards, aud with IN armed officer seated by his
side. 10 rescue a man from such force was.
IT "fcoursc, not to be attempted without assist
Ancc, and DR., Boliman impaired his design to
Francis kinlock Iuger, d Young American,
just Of age, who happened to be in Vienna.
Huger embraced the scheme with all the ardo1
Of a brave, chiyalric and romantic nature.
On the Sth Of November, 1894, Bollman and
Huger were at Olmutz--neither Of them knew
the person Of Lafayette. but il was agreed that
in order to prevent mistakes, he should disclose
himself BY taking off his hat and wiping biz
forehead. AS soon as it was ascertained that
the carriage containing Lafayette had passed
the town gate, Bollnmn and Huger mounted
their horses and followed it. Lafayette recog
nized them and gave tile concerted signal
and after proceeding two or three miles from
the town, the carriage turned into by-road
and Lafayette and the officer alighted, arm i1
arm. Taking advantage Of this favorable mo
went, Bollmau and Hngcr gaopel up dis
armed the officer, Huger stuffing a handker
chief in his mouth. and directing Lafayette te
mount horse and make for Hof, a place which
he and Bolman had agreed upon as o rendez
vous. Lafayette unfortunately mistook this fo
adirection to be off, and galloped away, leaving
bis companions ignorant Of his destination
Huger and Boman finding it necessary to re
lease the officer, the latter fled towards Olmutz
whittier the guard had preceded him. Thetw'
friends mounted together the only horse thu
was left, but the animal, unaccustomed to ,
double load, refused to travel and finally threw
them of. Huger, intent upon the great objec
Of their expedition, and regardless Of his owl
safety, insisted that Bolman should follow on.
rid the general, and leave him to make hi
escape, as he best could. on foot Bolma
pushed forward to Hoh, but Huger was sool
seized by gang Of countrymen, and carriet
back to Omutz. Had Lafayette understood
the direction given him and made his way t
Hof, he would undoubtedly have escaped bu
as it was, he was arrested near the Prussia
frontier and brought back to prison. Bollma
was captured Also and few days saw the illus
trious captive and his heroic rescuers til
tenants of dungeon. Hugers place Of confne
ment was an arched cell, six feet by eight, wher
at frst he was chained to the floor, withou
light, in ignorance Of the fate of his felloi
prisoners, denied the right to send to his mothe
tidings of his existence, and supplied with bu
food enough to sustain life. By degrees, how
ever, the rigor Of his imprisonment was relaxed
and after eight months he was discharged
his heroic conduct extorting praise even anon
nation of slaves.
History is, for the most part, q barren rec
tai Of the selfish struggles Of mankind agains
each other Occasionally, in its records {
blood and rebellion and oppression, we mee
with an incident worthy Of the most exalte
idea Of the excellence Of human nature. An
" Is surely no exageration to predict, tha
hereafter, whenever men seek to stimulate the
Fellows to deeds of hardihood, humanity an
nerolsm, they will turn, with ready instinct, I
the story Of the youthful Huger Drawing a
The terrors Of Austrian and Prussian despotisl
70 rescue a single captive from doom wor
than death. Baltimore Patriot.
TOUCHING Cus1oM.-A common practi
IN Paris which impresses stranger favorabl
is that Of lifting or taking off the hat when Il
funeral masses. A writer ON this subject +