Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-11-13
The Last Victim Of the Gauntlet.

An imperial rescript, bearing the date Of the
goth Of August, 1854, and the signature of the
Emperor Francis Joseph Of Austria, has abol-
ished for evermore within the realms Of the
whole Austrian empire that terrible chastisc.
meMt--running the gauntlet Terrible it was,
indecd-a cruel and barbarous remnant Of
those dark and dismal times called the middle
AgcA witnessed the last execution Of this
kind, and record it for the benefit of those who
still cling with strange fondneSs even TO the
worst l"gacics Of by.gOne centuries.
On an autumn morning, in the year 1851,
the garrison Of the fortress Of ThereSienstadt.
ON the Eyer river, in Bohemia, was formed in
. large square on the spacious place before the
residence Of the commandant In the middle
Of tho square, drawn up in file, stood q com.
pAny Of . rife battalion, to which the delin-
Qucnt belonged. 1t was unarmed, each pri-
vate There were three hundred) being provi.
ded with switch, and placed at small dis.
tAneo from his next man. AT the 10th stroke
Of the clock the drums were beaten, and amid
silence deep and oppressive the prisoner was
RnaFched into the square.
He was IS fine-lOOking man as ever have
rot eyes upOn-tAll, powerful, and we'll formed.
Ills handsome features, to which black nous.
tache gave bold and martial expression, shOne
forth in the full glow and vigor Of manhood,
only they were Of deadly palenesS
lie was nOn-cOmmissiOned officer. and du.
ring the last campaign in Italy, in ls40. he had
distinguished himself in such manner that
his superior officers had recommended him for
promotion. Austria is more generous than
England towards those that shed their blood in
her service, and he would have been made
commissioned officer long since-in spite of
his humble origin and his poverty-if il had
not been for fatal impeachment This impedi-
ment was his own passionate temper; he was
very chOleric man harsh and brutal towards
his interiors, morose and stubborn towards his
superiOrs whenever they deemed it necessary
TO check or rebuke him. He was hated by the
men to the utmost There was not private
IN the whole battalion that had not vowed him
revenge He had never made one friend, nor
did he care to have one. Strict in the perform.
ance Of his military seryice-the most minor
duties Of which he discharged with the utmost
exactMess--he went bis own way, proud, re.
served, solitary. Innumerable were the pun.
ishmsnts which he had brought upon the men;
for, however slight the offence might be, he
was sure not to pass it over in silence.
His superior officers respected him for his
usefulness, his ability, and his exactitude, but
they did not like him. The evident lack Of
humanity in the man made him an object Of
doubt rather than Of love- Moreover, there
was Q vague rumor about bis having struck
once ct his own officer in the midst Of pell;.
NEIL caused by hand-tO-hand encounter with
the enemy. The report never took . clear
shape, the officer having been killed 10 the en-
gagement. and the gOssiPpings Of . few wound.
81 soldiers having been much too incOherent
and contradictory 70 lead to formal invest.
cation Of the matter; besides, it was at the
victory Of Novarra. He had greatly distin"
pushed himself and old Field Marshal Rsdez.
ky bad, with his own hands, aflxed the golden
medal on his breast The rumor, however.
together with the knowledge Of his harsh and
violaNt temper, caused his name to DO erased
AOm the list Of those that were recommended
~ AIgAsF promotion.
Wksa this inridont was made known 10 him,
be became even more sullen, more rigid, more
csusl than ever; but always, as Il was yell
undsvslood. for the benefit Of the service. the
slightest demands Of which he performed with
the anms immutable strictncss IS he enforced
them % be done by others.
Afsw weeks previous 70 the dreadful pun.
iGhment which Be had now to undergo no was
mounting guard 10 the OutwoFks With come
tsulf q twenty live men Of bis own conpa-
~ Il Was chilly, rainy night; and when
- UenEfiss &ers relieved they were glad to
stAaasslVes-wet e. they were-upon
Tie eooR hear sAO largo stove Ia the middle Of
the gaard-rOom. The floor not being very