Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-11-21
ESCAPE FROM AN AUSTRIAN
DUNGEON.

| NiLCS OrSlul, WIZ iok A1tSSh hiohlhS
was imprisoned in one of the Austrian
dungeons in Italy, for slight political
| offence, where, during the greater portion
of the time, he was treated with the ut
most cruelty by order of his murderous
prosecutors, eventually escaped, and un-
der circumstances almost too wonderful
to be true. In fact, we could scarcely
credit the statement were it not authen-
ticated by the most reliable authority. 1t
appears that by studied conduct he sue
ceeded IN gaining the confidence of some
of the .iailors, and certain indulgences
were gradually allowed to him. Means
were contrived for opening up communi-
: cation with his friends outside the walls,
who supplied him with small saws, con-
veyed probably in the bread and other
articles which he was permitted to pur-
chase. He says
Having thus far paved the way, j
commenced saving 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 chair, increased the
difficulty of the operation, as I was
obliged to make the same movement with
my feet as With my hands, in order to
keep my balance. My saw was excel
lent but after having used it couple
of hours or SO it grew blunt, partly be-
cause was not used to handing tools,
and also from the use of water, which /
adopted to prevent noise. However,
: in four days had cut through the first
bar but from having used the saw with
. out handle, holding it at eitheir end in
my hand, it broke in two, and then set
my wits to work to make handle for
the others,
. " / sawed away some wood from un-
derneath the table, and dividing it into
. two portions, fastened one with wax
either side the saw, only leaving sufici-
ent of the latter to cut through the iron
bar, in order to renew it with fresh
piece when tee first should be worn out
e Having broken and destroyed all the
strings of my wearing appral, 1 procured
4 some tape under pretense of repairing
them. Waxing it well, bound it tightly
e round the two pieces of wood from on'
to the other. By these means I manu-
y factured an excellent handle, and tn,
i saw no longer bent or moved about. Il
order to re-close the bars after they wer'
e. cut through, l made a cement of wa,
and burned bread-crumbs the color o
u the iron.
u Nevertheless my work made bu
ie slow progress. At every moment ha'
u to stop and clean my saw, and as often t
ie listen for any noise without. Som
, days could not work at all for fear G
interruption, and often / was obliged t
L desist on account of the terrible fatigu
= and the pain arising from the distensio
y of the muscles. Often my feet and rigt
hand were benumbed could scarcel
"' write my own name. According to tn
position of the bars depended the diff
{ Guilty of cutting through them Will
'' working at the highest so wounded m
"' elbow by pressing it against the side tn;
q | could hardly lean On at adole.
- "At times, despite the calmness an
nc courage with which / nerved myself, N
IL patience was utterly exhausted; so PR
er strated was my physical strength that
ne have sunk on the bed utterly hopeless
nd completing my design. Then it was th'
'e- the thought of my country, of my chill
er- ren, returned to my aid. / must beho
ay my little ones again-must once mo-
m' combat for my fatherland! and, firc
.0' :. with the thought, ] sprung TO my chal
nc and labored with redoubled zeal, sayir
vas to myself 0nwarai onward courage
nu each time felt my energy flag"
'n In spite of the physical obstacles, al
the watchful vigilance of the keepers
eu' the prison, thirteen visits being paid
each cell every twenty-four hours
700 Orsini finished his saving of the outer
ms well as the inner grating of the windo
me- and also removed some bricks to enlar
ne the aperture. The window was above
ms hundred feet from the ground. A co
'n' :, was made by stripping the sheets q
n,s towels which be had latterly possess
'ili and after several abortiye attempts
ie0 made the perilous descent on the nig
of the 29th of March. He says:
when had descended about eighi
e. e. four feet / felt my strength giving wa
:. the tension of the muscles of the ar
was too painful for endurance. ! az
-. felt about with nv feet. and soon disc