The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-07-13
LIFE AND DEATH.
PHE MASSACRE OF THE PRIESTS IN LA Ro
QUETTE PRISON.

The following extract is from private
letter, and the particulars it contains are
based upon the information supplied by
Pere Bazin and the Able Petit, who were
prisoners in the Mazas and La Roquette
The commune, fearing that the regulars
would rescue the hostages, transferred
them to La Roquette, situated in Belle
vile, the wickedest part of Paris, where
they expected to hold out the longest.
The prisoners were crowded into carts to
make this change Able Petit heard
his name pronounced in a low, kind voice
by another prisoner he did not recognize.
It was the Archbishop, much changed by
sickness, confinement and privation
Able Petit was his Secretary General
At La Roquette, all the prisoners were
put together into a common hall, and the
meeting is spoken of with intense JOY and
consolation. All went to confession and
received Holy Communion for, thanks
to Pere Matigon and pious lady, the
blessed sacrament had been brought to
them in a cream jug with false bottom.
Each father had his reserve of consecra-
ted hosts in a linen bag, worn around his
eek, and, at this meeting, some who had
been hitherto deprived of this supreme
consolation had the happiness of sharing
it. Monseiguer Surat was one of these.
In his humility he had not dared to &C.
cept the proposals made to him on the
subject by the nuns of the Sacred Heart,
fearing an exception. He said, "Oh, if l
had known what strength | should have
found" The Archbishop was humble,
cordial, like simple priest. All made
generously the sacrifice of their lives
Monse1gneur Surat is spoken of as the
apostle of the Divine will. The next
day they again met in their new cenGcze.
The Archbishop and Monseigneur Surat,
whether purposely or not, seem to have
been the worse treated and were ex-
hausted by want of food. Able Petit
got courageous messenger to bring a
good dinner for them, which they diYid-
ed with the rest. On the Oath they all
prayed to the Blessed Virgin as people
pray at the hour of death, remembering it
was on that day she heard Plus V. That
evening the sound as of terrible out
break round the prison thrilled them
with horror. Soon name was called.
It was that of the first victim. P. Balm
does not know the name. He passed out
Then the next-it was for citizen Darboy
(the Archbishop The Archbishop gave
his blessing and went out, too, with
peace and dignity that could only come
from God The Able Duguerry waited,
holding his last consecrated host in his
hand. His name was called, he con-
sumed the host, and ended his thanksgiv
ing in heaven. President Beauiln was
one of those executed that evening, The
next day, Thursday, the surviving prIso-
ners passed the afternoon together as
usual. Pere Olivaint was as cheerful as
ever, keeping up the courage of the
others, especially trying to comfort Mon
seigneur Surat, who was terribly shock
ed and grieved at the death of his fifth
Archbishop, and suffering from heart dis
ease, so that his color and features were
quite changed. He thanked the fathers
for their kind words with his usual kind
ness and gratitude. That day passed. On
the goth (Friday) they agreed, should
any call be made in any, white paper
was to be shown at the window. The
prison yard being round, they could see
all the opposite windows. In the after
noon white paper was seen in window.
/ forget whose, but I think it was the
Able Petit's. He made signs that sixteen
priests names were called for execution.
Pere Olivaint, De Bepgy and Caubert
were of the number. The Able Petit
waited with sacred host in his hand,
but not hearing his name called, put the
host back IN his little bag, to be his com
panion to the end Those taken were
walked about the streets to the sound Of
internal music, and then taken to an old
cemetery, turned into an infamous gar
den, where their pure blood was to wash
out some of the iniquities of the place,
The Dominicans were exhorted by their
Superior to suffer for the love Of God
On the conclusion of the eXecution-Which
included forty or fifty gendarmes, who
had all confessed to the fathers-the
wretches who had murdered them resnm
ed their music and danced like fends
round them. Many women and children
had run to see the sight. Can we wol-
der that Paris is punished with such wick
ickness in it? The next day (eve of
Pentecost) the jailor told the priests who
remained that all the thieves were to be
let out by order of the commune, and chat
if they wished to run the fearful risk it
was they might 60 out toe. Pere Bazin
saw Monseigneur Surat cross the court.
He was dressed in hissoutane and buckled
shoes. The fathers called to him, and
represented, either by words or signs,
the imprudence of the costume. But he
disappeared, and they never saw him
again. he leftrtliespFison after chang.
ing his soutane-w a2ch he cared ike a
bundle under his arnl-with aaother
Vicar General and the Able Petit. The
stateof the street was fearful, The Able
Petit thought the prison preferable, and