Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-12-22
LAFAYETTE AT OLMUTZ.

moved to Silesia, and finally, upon the
conclusion of peace between France and
Prussia, they were delivered back to
Austria and incarcerated in separate
dungeons at Olmutz. Here they were
informed that they would never again
leave the walls of the fortress, that they
would never again hear human voice,
that their very names would never again
be mentioned, that they would only be
known by the numbers upon the doors
of their cells. The walls of these cells
were twelve feet thick the air was ad-
mitted by loop-holes two feet square,
which looked upon a stagnant ditch, from
which was exhaled poisonous efauvi-
um. In large hall, without their doors,
was stationed guard of five and twenty
men, who were forbidden to utter a
sound of any kind while on duty. Upon
the outward walls were placed eight SEN
tries, with orders, on pain of a hundred
lashes, to speak no word to the prisoners,
and to shoot them dead if they attempt
to escape Each cell had two doors, one
of iron and one of wood, both covered
with bolts, bars and padlocks Each
day every corner was examined with the
utmost minuteness. Their very bread
was crumbled to pieces by the officer on
guard, to prevent the possibility of any
note being thus delivered. A bed of rot
ten straw, swarming with vermin, and a
broken chair and table, formed their on
ly furniture. When it rained, the water
ran through the loop. holes and wetted
them to the skin. In this horrible abode
Lafayette became wasted by disease. At
the same time his estates in France were
confscated and his wife cast into prison.
Thus did grateful Republic reward his
services and sacrifices Lally Tollendal
alone exerted himself in his behalf, and
in 1893 engaged, in London, one Doctor
Ballman, Hanoverian of great sagacity
and courage, to attempt his liberation.
At this time, however, not even the place
of his confinement was known, and Ball
mans first expedition to Germany fail
ed to elucidate the mystery. A second,
undertaken in the following year, prov
ed more successful. At Vienna he acci-
dentally encountered a young American
named Huger, to whom he confded his
plans, and in whom he found keen and
enthusiastic ally. The two adventures,
under the character of travellers travel
ing for the benefit of their health, and
to see the country, established them
selves in the town of Olmutz There
they made friends with the jailor of the
castle, and CLEANED certain important
particulars from him concerning the hab-
its of the prisoners. The rigor of Lafay-
ette's incarceration had been of late
much relaxed /; he was permitted the
use of books, of pens and paper, and al
so, under an escort, to take the air, ever
beyond the walls. By permission of the
jailor, who saw nothing suspicious il
such a circumstance, the two friends
sent him some books, accompanied by /;
note, in which they apologized for the
liberty they had taken. hoped the book.
would prove interesting, &c. Suspecting
, from the tone of the letter, that NOR,
was meant than met the eye, Lafayett,
carefully examined the volumes ant
/ found them to contain certain marks ant
: words artfully blended with the text
which acquainted him with the design
of the senders. A correspondence, which
7 from its very openness, created no suspi
| cion, was thus commenced and continu
= ed, with the exchange of books. In hi
, rides beyond the walls he was now &C
companied only by single officer AM
an attendant, who usually Jagged som
distance behind. By means of sympa
| thetic ink Bolland and Huger acquaint
, ed him with the plans of escape the.
7 had devised, so that he was fully pr
l pared when, on certain morning, as
: was out for his airing, they rode up t
S him on horseback, holding third hors
/ by the bridle s.Seize this horse an
: you are free p cried Huger. The officer
now fully alive to the danger of his pc
sition, drew his sword. Lafayette seiz
e ed him and struggle ensued. Th
J CLEAN of the weapon frightened the ri
t derless horse, who broke his bride an
galloped away. Leaping to the groun
Huger heroically insisted upon Lafayett
mounting his horse, named to him th
e place of rendezvous, fifteen miles of
IS where a chaise was waiting to coEye
|. them over the Austrian border, an
n sprang up behind Bolland. The tw
IT gentlemen had not galloped far whe
: their horse stumbled and threw Bollan
s to tie ground, severely hurting hin
IS Once more Huger played the hero-r,
Il mounted his friend and. trusted himse
II to the feetness of his feet. But he ws
( quickly overtaken and captured. In tt
h meantime Lafayette had unhappily mi
le taken the road, and, being purposel
10 misdirected by a peasant, who, from h
re manner and appearance, sutspeced hi
IN to be an escaped prisoner, after circu
of ,,,;lac fo.z.ad Lxa,colf ho clz q