The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1873-01-30
FRExCH COMVlGIs.
T,,rtfsing Sreses as fsa CIosisS OF tise
Ragne Of 1O0lO0.

The Pans correspondence of The New |
York !Sus thus describes the scenes at the |
final closing of the famous criminal estab- |
lishment OF the famous Bagne of T0ul0n:
On the 18th of December, 1872, the last
Corty-oue prisoner were removed from the |
Baans of Toulon, and that famous establish
me ut. 20 long the terror of French criminals,
and which has been fruitful source Of har-
rowing subjects to the ablest romancists and
poets of France, vas closed lerevefmore.
The ecene when this great place of woe, and
there can be no doub; in many instances, of
revolving cruelty, vas closed, was interesting
and thrilling in the extreme.
President Thien, in accordance wi;h the
Law pessed some time ago in the National
cent on the aforementioned day
three Commissioners to the Bagne for the
purpose of either setting free or superintend
ing the transfer of the remaining csnvic:s to
q man-of-war that was to convey them TO the
penal colony of Cayenne. All Of the forty
one convicts had been sentenced TO penal
servitude for life, and they wore rs an en-
bIem OF their doom, the green cap, while q
chain three feet and half long was fastened
TO their left wrist and ankle When the
shrill notes of the steam whistle ut the re-
pairing shop in the Esgue announced the
hour OF noon ON Christmas Day, the three
Commissioners, Messs. Durivage, La.ont
and Querigues, repaired to the rotunda
where the forty convicts were drawn up
in line. The latter were still unaware Of
what was about to happen, and most of their
faces expressed considerable suspense when
the three Commissioner. accompanied by
several prison officials, made their appear
ance, while some Of the older couvic.s, whoee
senses, long confinement, brutal treatment
and utter despair had blunted, stared with
stolid indifference at the new corners.
NJ. Durivage took his stand in trent OF the
dreary line, and spoke as follows:
'Convicif:-The National Assembly has
decreed the removal of you all to Cayenne.
Thirty-one of you, convicted of murder,
arson or robbery, will he transported to the
South American colony. The remaining
ten will be set At liberty through the Glenn
ency of His Excellency, the President of
the Republic. l will now read the list of
names Of the latter"
sued. Despite the admonition of the keep
ers, the prisoners crowded arouad NJ. Duri-
wage and his colleagues. Some of them ut
tered exclamations Of intense surprise, while
others clasped their hands, thereby causing
horrible clanking Of chains. All eyes were
rive.ed on NJ. Durivage as he now read of
the names of those who were destined to the
happiness of regaining their liberty, which
they believed 70 have lost forevermore. A
the names were read CT, the happy con-
Yicts, with only two or three exceptions,
broke into demonstrations of unbounded de-
light. Some danced around like madme1,
while others burst into team, throwing them
selves On their knees and praying in loud
tones Of profound agitation.
When the Ten names had at last been an
nourced, those who we're to remain in dur
ance manifested their rage and disappoint-
ment in equally singular ways. There
were tears and cries of heartrending despair,
and there were also curses too blasphemOus
10 repeat. The keepers, At sign from the
Commissioners. dragged them to an adjoin
ing corridor, beating them with their sucks,
and threatening them with still more severe
measures IN case they should continue vio-
laiing the rules of the Bagne.
Meanwhile three blacksmiths began to
strike of the shack.es from the limbs of the
pardoned convicts. This is always s,me-
what painful operation, and some of The
convic,s uttered stifed cries as the sledge
hammers fell upon the rings of their chains.
At last all of them we're unfettered. Even
the prison officials, hardened a. they we're,
could not help looking with emotion upon
the poor wreiches who had suffered no much
and 40 long. There was not one among
them but had been an inmate of the Bsgne
for upward of twenty years. One Of them,
A -. E.>rnn I'D eha.o
The criminal code of France formerly
punished evil doors with extreme cruelty.
Freron was a pick-pocket He had been
logged for his FIRST offense for his second
offeDse he had been exhibited in the piIlory
with three cornered paper cap, bearing the
inscription "Thiei" on his head, and had,
moreover, been crually branded, with red
hot iron on his left shoulder. This severe
lesson was not yet sufficient, and being
caught again in picking pockets, he was cent
as u rccidJ to the Bagne for life. Such a
fate then was horrible in the extreme. Fro
ron was branded on the back with the omin-
Gus letters ct. F." meaning Truraur Forces.
and with his neck in the chsin-gang of the
recent convicts, sent On loot on his long
way fran ID. jon to Toulon. In the Bsgne,
during the forty seven years of his imprisor-
mont ne never silent In a bed but alvays IN
. wooden bench. He never heard n,nsic eI-
cont in The nrison ch.pel and he never ,as.-
ed sugar, butter, milk or spirits, while his
er,Tb,d TO FURNISH n tv;cc a veek in order
70 keen II bright and c;eani What a fate
And vet the aid m,n--for ne il now in his
si,,r-e;vb,b vesr-had rarely been s;ck ard
is now bale and hearty. He expressed al
mot cb;Id;sh del;,ht yben ,ald tha, he va.
,rse and aid he honed he miobt meet same
of ii. r.l.,iv.s .1ain At Diem. Poor Old
man Who v;ii still remember him tbere9
Two Of the other conyicts. Brnardin CT.
ve,,e .od Onion R,,,ier seemed n,,e,lr
tsoL., do~n in .n;r;, Thev nor. ho,i
and hsd bebared haS,v in
n.;.on In c,,.snnaoce ,Lov had fre,ys,,.
T. bsen nnn;shed in ,he M, ron, man.
n.r .na R,tt;r. had 81. ,..sn chained
20 ,hs a,or Of Tho dnro. m for a month h.
inc unable n .,.n5 nm The teen.rs e..
,,,s.s.,i ,he;r 5;s.,,;sf.ction r;,b The rsIs...
r. 49, to -onv;ct. an, nred;ctsd ,hsv
~,,,iJ .oon \. IL ,rnuhIs sg.;n Roth
~ 'hsr, ioot.J doo,ed and deesnt and ,bev
~ mt ~. I5O franc. mat we're handed to each
P". ~ ~. -" 49,. ;.,o 80. ,o.t.,.
. ":,so.'. Iom.,;.. er -, Iaok;n~ ., I,
"' a. o;cIoci IN. ,sl.,.sS nr;soner. had
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ifmr,;si.J hem ard Xer. e.cor.ed nv .