The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-12-07
Cruel kidnapping Affair.

~
Your readers will no doubt remember
the mention made of the kidnapping of
Senior BOssOt, a Frenchman, and DrODric-
tor of the Mill of Santa Fe, not far from
this capital. His capture occurred on
the 2Sth of June, while returning from
his mill, and since that period, although
many tragic rumOrs have been ah0at
respecting him, nothing of a definite or
reliable character could be learned until
about two weeks since, when, etfecting
Il most miraculous escape, he made his
appearance i'll the capital in an entire
state OF nudity, if we except the cover
ing OF tiltIland yermin, REORGANIZATION
OF his three months captivity. Some of
the incidents connected with his inhu-
man Incarceration may prove interest
ing to the readers of the Herald. AS
above stated, on the evening of the 98th
of June, Onleaving hismill, he wass seized
by four bandits in waiting, and hurriedly
conducted to the little village of Atze-
apaZaleO, not far from the historic town
Of Tacuba. Here he was forced to enter
a small Indian hut, and was at once
placed i'll a sepulcher underneath the
floor OF about two yards in dimension,
the opening being covered with boards
fastened down by large stones. All of
his clothing, was taken away, andin this
condition, chilled with the dampness of
his llYlng tomb, and sustained by only
a half dozen tOrtillas and Il half glass of
pulque per diem, he dragged out three
Wretched months, suffering every con-
celvable misery, together with the inhu-
man taunts and insults, alone the invcn-
tons of devils. For hisransOm the small
amount Of 100000, together with a suf-
ficient number Of rifles to arm his cap
tors and q certain number of their con
federates, was demanded, and the I'M
fortunate victim was told that three
months only would he allowed him to
comply with this trifing demand, upon
the failure of which he would be tortured
to death.
Not doubling the ~veracity of these
three human monsters, on the evening
OF the 23d of September (the expiration
OF the three mOnths), although in a state
OF extreme fecbleness, he determined to
make an effort at escape, trusting only,
in Providence for its successful issue.
With Il desperate energy, gathering all
his remaining strength, he succeeded in
lifting the boards with their weight of
stones from off his tomb, and, silently
dragging himself out, forced his way
through the light covering of the roof,
t1IA SS NI1AC IlOlt IjtI IlllILStl 10 DEttlLIie
the pure air OF heaven. Here he was
again obliged to encounter q double
danger-that of dropping himself from
the roof into unknown difficulties, and
also OF making noise sufficient to attract
the inmates of the hut to his unhappy
position; but his venture was a success
full one, and resulted in nothing more
serious than landing in q ditch partly
filled with mud and water, which soft
ened his fall us well as the noise accom-
panying the effort. Making his way out
of this mire he craWlcd upon his hands
and knees, for fear of being observed,
through a small garden patch and came
upon a narrow bypath leading to the
main road. Here he was Mortified to
hear approaching footsteps and voices.
Too feeble to make a run and never
doubling that his captOrs had discovered
his escape and were searching for him,
he gave himself up to despair, and on
their approach begged them most pite-
ously to shoot him at once and not re-
turn him to his horrible captivity. Con-
celye, then, his transport of joy, when
he became assured that his surprisers
were simple Indian musicians, en- route
for acOUntry ball, who, far frOm desiring
to injure him, upon learning his sad his
tory, in turn brought him upon their
backs all the way to the capital. Imme-
date steps were taken by ST. Montrel,
Governor of the district, for the arrest
of these tiendish tOrmentOrs, resulting
in five individuals being brought to trial,
and on the 10th of the present month
convictedand sentencedt0 death, among
them a boy of twelve, it is said, the most
inhuman and blOodthirsty of all. Pardon
was sought from President LerdO, and
at nine O'clock on theeveningOf the 18th
the Minister of Justice communicated to
Governor MOntrel the Presidents reso-
luton in the matter, as follows :-Naza-
rio Romero granted absolute pardon !;
JacintO Sanchez Communication of sen
tence Of death to five years. imprison-
ment; Pedro Rodriguez to two years.
Clufao Jacome, the lad of twelve years,
above mentioned, has eight years i'm
prisOnment, while only one of the five
for this most horrible crime suffers the
most just and well-merited penalty.
Does this fact need comment? We
think not. While we have been writing
this wretched sole convict for death,
Domingo Calgada, has passed, accom-
panied by a detachment of cavalry and
infantry, on his way to execution, and
ere this, no doubt, he has made expiration
with his life, for the terrible crimes of
which he has been cOndemned.-[City of
Mexico Cor, New York Herald.