The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-11-19

his bedclothes, and finally made the descent
in safety.
his first thought was TO provide for the
injured man. and he did not bestow a tho't
on himself till he had carried his faithful de-
pendent to a hut where he might remain in
perfect security until his recovery. This
done he flew to the sea-shore, and, boat
answering to the signal agreed on, he board
ed the sloop, which Instantly set sail for
France. In the morning the grand round
found nothing Of their prisoner but a room
full of suffocating smoke and four bodies
roasted TO Goals in the ashes of the IRE.
CHEATING THE GuILLoT1NE-
Tom Paine tells his escape from the guile
tine during his confinement in the Luxem-
bourg, in tins way:
'.The room in which was lodged was on
the ground floor, with the door opening out
ward flat against the wall, so that when It
was open the inside Of the door appeared
outward. and the contrary when it was shut.
VI hen persons were TO De taken Cut OF the
prison for the EuillOtiue Il was always done
IN the night. and those who performed that
Office had private mark bE which they
knew what rooms To visit The door OF my
room was marked one morning, when II was
open, and fat against tle WALL being closed
IN the evening. the fatal line OF chalk came
inside. aud thus the destroying angel passed
and Air. Monroe arrived 10 reclaim me-
Stranger, sGl, however, Is
THE STORY vAUII AcVC TELLS
of II. de Chateaubrun, who was not only
condemned to death, but actually taken -
the scafIold. He was the last Of twenty VIC
Tins After twelve OF fifteen executions,
one part Of the horrible instrument broke,
and workman was sent for 20 mend it. n.
.
/ near the scan0ld. with his hands tied behind
his back. The repairing took a long time
+ The day began 80 darllen the great crowd
. of spectators were FAR more intent ON watch
ing the repairing Of the guilOtine than on
looking at the victims who were to die, and
all, even the Ceudarmes themselves. had
. their eyes fixed on the scatfold. Resigned,
but very weak, the condemned man leaned,
without meaning it, on those behind him,
and they, pressed 10y the weight of the body,
mechanically made way for him, till gradu-
ally, and by no effort Of his own, be came to
tile last ranks Of the crowd. The instrument
once repaired the executions began. and
they hurried to the end.
s dark night concealed both executoners
ana spectators.
Led on by the crowd, De Chateauhrun
was at first amazed ut his situation. but soon
conceived the hope of escaping. He went
10 the Champs Z ysces, and there, addressing
a man who looked like a workman. he told
him, lauohingiy, that some comrades with
whom De had been Joking, had tied his hands
behind his back and taken his hat, telling
him To GO and look for it. He begged the
man t. cut the cords. and the workman
pulled out a knife and did So laughing all
the while at the joke NJ. de Chatesu1run
then proposed going into any Of the small
wiue-shops in the Champs Elysees. During
a slight repazt he seemed 10 be expecting his
comrades TO bring back the hat. and, seeing
nothing of them, le begged his guest TO ear
ry a note TO some friend, whom he knew
would lend him one, for le could not 60
bareheaded through the streets. He added
that his friend would hiring him some money
for his comrades, I'M fun, had taken away
his purse. The poor man believed every
word II. de Chateaubrun told him, took the
note. and returned in half an hour. accom-
panied by the friend, who embraced Chat,
asbTm and gave him all the help he requir
ed.