The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-05-12
The Victims Of La ROquette.

They had to pass through a gate
leading to the outer Enclosure, and here
there was n painful delay, while the
key was procured from the interior OF
the prison TO unlock it, and as soon as
We, too, had passed this barrier, and
come to tho entrance OF the second
clemn de rondc on the right side, we
knew that the last scene OF the tragedy
was before us, for on the dark stone
wall at the end there stood out in strong
relief O white marble slab surmounted
by cross. We walked toward it over
the stones which paved the centre,
while against the wall on either side
were borders OF flowers which had evi-
IDENTIFY been cultivated with great care.
l asked tho garden II these blooming
plants had been growing there when
the victims and their executioners pass
ed along. mo" he said, "there was
nothing OF what you see now. | plant
ed these myself afterward, and l tend
them daily-it is little mark OF honor
to this holy place" And holy, in truth,
1t seemed, for it was like walking up
the nave Of a cathedral toward IN altar
OF sacrifice, rs we advanced nearer and
nearer TO the goal. When we were
within about twenty PAGES Of the end,
the garden put his hand oil my arm
and stopped me, pointing downward.
| saw at my feet a stone gutter which
how or why l know not-was stained
dark and red. tHere tho firing party
took up their position, lie said "yon
see how close they were TO the victims.
He went little aside, and placing
himself against the angle Of the prison
wall, "Here Ferre stood, " he continued,
"as with q loud voice he gave the order
to the National Guards to fire." Finally
the garden walked n few steps further
on, and taking of his hat, lie held 1t in
his hand, and made the sign Of the
cross, while he said, "And here-."
Then he was silent, aud there was no
need that he should finish his sentence;
the gentleman who was with me uncoy-
cred also, and not word was spoken
by any Of us for some minutes, What
we saw was this-a very high wall Of
dark stone which, at distance of about
five feet from the ground, was deeply
marked with the traces OF balls which
must have struck it in vast numbers
within the space of q few yards from
right to left, and in the centre of the
portion thus indelibly scored was tho
white marble slab we had seen from
the other end. Below, four Expresses
had been planted, inclosing the oblong
space where the victims stood the two
nearest to tho wall had completely
withored AWAY, rs though they refused
to live and flourish on the very spot
where the innocent blood had been
shed, but the other two were fresh and
vigorous, and had sent out many a
strong green shoot, seeming to symbo.
lie, as II were, those lives trnnsplanted
to that other cline where they might
yet revive in the free airs OF Paradise,
TO die no more.
When we had stood some time in the
midst of the peculiar stiffness which
seemed all around this solemn place,
the garden gave me few details OF
tho final moments. He said that the
condemned men were placed in line
with their backs to the wall where the
bullet marks now were: Monsieur Bon
jean stood first on the right, Pere Clere
next to him, Monsieur Deguerry fol-
lowed, on whose other side was Pere
Ducoudray, then the Archbishop, and,
last, Monsieur Allarl. At the moment
when Ferre gave the order to fire,
Monseigneur raised his right hand, in
order with his last breath TO give the
blessing to his executioners as he did
80, Lolive, WHO stood with the firing
party, though not one Of the appointed
assassins exclaimed, "That is your
bOnediction, is it2 then here is mine"
aud firod his revolver straight at the
old mans heart. Then came the yolley,
twice repeated. The two Jesuit priests
we're the first to fall. NJ. DegueTy sunk
on his knees, and from thence lifeless
to the ground. NJ. Allard did the same,
but supported himself in kneeling
position against the wall for MI instant
before lie expired. NJ. Boniean had n
moment Of terrible convulsion, which
left him distorted heap on the earth ;
the Archbishop was the last to remain
upright. Iaskod the garden II lie had
fingered at all in his agony, and he
answered, mot M instant-he was
aifsady dead when he fell-as they all
were. "-Nacmillan's lfagasiRc.