The north Iowa times. [volume] (M'Gregor [i.e. McGregor], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1856-11-14
oRsINI's ESCAPE.

oRsIN1S ESCAPE
The story of Orsini's escape from the
castle of San Giorgio, in Mantua, Italy, is
almost too wonderful to be believed. An
account of it is contained in . recently
published narrative of the prisoners ad-
ventures. Orsini, as is well known, was
arrested and imprisoned about eighteen
months-we think for the fourth time since
1843-on account Of troubles cngendered
by his known revolutionary tendencies.-
Notwithstanding the castle of San Giorgio
was believed to be the safest prison in
Austria, he resolved to attempt an escape,
and having by studied conduct gained the
confidence Of his jailors, he succeeded in
procuring, from the friends who visited
him, a small say. He says:
Having thus far paved the way, COM
menced saving through one of the bars
nearest the wall. The position in which I
was obliged to stand-on tip-toe. on the
top rail on the chair-increased the diff
Guilty of the operation, as I was obliged
to make the same movement with nv feet
as with my hands, in order to keep my
balance. My saw was excellent; but A.
ter having used it q couple of hours or 80
it grew blunt-partially because was not
used to handling tools, and also from the
use of water, which / adopted to prevent
noise. However. in four days. I had cut
through the first box I; but from having
used the saw Without handle, holding t
at either end in my hand, it broke in two,
and ! then set my wits to work to make a
handle for the others. -
ri sawed away some wood from under
meath the table. and driving it into twopor.
tions, fastened one with wax either side of
the saw. only leaving sufficient to the lat.
ter 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 wear.
ing apparel, l procured some tape under
pretence of repairing them. Waxing it
we'll, I bound it tightly round the two
pieces of wood at the end of the saw, and
backwards and forwards from one to the
other. By these means, manufactured
an excellent handle, and the saw no longer
bent or moved about. In order to reclose
the bars after they were cut through, l
made cement of wax and burnt bread
crumbs the color of iron.
Nevertheless my work made but slow
progress. Atevery moment l had to stop
and clean my saw. and as often to listen to
any noise without. Some days could not
work at all for fear of interruption, and
often was oblighed to desist on account
of the terrible fatigue, and the pain aris-
ing from the distension Of tho muscles.--
Often my feet and right hand were be-
numbed--I could scarcely write my own
name. According to the position of the
bars depended the difficulty of cutting
through them--while working at the high
est / SO wounded my elbow by pressing
it against the side, that I could hardly lean
on it alone.
cat times, despite the calmness and
courage with which I nerved myself, my
patience was nearly exhausted, SO prostra-
ted was my physical strength that l had
sunk on the bed utterly hopeless of COM
pleting my design. Then it was that the
thought Of my country, of my children,
returned to my aid. I must behold nv
little ones again-must once more combat
for my fatherland land, fired with the
thought, / sprang to my chair and labor
ed with redoubled zeal, saying to myself,
"Onward onward! courage! (arant; !
apanti! carragia , each time I felt my
energy flag & s.1 VOID o ab :
In spite of the vigilance of his keepers,
Orsini finished his saving of the outer as
we'll as the inner grating of tho window,
and also removed some bricks to enlarge
the aperture. The window was about a
hundred feet from the ground. A cord
was made by stripping the sheets and tow
els which he had latterly possessed, add,
after several abortive attempts, he made
the perilous descent on the night of tho
28th Of March. .s
when had descended about eighty
four feet, l felt my strength giving way ;
the tension Of the muscles Of the arms
was too painful for endurance. again
felt about with my feet, and soon discoy.
cred white marble cornice, which sur
rounded the castle; but while stroye to
rest my right foot upon it, and the cord
slipped from between my legs, and, after
making several attempts to recover it, I
looked below, and, fancying myself not
more than six feet from the ground. /
stretched out my arms and let myself drop
in such way that my feet should first
touch the ground, but that I should fall
on all fours. This calculation was the
work of second but what time clap
sed before ! reached the ground shudder
now TO recall / had fallen twenty feet !!
There was quantity of mad 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. turned around almost
mechanically, and for few moments lost
all consciousness" a 4
At length. recovering from the effects
of his fall. he succeeded in surmountinp
every obstacle with the exception Of the
ditch beyond tho outer wall. While living
there, wounded and exhausted, two peas.
ants passed. and recognizing his situation
at glance. helped him up by means Of q
cord, and assisted him to place of con-
cealment. 1t was quarter before SIX
,vhor L. -