Morris tribune., 1880-12-02
THE SECRET CAVE.

..
THE SECRET CAVE.
In the early part of the French Revo.
luton the prisons Of Lyons were filled
with thousands of unhappy victims.
Seventy-two prisoners who were con-
demned were thrown into the Cave OF
Death on the goth Of December, there to
wait the execution of their sentence
This could not be the next day, because
it was the Decadi. $40 - aa'es#
One of the prisoners, by the name of
Porral, only 90 years of age, of bold
and ardent spirit profted by this interval
to devise a plan of escape. His sisters
having, by means of very large bride,
obtained access to this abode of horror,
began to weep around him."
at is not now time to weep" said
he, sit is the moment to arm ourselves
with resolution and activity, and endeav-
or to find some way by which we can
elude our menaced fate. Bring me files,
chisel, turn-screw. and other instru-
ments; bring wine in abundance; bring
poinard, that, if reduced tie extremity,
we may not perish without the means of
defense. BY this CRATE, which looks into
the Rue Lafond, you can give me these
things; u will be in waiting there the
whole day to receive them"
The sisters retired, and in the course of
the day, at different visits, brought a
variety of tools, twelve fowls and about
sixty bottles of wine. Porral communi-
Gated his project to tour others, bold and
active like himself, and the whole bust
ness was arranged to his complete salts
faction. ,lsq;.Ss ~. ..r s.e= - -
If'8 The evening arrived; a general supper
was proposed the last, they thought,
they should ever see. The prisoners sup
ped we'll, and exhorted each other to meet
their fate the next merning with heroism
and torritude.
At II o'clock the associates began their
labors; one of them was placed as a sen
tinel next to the door of the cave, armed
with poinard, ready to dispatch the
turnkey, If, at his visit at Q o'clock in the
morning, he should appear to suspect
anything; the others, pulling off their
coats, began to make their researches.
At the extremity of the second cave
they found huge door, and on this they
began their operations. 1t was of oak,
and double barred by degrees the
hinges gave way to the file, and the door
was no longer held by them; but still
they could not force it open-it was held
by something on the other side. A hole
was made in it with chisel, and looking
through, they preceived it was tied with
a very strong rope to post at distance.
This was a terrible moment2 They
endeavored in vain to cut the rope with
the chisel or file, but they could not
reach it. A piece Of wax candle, however
was procured; and being lighted and
tied to the end Of stick, they thrust il
through the hole in the door and burnt
the cord asunder. The door was then
opened and the adventures proceeded
forward. -E.53s,;.+. 49,.
This door they found led only to an.
other vault, which served as depot fol-
Iconfiscated effects and merchandise. And
among other things was large trunk
full of shirts. They profited by this dis.
covery to make an exchange of linen; &c
instead of the clean ones which they put
on, they lett those which had been worn
for many weeks. The doors beside that
at which they had entered, now offered
themselves to their choice. They began
to attack one, but they had scarcely ap-
piled the file when they were alarmed by
the barking, OF a dog from behind
A general CONSERVATION seized the par
| ty; the work was stopped in an instant.
Perhaps the door led to the apartments
Of the Tailor, This idea recalled to their
minds that it was now nearly two O'Clock
and the time OF his visit. One of the par
ty returned toward the Cave of Death, to
see whether all was safe, and so it was
Iagreed to suspend their labors untal his
return.
When the scout returned, he said that
on his arrival at the Cave OF Death he
shuddered with horror to find the turn.
key already there. The man, however
who had been left as sentinel, had en-.
gagged him to drink with him, and the
scout, joining the party, they
Piled HIM SO well that he at last reeled
off without examining the cave much,
and was, in all probability, laid fast and
sound asleep for the rest Of the night
This was very eonsolatory news. .
| Quitting the door at which they had
heard the dog bark, they applied them.
selves to the other. They found there
folding doors, one of which they opened
and found themselves in long, dark
passage. At the end they perceived still
another door but, listening intenty, they
heard the sound OF voices; 1t, in fact, led
TO the guard house, where several sol
iiers in their national uniforms were as
sembled. This was, indeed, a terrible
stroke. Had they gone SO. far only tt
, meet with worse obstacle than any thai
they had yet encountered Must all theil
llabors prove then, at length fruitless?
Only one resource now renamed, anc
this was door which they had passed
on the outside of the passage, and which
they conceived must lead TO the grea
lcourt Of the Hotel de Vile.
| In fact, having forced the door, it ap
peared they were not mistaken; that the,
q were .at the bottom of a staircase which
| led into The court. 1t was now A: 81
CLOCK; the morning was dark and cold
81 while rain and snow were falling ii
Il abundance. The associates embraced