New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-12-15
Orsi1li's Escape.

The story of OrSnis escape from the castle Of San
Giorgio, in Mantua, Italy, is almost too wonderful to
be believed. An account Of it is contained in re-
Gently published narrative of the prisoners adyen
lures. Orsini, as is well known, arrested and i'm
prsoned about eighteen months-we think for the
fourth time since 1S4-on account of troubles enger
dered by his known revolutionary tendencies. Not
wthstanding the castle of San Giorgo was believed
to be the safest prison in Austria, he resolved to
attempt escape, and having by studied conduct,
gained the confidence of his jalors he succeeded in
procuring from the friends who visited him small
saw. He says:
Having thus far paved the way commenced saw
ing through one Of the bars nearest the wall. The
position in which l was obliged to stand-on tip-toe,
on the top rail Of the char-increased the difficulty
of the operation, as was obliged to make the same
movement with my feet with my hands, in order
to keep my balance. My saw was excellent; but
after having used it couple of hours it grew
blunt, partly because was not used to handling
TOOLS and also from the of water which adopted
to prevent noise. However in four days had cut
through the first box, but from having used the saw
without the handle holding it at either end in my
hand, it broke in two, and then set my wits to work
to make a handle for the other.
sawed away some wood from underneath the
table, and dividing it into two portions fastened one
with wax either side of the saw, only leaving sutH-
cent Of the latter to cut through the iron BARN
order to renew it with fresh piece when the first
should be worn out Having broken and destroyed all
the strings OF my wearing apparel procured some
tape, under pretence of repairing them. Waxing it
well, bound it tightly round the two pieces of wood
at each end of the saw, and backwards and towards
from one the other BY these manufactured an
excellent handle, and the no longer bent moved
about In order to reclose the bars after they
cut through, made cement OF wax and burnt bread
crumbs the color of iron.
Nevertheless my work made but slow progress.
At every moment had to stop and clean my saw.
and as often to listen to any noise without Some
HnvS | cOuld work oll fnor of
and often was obliged to desist account Of the
terrible fatigue and the pain arising from the disten-
sion OF the muscles. Often my feet and right hand
were benumbed-I could scarcely write my own
name. According to the position of the bars de-
pended the difficulty of cutting through them while
working at the highest so wounded my elbow by
pressing against the side, that could hardly lean
on it alone.
| AT times, despite the calmness and courage with
which nerved myself, my patience was nearly ex-
hausted so PROSTATE was my physical strength that
have sunk on my bed utterly hopeless of my design.
Then it was the thought of my country, Of my chill
dren returned to my aid. 1 must behold my little
ones agan-must once more combat for my father
land!-and fired with the thought l sprung to my
chair and labored with redoubled ZEAL saying my
self, " Onward onward courage! {aranti auanti'
car'iago) each time felt my energy flag.
In spite Of the vigilance of his keepers, Orsni fin
ished his saving off the outer as well the inner
grating of the window, and also removed some bricks
to enlarge the aperture. The window was about q
hundred feet from the ground. A cord was made by
stripping the sheets and towels which he lately os-
sessed, and after several abortive attempts he made
the perous descent the night of the 10Th of March.
When l had descended about eighty-four feet
felt my strength giving way; the tension of the
muscles of the arms was too painful for endurance.
Iagan felt about with my feet and soon discovered
white marble cornice which surrounded the castle;
but while strove to rest my right foot upon it the
cord slipped from between my legs, and after making
several attempts to recover it, l looked below, and
| ancying myself not more than six feet from the
ground, stretched out my and let myself drop
| IN such way that my feet should first touch the
ground but that should fall on all fours This cal
| cuatlon was the work of a second-but what time
elapsed before reached the ground shuGder now to
recalli l had fallen twenty feet! There was
quantity of mud and broken pieces of brick and
cement at the bottom of the fosse and against this
struck first my knees and then my feet. The blow
| was tremendous. l turned almost mechanically, and
Tor few moments lost all consciousness.
AT length, recovering from the effects of his fail,
he succeeded in surmounting every obstacle with
the exception of the ditch beyond the outer wall.
While lying there, wounded and exhausted two peas
ants passed and recognizing his situation at glance,
helped him up by means Of cord and assisted him
to place of concealment. 1t was quarter before
six when he was fairly without the fortress and
the turkeys entered his cell and discovered his
flight It was too late, however, for recapture and
notwithstanding the rewards offered for his capture
he escaped in safety from the city.