Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-07-09

In letter to the Times, the Rev G. w
Bridges, incumbent of Banehly, Gloucester.
shire, confirms, from personal observations
some staten ents which have already appeared
respecting the atrocities committed by the no.
lice OF Palermo, In lS4S, when the Sicilians
made their last unsuccessful ATTEMPT TO free
themselves from the tyranny of the Bourbons
Mr.. Bridges says:
On the morning Of the 18th February in tina,
year was among the foremost, and the only
EngiIshmsn present, when the rush was made
Into the disclosed region of death which YOU
refer TO- The facts are these; About forty Of
the sbtTTi had been captured by the reyolu-
uonists, treated by them with Kindness. and
placed in security until they could be sent to
Naples-a friendly precaution to prevent their
Delng murdered by the indignant mob, which
tnen broke into the police palace, and cast the
books and furniture from the windows. A por-
uon Of the spacious building appeared, how
ever, TO be inaccessible; windows and loopholes
there were in it, but no opening to one entire
wing of the dark prison-house.
PRESENTLY, on removing one of the huge
bookcases, some fresh plastered wall appeared
concealed behind 1t; passage was quickly
broken through it, and the senses were almost
OVerpowered by the steaming effiuvia which
issued from seven dark chambers communi-
eating with each other, where, upon clearing
the loopholes, a secreted scene Of horror was
before us, such as wants the best testimony to
oS OoAtctOu- lueIe lay human D0d1eS, and
the mutllated remains of such in every state
OF death and decay; bundles of rotten rags
mingled with bones and limbs, and filth, filled
the corners OF the smaller rooms, chains hung
rlveted to the walls above, whence some of
these remains had dropped as they died-some
sun holding In their iron grasp the arms or
ankles of their famished victims Skeletons
almost feshless. on stone shelves which had
served as their beds while living; naked
bodies, black and pulpy, were hidden beneath
others more recently dead, yet alive with
maggots and, greater horror still, two human
bodies In writhing attitudes were hanging cru
cIhed upon the wall of the largest chamber,
the reeking, ,blosd-stained stones of which held
rusty spikes corresponding to the outstretched
hands and feet of others which had been 40
suspended, and still retaining the stringy re-
mains Of muscles torn to shreds, from which
the heavier portions had dropped and lay in
heaps of putridity beneath.
Shrleks OF indignant horror arose from the
infurlated crowd, portion of which rushed
BACK TO the prison where the captured sbiyri
were secured, and brought them out and shot
them down on the instant. Others remained,
raklng and searching among the bones and
bodies, examining minutely the putrid rem
nants Of those they fancied might have been
their fathers, brothers or kindred, who had
long been missing, but whose fate they knew
not One OF the SbtTrI, whose life tried in
vain to save, endeavored to persuade me that
the suspended bodies were not crucifed while
alive, but nailed there to augment the tor
lures OF the living prisoners. Further details
1 could give, from my intimacy with Sicily and
lts people during those stirring times; this, in
deed, was scene never TO be forgotten
enough to sicken the thought that dwells on
1t, and to attest, were il needed, the usual and
very accurate truthfulness of your assertions