Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-11-04
Mist&IIant0us
THE LAST VICTIM OF THE GAUNTLET.

An imperial rescript bearing the date of
the 20th August, 1854, and the signature of
the Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria, has
abolished for evermore within the realms of the
whole Austrian empire that terrible chastiSe-
nent-running the gauntlet. Terrible as it
was indeed-a cruel and barbarous remnant
Of those dark and dismal times called the mid
die ages witnessed the last execution of
this kind and record it for the benefit of those
who still cling with strange fonduess even to
the worst legacies of by-gone centuries.
On an autumn morning in the year 1851 q,
the garrison of the fortress of Theresienstadt,
on the Eyer river, in Bohemia, was formed in
a large square on the spacious place before the
residence of the commandant. In the middle
Of the square, drawn up in file, stood COM
pDy of the rifle battalion, to which the delin-
qaeut belonged 1t was understood, each pri-
vae there were three hundred) being pro-
yided with a switch, and placed at a small dis
tauce from his next man. At the tenth stroke
Of the clock the drums were beaten, and amidst
a silence deep and oppressive the prisoner was
marched into the square.
He was as fne-oOking a man as ever have
set eyes upou-tall, powerful, and well formed.
His 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 a deadly paleneSS.
He was non-commissioEed officer, and du-
ring the last campaign in Italy, in lS49, he
had distinguished himself in such manner that
bis superior officers had recommended him for
promotion. Austria is more generous than
England towards those that shed blood in her
service, and he would have been mace a COM
missioned officer long since-in spite of his
humble origin and his poverty-if it had not
been for a fatal impediment. This impedment
was his own passionate temper he was very
chOlerc man harsh and brutal towards his
interiors, moroSe and stubborn towards his su-
perOrS 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 hid not vowed him
revenge He had never made one friend, nor
did he care to have one. Strict in the per-
tormance of his military seryice-the most mi
nor duties of which he discharged with the ut
most exactness-he went his own way, proud,
reserved solitary Innumerable were the pun
Hhments which he had brought upon the men;
Tor, however slight the offence might be, he
was sure not to pass it over in silence.
His superior officers respected him for bis
usefulness, his ability, and his exactitude, but
they did not like him. The evident lack ol
humanity in the man made him an object OF
doubt rather than of love. Moreover there
vas . vague rumOF about his having once
struck at his own officer in pellmell caused
Dy hand to hand encounter with the enemy
lhe report meyer took o clear shape, the officer
having been killed during the engagement, and
Ihe gOSSipings of few wounded soldiers hav
ing been much to incoherent and contradictory
70 lead TO formal investigation of the matter;
besides it was at the victory of Noyarra. He
had greatly distinguished himself, and old
Field Marshall Radetsky had, with bis own
hands, affixed the golden medal on his breast
Inc rlmnP, however, together with the know
ledge of his harsh and violent temper, caused
DIS name to be erased from the list of those
'aat were recommended for higher promo
lion
When this incident was made known to hin
ne became even more sulleu, more rigid, more
C'uel than ever but always, az it was well un-
uerStood, for the benefit Of the service, the
slightest demands of which he performed with
ue same immutable strictness as be enforced
'nem to be done by others.
lew weeks previous to the dreadful pun.
Hnment which he had now to undergo he was
mounting guard in the outworks with some
,,Fenty or twenty-five men Of his own company
u was chilly, rainy Iisht aud when the