The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1873-02-07
THE R4TE OF Two CITIES


The Chicago fire and the burning of
Boston recall to. the student of HISTORY
tha piteous story of the destruction of
nnant and Liege BY Philip the Good
and Charles the Bold, and teach us. i in
the midst Of our losses, to be thankful
that ne do not hive in an age when, as in
fhe case of those beautiful cities, royal
caprice, without even the weak pretext
of wat, deliberately orders the destruc.
ton of populous towns, the dispersion
of the inhabitants, and the utter obliter-
ation of the names, the memory, all
traces of the vicsims In "The Fate Of
Two Cities, Mr. James W. sSheahan re-
lates, in the Lakeside Magazine for Feb
Tuary, the causes which aroused the royal
anger against Dinant and Liege-de-
scribes their costly and imposing
churches, monasteries, and public build
isgs, and gives sall the sad details Of
their destruction. How thorough and
terrible the vandalism of the act was,
may be, judged from this interesting
passage, IN which MI. Sheahan tells how
Dinart met its fate. This. city Was de-
stroyed because mob of BOYS had
burned an efigy of Charles the Bold,
son of Duke Philip the Good, and made
~ r'impstation upon his legitimacy. For
this, in 1866, on the 9th of August,
hilip destroyed the city by fire as fol-
hws: z1s--;- s~i. ri .,9l.
The army was billeted upon the in
habitants. On that day, as soon as the
dmner was completed, each soldier seized
the citizen in whose house he was lodged,
and demanded of him, upon pain of
Death, where his treasures were con-
ce.ied- For three days and nights the
saok and pillnge continued without In
efmission. Every building, room, and
ouEhouse was searched and pillaged.
Inc leaden roofs of the buildings were
removed. The horses and vehicles of
necity were taken and employed in re-
moving the plundered property to ap-
pointed places beyond the walls. On
Meryer, boats similarly laden, swarmed.
anere were many contentious and much
Diood shed between the spoilers over
thelr captured prizes. The, yindictiye
ana relentless Duke looked on unmoved
~ this scene. To his credit, however, Z
Be: It said that from the first he per
enptonly forbade any outrages on
women, and actually caused some men of
ms own guard, accused of this crime, to
oe hanged in conspicuous part of the
d'y,swhere their bodies remained sus-
Pended as a warning to others. i.
An Investigation was had as to those
o had participated in the outrage
under the walls of Bouvignes. The wit
nssaes were the people of the latter town. ]
me details Of the examination were un-
.aovn, but the. dreadful result was
rioie sacrifc Of human life. Eight
aared men, bound together in pairs,
ere thrown into the Meuse. This part
= zoe atonement was witnessed BY Philip
Wgood from his perch in Bouyignes, |
= the other side of the river. Others !
me hanged, and many killed by the
a'eis. The surviving inhabitants
..a es tnen declared the virtual slaves of |
captors. Upon every man there was |
a sum, npon the payment of which |
saent recover his freedom il unable
ms captofs could hold him OF sell
. slave. J. The women and chil-i
and the iecclesiastics, were exempt |
I'm I'm tnis bondage, and were ordered to
:, ave the city forthwith. They were not
~ ,ossd to take anything With them, saye
c'othing they had on. J In tie alter.
NJ ~ Of aug. % this procession moved
A. s gates of the city were opened, and
= women and children in long HES
ea out. They were offered an escort
Aege. whittier this same army was
s % move on precisely sinilar
a0d Behind them were fathers, hus. |