Litchfield enquirer., 1858-04-08

of the prison, who announced that their last
 hour was come. The Abbe Hugon, chaplain
 of the Roquette and the chaplain of the Con- 1 ciergerie, were present. do not profess to give particulars of what passed within the
 walls of the cell, but I may observe that the
 wretched men appeared calm when the news, which could not have taken them by surprise
 was announced to them. l am assured that 1 they heard mass and received the communion | with respect if not devotion Soon after they were taken to the room called de ia toilette for 1 the change of dress. It is not large On the present occasion, it contained, besides the chaplains and the governor of the prison, l about 30 persons, the principal among whom were the greffier, or clerk, representing the Court of Assize and the huissier, or usher, l who was charged with reading the sentence OF ] the scafold. Tine remainder were apparently police agents. When the convcts entered the l chambre de la toilette, they were placed at diff l ferent extremities of it, with their backs turu- ! ed to each other. There were two assistant executioners-onc from Rouen, the other from 1 Caen-beside him of Paris These lost no ] time in preparing the coGvicts for the scaffold. During the dreadful operation, Orsini remain ed calm, and, though he was not so loud and contradictory as during his trial, Pierri was 1 som what excited. The strait-waistcoat in- l terfered with his gesticuations, but he hardly ceased talking for moment. When the exc cutioner was pinoning him, he asked that the fastenings should not be drawn too tight, as he had no intention of escaping. The cold touch of the steel on his neck, when the scis- sors cut off his hair so as not to interfere with the guotine, for an instant appeared to thrill through him but he recovered himself when he found that his beard was left untouched He thanked the exccutioner for letting him die with his face as became a man. When the hood, to which the vail which covers the fea- lures of the parricide is suspended, was put over his head, he is said to have laughed, and attempted joke about the figure he must cut. At this moment he turned his head and perceived Orsn he saluted him gaiIy, and asked how he was getting on. He was inter- rupted Ey Orsini, who was himself undergoing the same operation with the same sang froid as if he were under the hands of a valet dress be calm, my friend" Pierri's tongue ran on, however. The assistant proceeded to Strip him of his shoes for in pursuance of the sen l tence they were to proceed to the scaffold barefooted. The man appeared to hesitate, but Pcrri encouraged him to proceed, and as- sisted him as much as he could, still talking The operation being over. and the toilette conl- plete, he turned toward the turnkey and asked to be allowed to embrace him. This request was complied with The moment of moving uow came, and the Abbe Hugon cried cut, "Courage !' "Oh ! am not afraid-I am not afraid" he said, "we are going to Calva- ry," and in sort of fever;sh excitement he fo1 fo C (Hol Orsini was, on the other hand, as calm and ! tranquil as his fellew-convict was excited. He spoke little but when the Governor of the prison and some of the officers approached him he bade them in a low tone of voice farewell. The turnkey of his cell announced to him in tone of regret that his last moment was come. Orsini thanked him for his sympathy His hair was also cut away from his neck, but he underwent the operation without ainching At the moment when the hood was put on his head, his face which up to that momeut was calm and impossible, became flushed for mo- ment and his eye lighted up.
 The prison clock struck before the last sound died away the door leading to the scaf- fold opened as of itself The Abbe Hugon el,- treated Pierri to profit by the few moments ! still left to collect his thoughts and assume calmer attitude. He promised to be calm, but said he should chant a patriotic hymn and it is said he actually began to sing the
 well-known Mourir pour la Patris." Lean ing on the Abbe Hugon he mounted fifteen steps of the scafIold, still repeating the verses of the song.
 Orsini was supported by the chaplain of the Conciergeri, and his calmness never abandoned
 him for moment. When he appeared on the platform it could be seen from the movement l of his body and of his head, though covered
 with the veil, that he was locking out for the crowd, and probably intended addressing them.
 But they Were too far off The grit ficr then directed the usher to read the sentence of the
 Court condemning the prisoners to the death of parricides. The usher, who was an old man,
 over 60, was evidently much moved at having
 to perform this duty, and he trembled as much
 from emotion as from cold as he read the docu-
 ment, which no one listened to.
 After this fcrmality was terminated Orsini
 and Pierri embraced their spiritual attendants,
 and pressed their lips on the crucifx offered to
 them. They then gave themselves up to the
 headsman. Pierri was attached to the plank
 in an instant He was executed first. The
 moment his veil was raised. and before his
 head was laid on the block, it is affirmed that
 he cried Tics ? ltalie-Vsrela Repubhqae" "
 Orsini was then taken in hand. His veil was raised, and his conntenance still betrayed
 ne emotion. Before he was fastened to the T plank he turned in the direction of the distant
 crowd, and, it is said, cried :" Fare la France !'
 It was but five minutes past | o'clock when
 the second head fell into the basket A cold shudder ran among those whose attention was
 fixed upon what was passing on the scaffold, and for an instant there was deep silence. IL : passed of, however, very soon. When all was : over men went to their work, and parties who had gone together to the spot from distant
 quarters of the town hastcned home to break