Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1872-02-15

Tue EXECUTION OF Louis xvI.-Tho
fOllawsRg extract descriptive of the exccu-
tion Of Louis XVI is from Louis Blans,s
hstAsy Of she French Rerslasisn: a II
A. ten minutes past 10 the procession
reached the feet OF the seatioli. I, had
been. ereGed il front Of the palace of thu
Tgileries, in the square called after Louis
XIV. and near the spot where stood t'.s
statue Of 'he mos, corrapt Of kings--a king
who died TRANQUILITY ia Aisbed. The COZ
dennsi was three minutes descending from
the carriage.
Upon quitting the temple he lad re-
fused the riding Goa; which Clery haa offer
ed hhn. ami aow appeared in brewa cs<ss.
white vaisscoat. gray breechcs. and white
stockings. His hair vas MT disordered,
Fner was any change .perceptsble In hia
IcSsansensaee. TIE kSss firasoas was
dressed in black. A large open spacs
had bren kept open around tue scaaold.
with cannon ranged on every side, whiio
! beneath. IS far rs the eve could reach,
stool an unarned multitude gazing.
/ Descending from the carriage. Louis
/ fixed his eyes upon the soldiers who sur
tiounicd him. and with menasing voioc
cried, Silence" The drums ceased to
; beat, hut st signal from their officer IN,
drummers again wen, on. What trea-
son is ,hist' he shouted. Il am los, I
an lott" Forit was cviiea, up to this
moment he had been clingin, to hope.
! Tlie cxccutioncrs row approached G,
take of part Of his clothes: he repulscd
them fercely. aud himself removed tho
collar from his neck. But all the blood
I in his frame seemed to be turnel into fire
when they sought t. tie his hands. "Tle
my hands :" he shriekcl. A struggle was
inevitable--it came. 1T is inlispu,able."
says Mercier. that Louis XVI foaght
with his exccutioucrs." The Able Else-
worth stood by pcrp'exci horriiel. speech
less. At last a. his master seemed t. look
, lnquiriug'y i. him. h. said: "Sir. in
this additional outrage | only zee last
trait Of tho resemblance between your
majesty and the God who will give you
your reward"
At these words the Indignation of The
man gave way to the humility of the Chris
tan. aud Louis said to the execut;oner.
Il viii drain the cup TO the dregs y
They tied his hands. they cut offhs hair.
and thnn. leaning on the arm of his con-
fcssor, he began. with slow tread and sun
Ken drmcanor. To monnt the ssepS-thcn
very styer-of the eu;l'otinc. Upon tho
last step. however, he seemed Suddenly
to rouse. ami wall; scroSs TO the other sido
Of the scatInld. when. after "a sign com
maaliug silence. he exclaimed, Il die
innoc mt OF the crimes imputed 70 -
His face was now very red, and according
TO the narrative of his confcssor. his voice
was so loud that il could be heard as far
as the Pont ToUrnant.
Some other expressions were heard -
81 pardon the authors of my dea,h. and
pray heaven that the blood Won are about
to she'd may never be visited upon Franco" +"
: Ito was about to continue when his voico
was. drowned by the renewed rolling Of
the drums. at 4 signal which it is aver
red was given br the comedian DGrayon.
in anticipation of the orders Of Santerre -
'"SIcnco; be si,eut.' cried Louis XVI,
losing all scit-control and stamping vio-
icutly with his foot Richard, one of the
iexocuti"ners. then seized pistol and
took aim at the king. 1t was necessary
to drag him along BY force With difficult
" fastened 10 the fatal 'ank. he continued
ITO utter terrible cries. only interrupted by
the fail o; the knife