The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-01-02
THE MASSACRE OF ST. BARTHOI-
OMEW WI

OMEW.
II was two hours after midnight. There
was moment of dreadful suspense and of
perfect silence. All three stood ut the win.
dow, looking out into the rayless night.
Suddenly through the still mir the ponder.
Gus tones of the alarm.bell fell upon the ear
and rolled the knell of death over the city.
Its vibration awakened the demon in ten
thousand hearts. II was the morning of the
Sabbath, August "a, 1572-the anniversary
of festival cousecrated by the Church to
the memory of St Bartholomew.
The first stroke of the bell had not ceased
to vibrate upon the ear, when the uproar of
the carnage commenced. The sound, which
seemed 10 rouse Cntharne to frenzy, almost
froze the blood of the young monarch.--
Trembling In every nerve, he shouted for the
massacre to be stopped.
1t was too late. The train was ired.--
Beacon-fres and alarm bells sent the sgnnl,
with the rapidity of light and of sound,
through entire France. The awful roar Of
human passiots the cracking Of muskeiry,
the shrieks of the wounded and of the diving
blended in appalling tumult throughout the
whole metropolis.
Old men, terrified maindens, helpless In
fants, venerable matrons, were alike smitten
down mercilessly, to the fanatic cry, "Vire
Die d le Dio!"--aLive God and the King!"
Coligni, faint and wounded, was lying upon
his bed, surrounded by few faithful friends,
as the demoniac clamor rolled in upon their
ears. The Dukeof Guise, with three hun.
dred followers, FASTENED to the lodgings of
the Admiral, stabbed the scntinels, and dash.
ed down the gutes.
A wounded servant rushed to the chamber,
exclaiming, "The house is forced, and there
is no means of resisting"
81 have long," said the heroic Admiral to
his friends, prepared myself to die. Save
yourselves. You cannot defend me. com.
mend my soul to God"
The murderers were now rushing up the
stairs. They pursued, shot, stabbed, and cut
down the flying friends of Colgni. The
Admiral thus for n moment lett alone,
rose from his bed, and being unable to stand
eand against the will, and in fervent prayer
surrendered himself to the will of Cod
The assassins bust into theroom. They saw
venerable man in his night robe, with ban
dnged wounds, engaged in his devoticns.
"Art thou the Admira?'' demanded one
with brandished sword.
81 an" replied Coligni; "and thou, young
man, shouldst respect my grey hairs. New
ertheless, thou canst abridge my life but
little"
The wretch plunged his sword into the
bosom OF Coligni, and then Withdrawing il
dripping with blood cut him down. Th,
Admiral ftsl, calmnly SAYING
"If could but die By the hand of n gen.
tleman, instead of by the hand Of such q
knave MS this ~
The rest of the assassins Immediately fell
upon him, each emulous to bury his dagger
in the bosom Of his victim.
The Duke of Guise, ashamed, rs an assas
sin, to meet the eye of the noble Coigni
whom he had oflenremet in friendly inter
course, remained impatiently in the court
yard below.
"Breme," he shouted to one of his follow
ers, looking up at the window, shave yol
done itl"
"Yes," exclaimed Brrmc, "he is done for.
"Let us see, though" replied the Duke
"Throw him out of the window"
The manglcd corpse fell upon the pave
meRt. The Duke wiped the blood from hi.
face and carefully scrulinzed his features.
"Yes," said he, 81 recognize the man.
Then giving the palid face kick, he ex-
claimed, "Courage, comrades We have hap
PLY begun. Let us now 90 for Others"
The tiger having once tapped his tongue
in blood, seems to be imbued with u new
spirit of ferocity. There is in man similar
temper. The frenzied multitude became
drunk with blood, The houses of the
protestants were marked. They burst the
doors aud rushed through all apartments
numbering indscriminately young and DID,
| The bodies were thrown from the windows
and the pavcmenis were cotted will
gore.
Charles soon recovered from his Nomehta
| ry wavering, and conscious that it was too
late to draw back, with iiend like eagernes,
engaged himself in the work Of death. Per
], feet fury seized him. His cheeks were flush
ed, his lips compressed, his eyc~ glared will
frenzy. Bending eagerly from his window
he shouted words OF encouragement to TIN
assassins. Graspihg gun, he watched lik
a sportsman, for his prey, and when he saw al
unfortunate Protestant, wounded aud bleed
ing, flying from his pursuers, he would TAX
deliberate aim from the window of his pal
nee, and shout With exultation as he saw hn
fall, pierced by his bullet. w.
A crowd of fugilives rushed into the cour
room Of Louvre, to throw themselves upo
his own body-guard into the yards, With gun
and daggers, to butcher them all.
Just before the carnage commenced Mar
guerite weary with excitement, and wit
fears of she knew not what, retired to he
chamber She had hardly closed her eye
when the outcres of the pursuers and pun
sued filled the palace. She sprang up in he
bed, and heard some one struggling at tn
door, and shrieking, "Navarre, Nuvarre."
In paroxysm of terrors she ordered a
attendant to open the door. One Of he
husbands retinue instantly rushed in covere
with wounds and blood, pursued by four sol
diers of her brothers guard.
It is strange how easily the ludcrous en-
blend with the horrible. The terrified Hu
gueEot burst into the room and leaping int
the bed with Marguerite cuig to her pcrsor
The captain of the guard ut that momen
entered the room.
He was so struck with the udicrous posi-
ton Of the princess and Of the terrified llu
guenot, that bursting into uncontrollabl
peals Of laughter, he turned away, leayin
his victim in the arms of Marguerite.
Marguerite, delirious with terror, fed I
the apartment of her sister. The palace wa
filled with shouts, and shrieks, and uproar.-
AS she was rushing through the hall she en-
countered another Protestant gentleman tly
ing before the dripping sword Of the pursu
ers. lie was covered with blood fowin
from many wounds which he had alread
received. Just as he reached the youn
Queen Of Navarro, his pursuer plunged
sMnrd thrnuoh hia hodv and ha fall da.J /,