Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-12-05
The SECRET CAVE.

Ii 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 Gave of
Death on the 9th of December, there to
wait the execution of their sentence.
This could not be the next day, because
it was the Decadi.
One of the prisoners, by the name of
Porral, only % years of age, of bold
and ardent spirit, prohted by this inter
val to devise a plan of escape. His sis
tiers, having, by means of very large
bride. obtained access to this abode of
horror, began to weep around him.
st is not now q time to weep" said
he; cit is the moment to arm ourselves
with resolution and activity, and en-
deavor to find some way by which we
can elude our menaced fate. Bring me
flies, a chisel, q turn-screw, and other
instruments; bring wine in abundance :;
bring poniard, that, if reduced to ex-
tremity, we may not perish without the
means Of defense. By this CRATE, which
looks into the Rue Lafond, you can give
me these things; 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
variety of tools, twelve fowls, and about
sixty bottles of wine. Porral communi-
Gated his project to four others, bold
and active like himself, and the whole
business was arranged to his complete
satisfaction.
The evening arrived; general sup
per was proposed ; the last, they thought,
they should ever see. The prisoners
supped well, and exhorted each other to
meet their fate the next morning with
heroism and fortitude.
At II o'clock the associates began their
labors; enc of them was placed as
sentinel next to the door of the cave.
armed with poniard, ready to dispatch
the turnkey, If, at his visit at 2 o'clock
In the morning, he should appear to
suspect anything; the others, pulling
off their coats, began to make their re-
searches.
At the extremity of the second cave
they found huge door, and on this they
began their operations. 1t was of oak,
aud 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, look
ing through, they perceived it was tied
with a very strong rope to post at a
distance.
This was terrible moment! They
endeavored in vain to cut the rope with
the chisel or file, but they could not
reach it. A piece Of wax candle, how
ever, was procured; and, being lighted
and tied to the end of q stick, they
thrust it through the hole in the door
and burnt the cord asunder The door
was then opened, and the Adventures
proceeded forward
This door they found led only to an
other vault, which served as depot for
coniscated effects and merchandise.
Among other things was q large trunk
full of shirts. They profted by this
discovery to make al exchange Of linen;
and, instead of the clean ones which
they took, they left their own, which
they had worn for many weeks. Two
doors beside that at which they had en-
tered now offered themselves to their
vhaice. They began to attack one, but
they had scarcely applied the file when
they were alarmed by the barking of a
dog behind.
A general CONSERVATION seized the
party-the work was stopped in an in
slant. Perhaps the door Led to the
apartments of the iailer. This idea re-
called to their minds that it was now
nearly 2 o'clock, the time of his visit.
One OF the party returned toward the
Gave OF Death to see whether all was
safe, and it was agreed to suspend their
labors till 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 there already. The man, however,
who had been left as a 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 asleep for the
rest of the night. This was very con-
solatory 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 a long, dark
passage. At the end they perceived still
another door but, listening very in
tently, they heard the sound of voices ;
1t IN fact led to the guard-house, where
several soldiers in their national uniform
were assembled. This was, indeed q
terrible stroke. Had they gone SO far
only to meet with worse obstacle than
any they had yet encountered? Must
all their labors prove, then, at length
fruitless?
Only one resource now remained and
this was door which they had passed
on the side of the passage, and which
they conceived must lead to the great
court of the Hotel de Vile.
In fact, having forced the door. it ap.
peared they were not mistaken that
they were at the bottom of a staircase
which led into the court. It was now
4:30 o'clock the morning was dark and
cold, while rain and snow were falling in
abundance. The associates embraced
each other with transport, and were pre-
pairing to mount the staircase, when
Porral cried out