Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1868-08-21
Remarkable. Escapes.

ton, o tradesman at Lyons, of the name of
GriHet, a man of mild and simple manners,
was brought in ono evening, sentenced,
among number Of others, to perish tho next
morning Those who were already in tho
oavo pressed round the now conner to sympa.
thize with him, to console him, and to fortify
him for tho stroke he was about to encounter;
but Grivot had no need of consolation, he was
as calm and composed as if he had been in
his house. "Como and sup with u.s." said
they, this is the last inn in tho journey of
life; tomorrow wo shall arrive at our long
homo" Grivct accepted the invitation, and
supped heartily. Desirous to sleep as well,
he retired to the remotest corner of the cave,
and, burying himself in his straw, seemed not
to bestow thought on his approaching fate
The morning arrived; tho othor prisoners
were tod together and led away without Griv-
cts peroeiving anything, or being perceived.
Fast asleep, envelopod in his straw, he moi
thcr saw nor was seon. The door of the oavo
was looked; and when he awoko awhile after,
he was in the utmost astonishment to find
himself in perfect solitude Tho day passed,
and no new prisoners were brought into the
cave. The next was the dooade, whom the
judges did not sit, nor did they, for some 9TH
or reason, sit tho following day. Grivet re.
mainod all the time in his solitude, subssting
on some scattered provision which he found
about the cave, aud sleeping every night with
the same tranquility as tho first. On the
evening Of the fourth day the turnkey
bro: :,ght in a new prisoner, and became as one
thunder-struck on sceing man, or, as he
almost beloved it, spirit in tho cave He
called the sontiuels, who instantly appeared.
"Who art thou ?" said he to Grivet, "and
how contest thou herc7' Grivet answered
that he had been there for days: Doubt.
less" he added, "whcn my companions in
misfortune were led away to death, slept and
heard nothing, and no ono thought to awaken
me- 1t was my misfortune, since all would
now have boon past, whereas I have lived
with the prospect Of death always before mo
but tho misfortune will now undoubtedly bo
repaired since | see you. "Thc turnkey
hastened to the tribunal to excuse himself for
what had happened. Griyot was summoned
before it; he was interogatod anow 1t was
moment of lcnity with the judges, and ho was
at liberty.
An instance onoe occurred of escape aftor
condemnation whioh deserves to be mention.
cd, because tho fact is both remarkable and
well attcstcd. a number Of persons were re.
turning back to prison after sentence had
been passed upon them that they wcro to be
guillotincd the next morning. Thoy were,
according to custom, tio! ny tho hands, two
and two, with cord and were escorted by a
guard. In thcir way they wcro met by wo.
man, who, with loud cries, reclaimed her hus.
band, asserting that he was good patriot
and had boon unjust!y condemned and she
could bring proofs Of Ills patriotism, known
to all tho world. 1t SO happened that the
judge who had condemned the prisoners pass
od by at that moment, and, hearing the clam
ors OF the women inquired what could occa
sion them. This being explained, and tho
Judge very happily being in moro mercifu
humor than usual, said that good patriot
must not be executed, and if the woman's as.
sertlons were true, it was very right that her
husband should be released lie aooordine
ly ordered tho man to bo unbound and
brought to him, whom he asked several quos,
tlons respecting his patriotism, and what he
had done for tho good of the republic to all
which he received answers 30 satisfactory,
that no declared him to be a good sans. .cul.
otto, unjustly condemned, and ordered him to
bo set at liberty on the spot. This affair, as
may be easily imagined, soon drew number
of people together, SO that tho prisoners woro
mingled promiscuousy with tho multitude
Tho companion with whom tho man had
boen yokod finding himself single and unob.
served, tho oyes and attention Of all present
being now otherwise engaged, thought that
favorable opportunity of escape was presen
ted; thrusiing, therefore, the hand which had
! tho cord round it into his waistooats, that the
cord might not be seen, which would havo be.
trayed him, he, with great coolness ,nado his
way through the crowd as if he had been
spectator only, drawn among them by curiosi.
ty When he found himself at liberty, he
nc hastened to the port, which was not far off,
and jumping into boat, ordered tho boat
man to row in oil haste to place which he