Smyrna times., 1868-04-15
.MISceIIUXeOWS.
REMARKABLE ESCAPES.

During the horrors Of the French Revolu-
ton, tradesman at Lyons, of the name OF
Grvet, a man of mild and simple manners, was
taken to the prison one evening, and sentenced,
among number Of Others to perish the next
morning. Those who We're already in the great
dungeon pressed round the new conner to SYM
pathlZe with him, to console him, aud to fortify
HIM for the stroke he was about to encounter
but Grivet had no need Of consoation-he was
as calm and composed as if he had been in his
own house.
Come and sup with us" said they "this
Is the last Inn III the journey OF life; tomorrow
We shall arrive at our long home"
Grlvet accepted the invitation and supped
heartily. Deslrous to sleep as we'll, he retired
to the remOtest corner OF the dungeon, and
burying himself III the straw, seemed not to
bestow u thought on his approaching fate. The
morning arrived; the other prisoners were tied
together and led away without Grlvet perceiv-
ing anything, or being perceived. Fast asleep,
envelOped in his straw, he neither saw nor was
seen. The door OF the place WAS locked, and
when he awoke awhile after, he was in the ut
most astonishment to find himself in perfect
solitude.
The day passed and no new prisoners were
brought into the Jail. The next was the de
cade, when the Judges did not sit nor did
they Tor some other reason, sit the following
day. Grlvet remained all the time in his soil
tude, subSisting on some SC uttered provisions
which he found about the place, and sleeping
every night with the same tranquility as the
first. On the evening of the fourth day tue
turnkey brought il new prisoner, and became
as one thunuerstruck on seeing Il man, or, aS
ne almost believed 1t, spirit III the cell lie
called the ScntlnelS, who instantly appeared
Who art thou p said he to Grivet; aud
how comeSt thou here p
Grivet answered that he had been there for
four days.
Doubtless" he added, ''whcn my compan-
IONS IN misfortune Were led away to death,
slept and heard nothing, and 10 one thought
20 awaken ne. 1t was my misfortune, since
all would now have been past, whereas have
IIved with the prospect OF death always before
me; but the misfortune will undoubtedly be
soon repaired, since | now see you.
The turnkey FASTENED to the rbunal to ex
cu@e himself tor what had happened. Grivrt
was summoned before it; he WAS interr0gatud
anew. 1t WAS u mOI::ent OF lenity with the
Judges, and he was set at liberty.
An instance once occurred OF escape after
condemnation which deserves to be mentioned
because the fact is both remarkable and well
atteSted.
a number of persons were returning back
to prison alter sentence had been D ln>ud upon
them that they were to be guilIotned the next
morning. They We're, according to CUSTOM
tied blythe hands, two aud two, with cord
and were escorted by guard. GA their way
they were met by woman, who, with loud
| cries, reclaimed her husband, asserting that he
was good patriot and had been unjustly con
demned, and that she could bring proofs of his
| patriotism known to all the world. 1t 80 hap
| pened that the Judge who had condemned the
prisoners passed by at that moment, and, hear
] mn no 0lu A. ho sol
could occasion them. This being explained,
and the Judge very happily being in more
mercliul humor than usual, said that good
| patriot should not be executed, and if the wO
man 5 assertions were true, it was very right
that her husband should lie released. He ac-
| cordlngly ordered the man unbound and brought
to him, when he asked several questions re-
Spectlng his patriotism, add what he had done
for the good of the republic; to all which he
received answers so satisfactory that he de-
cared him to be a good patriot, uniustly con
demned, and ordered him to be set at liberty
on the spot. This affair, as may easily be i'm
aglned, soon drew a number of people together,
SO that the prisoners were mingled prOmScu-
ously with the crowd. The companion with
whom the man had been yoked finding him
self single and unObserved, the eyes and atten-
tention of all present being now otherwise en-
gageG, thought that favorable opportunity OF
| tSCdp0 was IiIuSlluS, tneIclOfc,
the hand which had the cord round it into
his waistcoat, that the cord might not be
seen, which would have betrayed him, he, with
great GOODNESS, made his way through the
crowd as if he had been spectator only,
drawn among them by authority.
When he found himself at liberty he hasten.
ed to the port, which was not far off, and,
jumping into boat, ordered the boatman to
row in all haste to place which he named at
the other end of the bay The boatman
obeyed; but here a difficulty arose which had
not Immediately occurred to the fugitive, that
he had not SO much as a sou in his pocket to
pay his fare; for, when any one was arrested
whatever money he might have about him, OF
anything else of value, was immediately taken
away as conhscated property.
What was to be done in a situation so EN-
barrassing? He did not lose his presence Of
mind but, feeling in his pocket, said, with
well-attected surprise, that it was very unlucky
but he had forgotten his purse and had not any
money with him. The boatman began to sweal
aud make great outcry, saying that this wa
g was mere excuse, that he was a cheat, anc
: wanted to make him work without being paid
The fugitive then, as if sudden recollection