Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1859-02-17


alive, they vet we're deadly still, for the houses on
either side s.ooi like silent tombs whence no sound
or sign Of life proceeded, not single chimney
smoked The cupolas ofthc cathedrals glittcred
in shining gold cncrcled with wreaths Of green; the
palaces lowered in lofty magnificence. But The
gories of this noble architecture resembled the dis
NAL fnery ola corpse laid out in state for last mel
ancholly exhibition, so mutc 50 rigid was all il en-
closed. This mixute Of the wanton splendor oflife
with the profound stiffness and solitude OF death
was so painful that IL oppressed the hearts of the
stoutest warriors, who, as yet. however, were far
from suspecting the terrible truth. For two hours
we pcrambulated this stony desert in the maze of
whose labyrinths we became ever more deeply in
volved. Our progress was Of the slowest, for the
King of Naples still refusing to believe what each
moment rendered more apparent, was IN constant
expectation Of surprise. and could not Danish the
idea that the foe cunnnsly inveigled him into this
confused and treacherous network Of streets and
,anes in order the better to suddenly assal hiE..-
ie therefore sent strong detachments into every
sdestrcctto seek the enemy supposed to lurk there
but none we're found. A dreadful stiffness rcicned
in the huge city. where erst the din OF traffic deaf
encd the ear. Nothing was heard but the dull, hol
low oof tramp Of the horses and the jar ofthe wcap
ons dismay rcvcrbcrated from the tall, dead walls
so that when the column halted complete silence
spread like pail over the awc-stricken host, tor
the soldier Was infected with the gloom Of the scene
so that although entering the hostile capitol. no
CRY Of victory or shout Of JOY escaped him; but he
was grave and silent, scrutnizing with astonshed
eye the surrounding ed6ccs, in vain quest Of trace
Of life in the metropolis Of the old Cars. Now the
walls and vinn acles of the Krcmln rose in dark
jcsty above the intruders hcads and for the first
tim. refreshing sound was heard-a confused jun
bic Of human voices and wariike stir. ltwas par
~ of the inhabitants, collected in dark swarm
round train of carts conveying provisions and
wounded men who had not been soon enough got
out ,f the city. few Cossacks, LEFT behind to e.
cort them, spurred their active little horses and
quickly disappeared in the maze Of streets, unn.
iurcd by the bullets sent after them Suddenly,
from the Kremlin, at whose doors the column had
now arrived, issued = horrible uproar Of bowling
voices, our eyes followed the direction ofthe soand
and we beheld upon the Krcmlins walls group Of
hi,lcous figures, both men and women, furiously
gesticulating and evidently resolved to defend the
entrance To the holy fortress. The women's tan
sle,l AMI d;sherecd hair the Wild brstlins boards
Of the men, the distorted features and frantic ges
tures Of ALL their horrible cries, and rags. and filth,
AMI barbarous weapons, composed picture fright
fIi beyond expression
n - - a. hcn
sent against us its most hideous demonsr Again
the gr xiv bani set up their wild an horrd shrieks
and shots were fred from the wall into the compact
mass OF soldiers. The King of Naples waved a
white handkerchiefa as Gag Of truce. and called ia
Colonel Rasinski "a native OF Poland 70 tell the
people in their own language that no harm should
be done to them II they abandoned th,ir useless
ami desperate opposition. Rasnski rode forward
but scarcely had he uttered the first won Of peace
when his vo &C was rownded in horrd yell, whilst
the women furiously beat their breasts and tore
their hair. Once more Rasinski called TO them to
Weld. Thereupon woman of colossal stature
whose loosend hair fel wildly on her shoulders
sprans upon a turret Of the wall.
/ "Dss.' she cried, "with my teeth win I rcnd
thee like hungry wolf her prey. Robber. thou
shat bc torn like the hunter who dcspoils she she
bear of her Cubs. Curse upon yc, murdcrsrs of our
sons and husbands. Curse upon ye. spoilers Of our
cities. A triple curse upon the goddess crow, who
dcfle our holy altars, and sco the Almighty with
devils tongue. Woe shall be your position. worse
your suffrrings than those of tlic damned in the
suiphur-pit. Curses. eternal curses upon ye al!''
This menacing figure, although frarful tot behold,
excited not ioatling. Wide robes ofblack and grey
shss,udcd the person Of the Pythoness. bIood-red
cloth, half-cap halfturban. was turned around her
head Her grizxicd hair Auttcred in the wind. her
gitterins eyes rolled wildlv in their orbits, whilst
her open mouth poured forth curses. and her up
r,cd hams p2ealed to heaven to fulfill them sum.
monins all his strength. Rssinski once shout
ed, in his lion ike voicc-"Madmcn. do you reiec,
mercyl" Another wild howl, accompanied with
threatening gestures. drowned his words. BY a
sign he warned the King that all was in vain. and
Murat gave orders to burst open the door. The
artillery was already drawn up, and three shots
whose thunders resoundcl fearfully in the empt,
city, crashed against the barrier, which broke and
siivcred at the shock. As sito opened dense throne
of the mad Russians strcamcd out and dashed head
long into the French ranks. The soldiers would
fain have spared them, Tor they were too few Il
prompt powerful force to needless bloodshed; but
the natcal patriotism Of the infuriatcs made mcr
CIV impossible. Like fcrocious beasts, they threw
themselves upon their foes, thinking only Of des-
troyin; all they could. One raging madman. arm
~, x;, !. trcs hr.ncI, fashioned into huge club