Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-16
LAST MOMENTS OF ROSSEL AND
FERRE.
Touching Seenca.

ST. Brieuc, Brittany; his father being Fren n,
Ga sOldier,) and his mother Scotch, "a Camp
belly He had two sisters, one 20, and the other,
Sarah, IL, his favorite, whom he used ID call his
little baby. After prOnouncing their decision,
the members of the Con- mission of Pardon left
Versailles on Sunday. sossel's father made an
appeal TO the president of the Commission, n
Martel, which must have been painful in the
extreme for both parties. Rossel himself, whose
energy and calm reflection had been ia no degree
shaken by his danger, prevented any useful in.
reference, for he wrote week ago TO II. THEIRS,
stating in substance:
Il know that attempts are being mad, to save
my life. am not insensible to these attempts
for which L thank the Commission and the
President. But hold with unbending deter
miRation that life should not be purchased at
the price of dsif5Rcr. So, if YOU cannot grant
NE two things-life and non-degradationVtake
my life. l care no longer for it. declare to
you that would never forgive any one, no mat
ter whom, who should infiict upon me a depra-
dat'on TO which will not submit. NY FRANK
must not offend the President, for il is
better to speak out and be understood"
Sunday ROssel and Ferre were visited by a
legal functiOnary who took down an exact ac-
count of their birth, parentage, and careers in
life. They understood that it was a preparation
for death, and Rossel called the attention of his
pastor, NJ. Passa, TO the civil garments which he
had hard upon his bed, and observed, "You sec
that when shall bare my breast and exclaim
Fire there it will be my own shirt, and not that
OF the prison" He then handed to NJ. Passa
copy of his little book entitled, "rhe Defence of
Metz, and the Struggle to the End" with this
inscription: ITO NJ. Tn. Passa, minister of tn.
Reformed religion; testimony of gratitude and
friendship, L. Rossel;" and there was aided the
verse from Job iv., "Behod, thou hast instruct
cd many, and tbou hast strengthened the weak
hands" Up Ia Friday last Rossel had only seen
the members of his family through the bars
which separate prisoners from their visitors on
the occasions when interviews are permitted.
NJ. Passa obtained permission for Rossei to take
his last farewell OF his relatives in the cell
where prisoners see their counsel. The direc-
tor of the prison and the pastor were present,
and the scene was intensely painful. The father,
resisting his own Impotence, thrust forward
the mother and the two sisters into the arms
OF his son, who pressing the hands of each in
turn. exclaimed, "Take them, take them; alas
ave but two;'' and then, to conceal his tears
h buried his face in his hands, and his bosom
swelled with suppressed emotion. 81 love them
50 cs ly," said he to the pastor when they had
Before leaving, the father had blessed his son,
adding. "GOd be with you, and keep YOU"
Yes. father" replied kossel. "may God be
mo- ow. "Oh, tomorrow said Rossel in a
graz an broken tone. IL was then that, filed
will sinister presentments, the father saw NJ.
Tliers upon his return from Rouen. On the
10 owing night, Sunday, as IL was feared that
tn execution might be fixed for Monday, NJ
Ro>sel. ST., left his house and went to that of
Pastor Passa, in order to assure himself that his
attends nee was not required for that day. The
family still nursed hOpes-the father mother
sist rs, all in turn fastening hither and thither,
maj ing supplcatOns, which, while it broke
who m they labOred. The last days OF the pris-
oner were marked with the same calm coinage
that he has displayed throughout - reading
Charles XII, Corneille, Calvin, whom he pas
siOr ately revered, Schiller's Thirty Years War,
TennysOn's Poems in English, and an old book
OF Irayers peculiar to the Cevennes, the home
of his paternal ancestors.
He made his will and left special legacies-
that is Of notes and writings, for Rossei never
Lived life OF pleasure. The prison authorities
had entertained fears lest he should have re- ,
course to suicide, and when NJ Passa referred to
this Rossel answered, 81 commit suicide! That
would he to end like a loy2-stricken barbern As
Il e Governor of the prison seemed still uneasy
upon the point, ROssel took up piece OF glass,
which he had picked up i'm the exercise ward
and observed, "That would have been sufficient
bad any intention ofsuicide;" and then placing
the glass in piece ofpaper, he handed it to the
Governor, adding, "Have no fear; shall die in
open day."
Ills last days were spent in study, and his con-
versation turned upon the most serious subjects
"The b medicines life is gay one" said he
"This cell is complete future If it were not SO
narrow and near to eternity" His simple be-
haviour, free from all bOasting, excites the re-
spect Of all and iustiies the saying OF NJ. Bar
thelemy de ST. Hilaire, that "Rossel is man
whose hand We grasp even when we shoot him"
FeTre II described as being feverish and excited
and even when he seems calm it is evidently hut
An assumption. His bearing has become some
what notified since he has had the advantages
Of the Able Folley's services.
To an inquiry whether he expected to obtain
any confession or to reconcile him with heaven
the able replied; Possibly; If you knew the
sudden changes which sometimes occur in these
nntamed minds" During the last few days
Ferre has written many letters TO NJ. Theirs and
the ministers, endeavOring to procure some al
yantaees for his brother, a convict like himself,
but who has become insane. 1t Is All unhappy
family, the Ferries. The father also Is prisoner
at the hulks. His daughter was arrested and
only released in time to reach the death-bed of
her mother, who died broken-hcarteJ and in
sane. Since then Mile Ferre has acted bravely
working hard all the week to earn 20f. to give
her brother. On Saturday last she brought him
tie affectionate offering, and ''Alas!" said the
Able Foley, al dared not tell her that her
brother would not want it."