Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1878-02-07

nell on to the bridge. Look which
way they might, our friends saw nc
way of escape. To return was i'm
possible, every path of egress was
covered with vehicles and human
beings; as well might they have dug
a way through the solid rock, as to
have undertaken to force a way
through this dreadful labyrinth.
Suddenly a terrible crash was
heard, and directly after loud
scream of terror rent the air. Every
eye was instantly turned to the place
whence the piercing cry came, and
every tongue became mute when il
was observed that the bridge had
broken down under its accumulated
burden. tearing away several arches
by the conclusion. This could be
seen only from the higher points
nearest the shore; while the far
greater number of those already on
the bridge and on the depressed
shore, suspecting nothing OF the
misfortune, pressed on with furious
infatuation, pushing those who
stood on the brink of the precipice
madly into the stream. The unfor-
tunate chung in vain to the fragments
Of the bridge; in vain they besought
pity, with heart-rendering- cries
these remained no longer choice,
those compassionately inclined were
pushing forward, and thus became
accessory to the destruction OF their
comrades. and the next moment
were themselves hurled in the same
manner into the memorable element.
Fear generated rage and phrensy.
Those who considered themselves
lost were turned into sanguine tigers,
drew their swords and rushed back
into the denser mass of their country
men, to open for themselves a way
to the shore. Thus a revolving con-
test arose, mad and indiscriminate
butchering among friends and
country-men. The frightened horses
reared or sought for an escape side
ways, and thus plunged with the
wagons over the broken railing into
the stream. The true state OF things
became, of course, finally known. A
deep and anxious silence prevailed
while the bridge was being repaired.
With difficulty Frederick, Henry,
Lodoiska, Jeanette and Willhof ex-
tricate themselves from the crowd,
and with hurried steps they con-
tinued their flight up the stream. A
sweeping curve in its course threw
the bridge and the crowds out of
sight. Their path led them through
a wintry solitude. To the left was
the. Berezina, full of its floating
masses OF ice: on the right were the
heights from which the piercing blast
clapped their hands, and drove snow
in their faces. But still this rough
inhospitable reception was friendly,
compared with the scenes out OF
which they had escaped.
But soon they must find some shell
ter, or their strength would entirely
forsake them, for Lodoiska was al
together faint and exhausted. They
were not far from Weselowa. Even
should they find none but Russians
there. their safety would be ensured
.as Lodciska, by Henry's advice,
was to announce herself as a Russ
ian lady, on her flight from the
and Frederick and himself
as foreign retainers of her house
hold. Should they fall in with
French troops, it devolved on the
men to obtain help and protection.
They had continued their wearisome
progress for more than an hour, and
still the much longed-foI Weslowa
was not in sight. But fortunately a
short distance. ahead the river made
another bend, when to their Joy they
beheld the snow covered roofs Of
in the distance, and at the
same moment the sound of horses
feet. One minute more, and their
fate wonld be determined. The
riders came galloping towards them;
when quite near they haltad, and a
voice called out in Russian: "Hallol
IS that Weselowa yonder?" Lodois-
ka started joyfully as she heard these
words; with a penetrating cry shit ex-
claimed: "Great God( Rasinskil"
With boisterous rapture. Frederick
and Henry sprang up, and instantly
Rasinski was off his horse and in
their arms. Boleslaus and Jaromir
also fastened to embrace their
friends. Rasinski lifted the ex-
Lodoiska on his own horse,
eading it by the bride. In an hour
more they reached the hamlet. A
Lithdrian peasant guided them to a
ord where the river was not qnite
The depth of man. Notwithstand-
ng that the ice was drifting in large
they courageously ventured
INTO the current. Rasinski sat be-
lind one of his men; Frederick. Hen
y, Willhof and Jeanette did the
same. They reached the opposite
shore in safety and thus finally res
,ued, they lifted their hearts and
Eyes in profound gratitude to heaven.
CONCLUDED merit toeek)