Middletown transcript., 1874-01-31
Lafayette at Olmuts

At the ead Of the period, Lafayette,
Gen. Maubourg, and De Pusy were re-
moved to Silssia. and finally. upon the con-
elusion Of peace between France and Prus-
sia, they were delivered back to Austria
and incarcsrated 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 num-
bsrs upon the doors Of their cells. The
walls Of these cells were twelve feet thick !;
the air was admitted by loop-holes two
feet square, which looked upon stagnaut
ditch. from which was cxhaled a poisonous
efluvium. 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. Up
on the outward walls we're placed eight
sentrics, with orders on pain Of hun
dred lashes, to speak no word to the pris-
ouers, and to shoot them dead if they at
tempted 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 crumblsd 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 only
furniture. When il raised, the water ran
through the loop-holes and wetted them
to the skin. In this horrible abode La
fayetts became wasted by disease. At the
same time his estates in France were con-
fscated and his wife cast into prison.
Thus did grateful Republic reward his
services and sacrifices. Lally Tollendal
alene exerted himself in his behalf, and in
1893 engaged, in London, one DR.. Boil.
land, Hanoverian of great sagacity and
courage, to attempt his liberation. At
this time. however, not even the place Of
bis confinement was known, and Bolland's
first expedition to Germany failed to elu-
cidate tue mystery A second, under
taken in the following year, proved more
successful. AT Vienna he accidentally
encountered q young American named
Huger, to whom he confided his plans,
and in whom be feand keen and enthu
siastic ally. The two adventursrs. under
the character of travellers travelling for the
benefit Of their health, and to see the
country, established themselves in the
town ofOlmutz. There they made friends
with the jailer of the castle, and CLEANED
certain important particulars from him
concerning the habits Of the prisoners.
The rigcr Of Lafayette's incarceration had
been Of late much relaxed he was per-
mittsd the use of books. of pens and paper.
and also. under an escort, to take tho air,
even beyond the walls. By permission
Of the jailer, who saw nething suspicious
in such circumstance, the two friends
sent him some books, accompanied by a
note. in which they apologized for the
liberty they had taken, hoped the books
would prove interesting. &c. Suspesting.
from the tone Of the letter. that more wss
meant than met the eye. Lafayette care.
fully examined the volumes and found
them to contain certain marks and words
artfully blended With the text, which ac-
quaiuted him with the designs Of the
sendcrs. A correspondence. which. from
its very openncss, created no suspicion,
was thus commenced and continued, with
the exchange Of books. In his rides be-
yond the walls b B was now accompanied
only BY single officer and an attendant,
who usually Jagged some distance behind.
By means Of sympathetic ink Bolland
and Hugsr acquainted him with the plan
of escape they had devised, so that be was
fully prepared when, on certain morn
ing, as he was ont for his airing, they
rode up to him on horseback, holding a
third horse by The bride. "Seiss this
horse and you are free ~ cried Hugcr.
The officer, now fully alive to the danger
Of his position. drew bis sword. Lafay-
ette seized him and struggle ensued
The CLEAN of the weapon frightened the
riderless horse, who broke his bride and
galloped away. Leaping to the ground
Huger hcroically insisted upon Lafayette
mounting his horse, named to him the place
Of rendezvous, fifteen miles off. where q
chaise was waiting to convey them over
the Austrian border, and sprang up be-