Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-09-21
BY D. STERRETT, JR.

O'Clock IN the morning, cart SLOWLY
left the city Of Arras; it was driven by
q carter and escorted by four gend-
armes. 1t contained five prisoners. -
This sad caravan had set out from the
CITY hall, and was directing its way 10
Cambray, where q revolutionary trlbu-
nal was then in session. These prls
ouers had been securely bound with
strong cords. One was farmer of the
Prince de Vandemont, accused of hay
ing favored the escape of an arlstOcrat,
for IL was considered a crime In those
days to save an innocent victim from
the block. Another was a venerable
old man with long white hair, for
many years cure of a village In the VI
entity Of Arras; the revolution had
surprised him teaching virtue and
peace to his Pensioners. lie had
lately been denounced and arrested for
preaching revolt. The other three
Captiyes were sisters Of charity Of Ar
ras. accused of aristOcracyl they who
had made vows Of humility! The old
priest recited in n low voice that bean
tiful, sad hymn, the Miserere, and the
sisters made the responses.
Day began to dawn. Light clouds
floating in the air were empurpled with
the first rays of the sur, viii in the
west, where night still reigned supreme,
the stars appeared to rekindle their fires
as If to battle with the growing light,
but one by one they pRled and seemed
to bury themselves IN the azure vault.
The birds, from their nests, commenced
their morning songs and announced the
re-awaking of nature. at this magnlh
cent spectacle, the last, perhaps, that
they were ever to behold, the prisoners
became silent; they admired the great
ness of our Heavenly Father and their
eyes filed with tears.
GOD, the creator of these wonders,
perhaps casts upon us look of com
passion" said the good old priest, ''let
ms humble ourselves before Him, and
with grave and solemn voice he began
to pray.
At this moment one of the gend' armes
ordered the carter to increase his speed;
he obeyed, and they were soon going
at "A rapid pace. Four hours afterward
they arrived at Cambray, and took the
way to the city prison.
Ever since morning, the prosecuting
Attorney, who was called Cambriere,
had been at the jail, preparing list of
those who were to he tried that day by
the Revolutionary Tribunal. While
he was still engaged In making ont this
list, the cart entered, and two turkeys
assisted the aged priest, whose name
was Jacques Beranger, to descend, and
placed him In corner of the prison
yard. They had already unbound one
Of the sisters, when the jRiler mex
pectedIy arrived, and cried ont:
''But citizen. Cambriere, i have no
longer place to lodge these aristO-
cratsl"
well then, do not trouble yourself
about them" replied the Prosecuting
Attorney; 81 will send them at once to
the Tribunal They'll find me there
TO receive them"
Aud, upOn given sign, the turn
keeps abandoned the vehicle, which
proceeded to the palace where Cam
briere and Lebon were holding their
Courts. The old priest was forgotten
IN the Jail yard.
"And that old manr' said one of the
iailers, recOlle citing that the priest had
been left behind; ''citizen Cambriere
will not have his usual number"
"Bahl" replied another, ''his turn
will come tomorrow; there are enough
to-day without him."
Jacques BeraDger was shut up in q
dungeon, with twenty other prisoners,
while the farmer and the travelling
companions were conducted to the tri-
bunal, and one hour afterward the
- -r1 AHss. a.. ta
tine.
The next day citizens Cambriere and
LebOn did not hold their courts. The
third day they were about to resume
their terrible functions, when they re-
eeived the news of the events of the |
9th Thermidor, which crushed Robes |
pierre, destroyed the power of his adj
herents, and even threatened them |
with that scatfOld upon which they had /
caused SO many victims to perish. The
streets of Cambiay resOunded with |
shouts of Joy. One part of the people |
proceeded to the public square and |
overthrow that guillOtine, Redeemed by |
so much blood, while the other hasten |
ed to the prison, broke down the doors, |
delivered the prisoners, and car iied |
them away in triumph. What Joy for
those unhappy creatures who believed |
doomed to die, and who |
now saw the doors of liberty open be- |
fore them ! Each person in the crowd |
found a parent, a friend, a brother, IA
wife; they embraced amidst laughter
and tears. Jacques Beranger, the good
priest, although one of che last to leave
the prison of Cambray, was neverIhe-
less DESTROYS of returning with all pos
sible dispatch to Arras, where he had
left two young girls, his nieces. Hel
set out on foot for his humble dwelling. |
He was walking at brisk pace, and at
the same time thanking God for his in
finite mercy and goodness, when he
perceived a vehicle, the driver OF which
was watering his horses at a fountain
by the roadside.
"Ahl Is 1t yOu, MOnsieur Beranger?
Are you indeed at hberty2" said the
carter, recognizing him Immediately.
well, well, am very glad of it.
"Ihank yOu, my friend. God be
praised, the seatfOld has been DESTROY
ed and the prisoners are freeP'
''Will you profit by my cart? 1t is
the one that brought You, it Is true;
but you must not be angry with me on
that account, you see; there was no
way of refusing those fellows and keep
ing ones head on ones shoulders at
the same time. Come, MOnsiett- Ee clTe,
get mp alongside of me; the road is
long, the heat is intense, and the high
way is very dusty"