The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-04-17
THE DAILY EVENING TEEGR PHILADELPHIA MONDAY APP
COLONEL 0oRHIN.

COLVNAL OOh fLH.
Colonel Corvin, q German gentleman who
has Just published his memoirs, which are very
entertaining. Here is one of his adventures:
He was educated at the Prussian Military
Academy, but, though he became an officer
Of the army, he was at heart democrat,
and in 1848 took part in revolutionary
movement against the Government OF
Baden. 1t failed, and he was COM
PEELED to surrender at discretion, and was at
once arrested and put in prison as a traitor
Corvin's wife, brave woman, had
accompanied him, as many other wives had
accompanied their husbands, on this expedi-
ton Madame Corvin worked heaven and
earth, rs the phrase goes, forced her way
into the presence of the Princess of Prussia,
attacked Count Groeben, and was thrust
aside as importunate. Before the surrender
she was heroic enough to bid her husband
"blow out his brains sooner than surrender
to the Prussians." But she rejoioed that her
advice had not been followed. When she saw
him in his prison, she said:-"n you must
die, know you will die like man." At last
his long-deferred trial came round. The
Baden Government was dealing with him,
yet the court was composed of Prussisn
officers and sergeants. Colonel CorviR made
an eloquent speech of two hours in his
own defense, but it was q foregone conclu-
sion. He was found guilty, ''by FIVE voices to
one condemned to be shot, and to pdg the
costs" AS they drove away past the hotel of
the place he heard cry from a window, and
a white hand was waved to him. He was
thrust into the condemned cell. It was Sat-
urdayj and as no executions were allowed on
Sundays, and Monday would be too long a
grace, he knew he would be shot that night.
About four hours then remained to him. Be-
side him was little tumbled litter, from
which poor Lieutenant Schad had risen that
morning for his sentence The jailer asked
with sepulchral voice:-
"Would he have anything, or see a clergy
man?"
The reply was an order for good dinner,
good bottle of wine, a dozen cigars, and
writing paper. His gallant wife now arrived
She had forced her way into the grand dukes
palace, but he would not see her. With an
ingenious cruelty, all the princes, before the
insurrection was put down, had divested
themselves formally of the prerogative of
mercy, and relegated it to the hands of the
chief soldiers. When she got to the prison,
they had the execution dinner served, which
was furnished at the expense of the city.
She had little plan for his escape, but he
refused to avail himself of it. They were
then told that the execution was put off
until Monday. So here was grateful respite.
Late at night, however, came the sound of
many tramping feet, and two officers called
him out to speak to him. She heard their
whisperings. 1t was to tell him that all had
been changed, and that he must be ready to
be shot at half-past in the morning.
She heard every word. They were to come
for her at 3. The agony of the interval may
be conceived. The brave woman, however,
knew that if she gave way she would only un-
nerve him. He held her in his arms all the
time; and, the only thought that came upon
her was, that what she felt so warm and
living would, by o'clock, be cold, dead, and
inanimate.
At three she was taken away. She knocked
at the house of some friendly citizens
''They opened to me. After these good people
had lain down again at my request, stood al
the open window alone, despairingly Watching
the coming morning, and listening to every
sound. felt as cold as stone, but did not
lose consciousness. The clock struck one
quarter-half-three quarters-four He has
only one half hour left to him. Then heard
the report of some shots-the people in the
house heard them also-and 1 fell senseless
to the ground, as if they had pierced my
heart ALSO" What terribly dramatic pic
| ture!.
The prisoner was quite composed, having
faced death very often. He made his little
preparations. At dawn he heard footsteps
and the mayor and officers entered.
| II am quite prepared, gentlemen, he said
'No, my friend" said the voice of the
counsel who had defended him, 1--WE bring you
better news"
The honest lawyer had worked hard through
the night; had gone to Carlsruhe and obtained
a reprieve. Corvin's sentence was commuted
and he passed six years in penal servitude ol
the most terrible kind. He was at last re
leased, though his health was utterly shat
tered, and has lived to write these entertain
ing volumes.