The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-11-14

Greve but nevertheless, every available
spot was occupied. The Fauburg St.
Antoine had disgorged its sansculottic
population. A seA of human heads
surged to and fro in unwieldy mass-
elinging TO chimneys, clustered on the
trees, hanging on the roofs, they found .
brutal assemblsge--fit spectators of a
brutal drama. But in the balconies and
windows overlooking the "Place" were
hundreds Of high-born ladies, many Of
them youthful and beautiful. They
smiled and coquetted with their cavaliers.
diamonds sparkled, and plumes waved
in the winter wind. They were come 20
enjoy . new sensation, and 20 evince
their loyal devotion 10 an outraged king.
Some Of the prices paid for places were
fabulous For days previous TO the ex-
ecution nothing else wastalked of in the
good city of Paris. 'aF8
A scaftold, erected on the northeast
ern extremity of the "Plaoe," rose in
stern black lines above the shifty multi
tude. In the center was . chair firmly
fixed to the boards and at one end large
stove. Iron vessels containing rosin,
pitch, oil, wax, sulphur and lead bubblsd
and boiled on the furnace, while the
flames cast lurid glow on the cruel,
swarthy cbunteEances Of the execution
ers as they completed the preparations
or watched over tho seething caldrons.
The hoarse murmur of the crowd was
now suddenly hushed A general move
ment and tlutter pervaded the fair occu-
pants of the windows and balconies.
Damiens appeared slowly mounting ths
steps of the scaifold. I...
The executioner spent some minutes
in firmly binding him to the chair, from
the back Of which extended a horizont-
al piece Of wood about two feet in length.
To this his right arm was securely strap
ped, his hand protruding Just beyond il.
| Executioner No. j now advanced, and
held under il brAzier filed with sui
phur. A horrible cry burst from the
wretched man, cry that seemed TO is
sue from his very vitals, and that for
| months afterwards rang in the ears of
the spectators. The ladies shuddered,
some nearly tainted, and retired little
way from the windows. Soon they re-
turned, refreshing themselves with their
smelling bottles, and leveled their glass
es once more at the scaffold. There was
no Ore visible. The sun had just burst
through the clouds, and efFaeed the pale
flame, in which his hand was slowly
and inyisibly burning. But a nameless
stencil filed the air, and thick, fetid
smoke rose over the scahold gradually
spreading itself out and hanging, like n.
PAIL over criminal and spectators, as if
it would shut out the plying heavens
from this scene Of cruelty Damiens
cried cut no more. He sat quietly look
ing at the blackened bones fast wither-
ing in the flame. ....-. ..........
Meanwhile, the horrible caldrons were
bubbling and Kissing, and the pincers of
the Provost Court of Paris were heating
in the furnace. The worst was yet to
come. A gigantic executioner now ad-
vAnced and tore the criminals flesh with
the red-hot irons, in six different places
His assistants followed, carrying spoons
full Of rosin, oil lead, pitch, sulphur and
wax, which they poured into the gaping
incisions, Soon the breast, the arms, and
the thighs, were one awful wound. All
the time Faubourg, st. Antoine, and Fau-
boug st. Germain, looked on, alike un-
sAted; and the high born danes of Louis
the Fifteenth's Court smiled and chat
ted with their cavaliers, and looked and
shrank back, and looked again.
All was not yet over. Damions still
breathed, suffered, and occasionally cried
out. Four horses were now led forward.
The noble animals were almost ungOVern-
able. All the morning they had strug-
gled to ascRpe from this dreadful spot
from the cries and groaha, the thick
smoke and sickening smell that filed the
air. II was their turn now TO take the
place Of the executioner, who could not
find fresh spot on the victims body to
torment. l l0. 'aI'
Damiens was carried down the steps
of the scaffold the horses were backed
toward him as he lay on the ground, aud
the nimble executi0ners made fast the
traces. The grooms loosed their heads,
and, with terrific snort, they sprang
forward. But human thews and sinews
were too strong for them. They were
thrown on tHeir launches, and, with a
dull, heavy thud, the body struck the
ground. Again and again they started.
Urged on by blows and shOuts they
pulled in vain. A quarter of an hour
passed away. Damiens still liVed-still
breathed. AT intervals he even raised
his head and looked at the animals.
sob those poor horses" exclaimed
Mademoiselle de Priandau, the young aud
, beautiful niece OF the fnancier, Bouret.
Evening vAs approaching The COM
, missiODsrs appointed 10 preside over the
execution were embarrassed. II was nec-
esssry to carry IL out according 10 the
strict letter Of the sentence, which di-
rected the criminal to be quartered. The
crowd, too, were waxing indignant, and
elamOrously demanded the coup de grace.
They consulted together, and at length
ordered the muscles and tendons Of the
legs and arms 10 be severed. Once moro