The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-10-21
TAs Last Victim OF the Gauntlet.

An imperial rescript, bearing the date
Of the Goth Of August, 1854, and the sig
nature of the Emperor Francis Joseph OF
Austria, has abolished for evermore within
the realms OF the whole Austrian empire
that terrific chastisement - running the
gauntlet. Terrible it was, indeed-a cruel
and barbarous remnant Of those dark and
dismal times called the middle ages. | wit.
messed the last execution OF this kind, and
record it for the benefit Of those who still
cling with q strange fondness even to the
worst legacies of by-gone centuries.
On an autumn morning, in the year 1851,
the garrison Of the fortress Of Thetesien.
stadt, on the Eyer river, in Bohemia, was
formed in O large square on the spacious
Mace before the residence Of the command
ant In the middle OF the square, drawn
up in file, stood company Of rifle battal-
ion, to which the delinquent belonged. 1t
was unarmed, each private there were three
hundred) being provided with switch, and
placed at q small distance from his neat
man. At the tenth stroke OF the clock the
drums were beaten, and amidst q silence
deep and oppressive the prisoner was march
ed into the square.
He was as fnelooking man as ever l
have set eyes upon--tall, powerful, and well
formed. His handsome features, TO which
black moustache gave bold and martial
expression, sh0ne forth in the full glow and
vigor Of manhood, only they were OF q
deadly palenes -,
He was q non-commissioned officer, and
during the last campaign In Italy, in lS49,
he had distinguished himself in such man.
ner that his superior officers bad recommend
ed him for promotion. Austria is more
generous than England toward those that
shed their blood in her service, and be would
have been made commissioned officer long
since-in spite of his humble origin and his
poverty-ii it had not been for fatal i'm.
pediment. This impediment was bis own
passionate temper be was very cholerc
man harsh and brutal toward his interiors
morose and stubborn toward 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
performance of his military service--the
most minor duties Of which he discharged
with the utmost exactness-Le went his own
way, proud, reserved, solitary. lnnumer
|. able were the punishments which he had
brought upon the men for, however slight
the offence might be, he was sure not to pass
il over in silence.
His superior officers respected him for his
usefulness, his ability and his exactitude, but
thew did not like him. The evident lack Of
humanity In the man made him an object Of
kAG1}k rother than of love. Moreover, there
4 Wne j vague rumor about his having once
SICK at his own officer in the midst OF o
~ neil caused by hand To hand encoun-
ter with the enemy. The report never took
clear shape, the officer having been killed
in the engagement, and the gossippings OF
few wounded soldiers having been much
TOO incoherent and contradictory to lead to
3 formal investigation Of the matter be
ides, it was at the victory of Novarra He
had greatly distinguished himself, and old
Field Marshal Radetzky had, with his own
hands, affixed the golden medal on his breast.
+ The rumor, however, together with ,the
knowledge Of his harsh and violent temper
caused his name to be erased from the list
Of those that were recommended for higher
promotion.
When this incident became known 10
him, be became even more sulen, more rigid,
more cruel than ever ut always, as it was
well understood, for the benefit Of the service,
the Gightest demands Of which he performed
with the same immutable strictness as be
enforced them to be done by others.
A lew weeks previous 10 the dreadful
punishment which he had now to undergo
he was mounting guard in the outworks with
some twenty or twenty-five men Of his own
company. Tt was chilly, rainy night ;
and when the sentries were relieved they
were glad 10 stretch themselves-wet as they
were-upon the floor near the large stove
in the middle Of the guard room. The floor
Dot being very clean, floors seldom are in
these localities) and the white uniforms Of
the men being wet, it was no wonder that
the dirt adhered TO them with a tenacity
that defied all exertions 10 get it off, when
the wearers were reused By this sergeant 10
prepare for standing guard once more. The
more they tried TO rub their clothes clean
the more sturdiy be lent helping hand to
their endeavors by an application Of the sad
equipment Of every Austrian non-commis-
stoned otiicer-the stick. Whilst be was
fully at work, cutting away at the men with
powerful arm, the door opened, and the
officer On duty entered the guard room.
Attention ~ commanded the sergeant T;
and, saluting bis superior, made the usual
report that nothing worth remarking had
happened. The officer, young ensign,
fresh from the military school, and almost a
boy. took no notice whatever OF this impor.
,ant news. but asked the sergeant in q brisk
and somewhat imPetuous manner, q" What
he was again striking the men for ?"
The sergeant, already much annoyed a,
this interference, gave q surly and unwilling
answer and. when the young officer rebuked
him, in Q severe and perhaps somewhat
naughty manner, the violent and passionate
man, losing all self eontrol, lifted up bis hand
against his officer