Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-10-18

color was displayed. On either side o
the gate was the inscription decreed fol
all public buildings in France. including
churches Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.
The open space in front of the gate con
tains few chestnut trees, not very thrift
ty and in the center of the court are toui
large stones in the pavement, where the
frame of the fatal knife is erected.
About ten minutes after three, two huge
black vans came up and were recognized
as containing the machinery OF the exc
cutioner. With them appeared Koch,
the famous headsman, who is 4 stout
hearty, resoiute-looking man, with n
very decent face. lie wore a new silk
hat, appearing to think something in
the way of distinction necessary, was
at ease, and his orders were swiftly and
noiselessly obeyed by aids, who seemed
familiar with their duties. He is tacetiously
called by the mob, "MOnseigneur de
Paris and is 4 person OF Importance.
| There is rs much gossip about his habits,
| and As many rumors relating 10 his pri-
yate affairs, as if he were a Grand Duke.
or one of the pretenders to the throne.
| The guillotine is almost as simple an
affair as ladder Put up for imme-
diate service by the light of two Ian
terms and gas-lamp. in the midst Of a
| curious crowd OF reporters and friend
| of the authorities, it was not handsome.
| Recently il has been improved The tri-
Angular bit of steel, called indiiierently
the knife and the AK, is concealed by 4
board when drawn up; and this is
thought TO be humane, as it masks from
the condemned the instrument OF death.
The second Improvement is the dead
cning of the sound of the knife by Indian
rubber. This is supposed to be q mercy
to the spectators whose nerves are suscep-
tible Ia shocks of noise. When cree
ted, the height of the frame Of the guillo-
tine above the pavement is perhaps four
teen feet. 1t is painted dingy red, n
dry-blOOd color, and presents n resem-
biance TO a section of fire ladder At the
foot of one side is a large basket, and on
the other a box. Waiting in the chill morn
ing. in the gloomy asSemblage OF the
privileged" by a faint light. under
the shade of dusky chestnuts, was weari-
some, and the minutes passed drearily
and slowly. About 1 O'Clock the ma
chine" was complete. The bolts were
fitted in their places. guided by skilled
and steady hands. The screws turned
with exactness. The ugly knife glided
TO the top Of the frame on 4 trial trip
the long. acute angle OF the edge showing
Tor second. As it answered the cord by
which il is suspended.
At intervals there were lights from
matches used by smokers, revealing
parts of the dismal congregation and the
leaves and burS ofthe trees. There was
not n star to he seen, or breath of air to
stir leaf. The Able Crozes appeared
n venerable man, with white hair, and
sad benevolent countenance-attended by
officers, and passed into the prison
through n narrow door in the gate. This
incident caused 4 movement Of emotion.
1t meant business.
At last the clouds in the east began 10 |
whiten, and we who were waiting, and |
watching, and growing weary, saw
that it was dawn. Then We discov- |
cred that there We're classes among
the privileged, circles within circles. |
The favored reporters and the select i'm
portant persons were passed through the
lines of police. was not one of them,
but made my way to the front rank of
those behind the police. for the second
time. A French crowd is uneasy and
flexible, and 4 persistent push will gradu-
ally prevail. The light increased, and
the masses ofmen became strangely quiet
At half-past : the day was clear, and the
iron gates slowly turned. a group
advancing; the central figure
was short man, n-shaven, with
hair cut short. his chest naked. his arms
pinioned. his shoulders covered by 4
tunic. This was Barre.
The most miserable horror was never
more strikingly depicted in the face of
man than in his al this moment. The
removal of his beard had given his cheeks
a ghastly whitening. His mouth was
hanging open, and his lips were blue.
His eyes We're rolling and red lie seemed
almost incapable of walking. and his
attendants supported him, and urged him
forward. Within few PAGES of the
guillotine, the Able Crozes, who was
walking before, paused, and. turning.
presented a crucifiX. Barre kissed il |
and was hurried on. | had
expected an instant's delay before the tall
of the knife. but, while turned 10 see if
the second murderer was within view,
and saw that he was not, Barre disap-
pearcd in the group of attendants at the
spot OF execution distant from my stand
point perhaps twelve yards), and in the
OF an eye | heard the crouching
hiss of the kniie as it Glove through the
hick neck of the murderer | shall not
orget that noise. 1t was distinctly the |
'ough cutting OF tough meat Barre
hrank from the deadly knife, but was OF
,ourse helpless. Still he gave his exc !
'utioners so much trouble His body did !
lot roll into the box prepared for it ac- T
'ording TO calculation, and an immense !
ct Of blood spread brilliant red over the
'ust-colored frame, and deluged the first 3
assistance, whose duty it is to stand on ,
he farther side of the knife and steady v
he head by holding the ears until It drops I
nto the basket. The sight of the ioun- n \
ain oi blood caused low cry of horror $
a sort OF hoaISe Sob-and, turning =
my glance again t" the prison, saw b
I.iehcz advancing. He was in "a little
better form than his predecessor, but did n
not seem to Inc heroic The French pa Il
pers dwell upon his iirmneSs, and contrast C
1 wilhthc hidcous collapse OF his partner; a
Dut my own observation was simply that il
he was only less abiect than the other 1t n
S said that some one cried Bravo" and
hat he answered "Adieu :" but did not t
near either word. only witness with F
imazcment the celeTity with which he 81
'aniShed under the knife, and heard the !,
.lic. of the spring catch holding up the p
leadly blade, when the cord loosening,
I was ierked, and The raspng thud OF a a
he steel, as il servered the stout neck, o
,laccd tor the final stroke. The specta- >
ors murmured for moment in a shiv-
ring way aud looked into each others
aces, finding new horrors and, as they
urned away, the heads and trunks of the
executed were already in black vans, y
md the gullotinc was being snatched to Il
pieces. There was no need Of police and 10
oldiers TO disperse the people. who were =
n such haste that they seemed TO be in i
light 5,