The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-12-09

Ial ClXcA
"What are you about2 If we attempt to
go out at present all is over with us.
The gate is now shut, and If any one
should be perceived in the court, the
alarm would instantly be given, and all
would be discovered. After having had
the courage to penetrate thus far, let us
have resolution still to wait awhile. At
o'clock the gate will be opened, and
the passage through the court free. We
can then steal out by degrees, and ,mingl-
ing with the numbers, we can go away
without being perceived. 1t is. not till
10 o'clock the prisoners are summoned
to execution; between s and 10 there will
be time enough tor all of us to get away.
We will return to the cave; and when the
time of departure arrives, each of us five
escape offered. We shall then be fifteen,
and going out three at a tune, we shall
pass unobserved. Let the last three, as
they set off, inform fifteen others, and
thus in succession we may all make our
escape
This plan appeared judicious and safe;
it was unanimously agreed to, and the
associates returning to the cave, made
choice of those who should first be in
formed of what they had done.
Hontelller, notary, and Baron de
Chafoy, to whom the means of escape
were offered, refused to avail themselves
of them, the former from confidence Of
q pardon, as he had 1,een mistaken for
his brother; and the latter, though in the
flower Of his age, declared all his ties in
the world were broken, and that life had
nothing now to offer which could make
him desirous of prolonging it. They
were both guillotined the next morning.
The fate OF the fifteen who fed was
very dissimilar, and the escape of the
rest was prevented by the imprudence of
one of them. The last Of the fifteen, who,
in quitting the cave, was. according to
the plan arranged, privately to apprise
fifteen others, instead of dong So, cried
aloud:
"The passage is open. Let every one
| who can escapep'
This excited a movement among the
prisoners. They arose in an instant,
doubling whether what they heard could
be true, or whether he who uttered these
words was not mad. The noise they
]
called the turnkey; they hastered to the
cave, perceived what had been done, and,
closing the door by which the prisoners
had escaped, placed a strong guard be
fore it. Nasple, who had excited this
movement, was, with three others, taken
! ard executed. Another of the fugitives
took refuge in the house of friend, in
an obscure street, but he was discovered,
brought back, and guilletined.
| It was not thus with Porral, the auth
or OF the plan. He was the first to come
forth from the cave. AS he passed the
sentinel in the court he said:
my friend, it rains and SHOWS very
hard; were IN your place would not
remain out Of doors such weather, but
would go to the fire in the guard room
| The sentinel thanked him, and, follow.
| ing his advice, the coast was left more
clear for the prisoners. Porral took ref.
uge in the house of one who was con.
sidered a good patriot, and escaped the
observation OF party Of commissioners
who entered the house. AS soon as they
were gone, he began to think of making
his way out Of the city as fast as posi-
BILE. When he arrived at the Place Belle
Cour he found parties OF the gendearmerJ
dispersed everywhere. Porral went int
house, and, making known who he was
entreated an asylum.
The inhabitants were women, timid t
excess; but the desire of saving an limo
cent person rendered them courageous
They conducted hum into garrett anc
concealed him behind some planks stand
, ing in q corner.
The gend'armes arrived; they searches
: the house; they came into the garre
where Porral was concealed. Here the,
,, found large cask, the top of which wa
fastened down by paddock. They aske'
for the key; the women went down stair
tor 1t. While they were gone one of tn
gend'armes lean~a against the plankf
while second sand:
"Twould be droll enough if we wer,
to find one Of the tugltives in thi'
, cask." .--.
"More likely plate or money!" says
third, "tor 1t seems very heavy"
: The key at length arrived; the cas-
was ulocked, and was found to be full c
salt. The gendarmes swore at the disaE
: pointment, visited the roof of the house
and then retired. In the evening Perra
dressed in woman clothes, with baske
on his bead and another on his arm, passe
the bridge of La Guillotie1e, and quite
the city.
Gabriel, another of the fugitives, cor
cealed himself among the bushes in til
marshes of the Trevaux Perraehe, wher
he was nearly frozen to death, but he g
) away TO q place of safety.
One young Conchouz, who was of tn
five that had opened the way for escape
{ made choice of his father who was neari
50 years of age, as one of the fifteen; bu
the poor cid mans legs were swolle1
) and he was scarcely able to walk.
ely, fly, my sonl'' said he, 'if tho
hast the opportunity, fly this instant,
command II as an act OF duty, but it
! impossible that should fly with thee.
=, have lived long 'enough-my trouble
: will soon be finished, and death will b
: deprived of its sting if | can know ths
thou art in Safety
His son assured him that he would no
: quit the prison without him, and tina
his persisting in his refusal would onl
|, lend IN the destruction of both, TIL
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