The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-03-31
TIE CAVE OF DEATH.

"A C&AV ~ VI DAA us
In the early days Of the French revolution
the prisons of Lyons were filled with thou
sands of unhappy victims. Seventy-two
prisoners who were condemned were thrown
into the Cave Of Death Oh the 9th of De-
cember, 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 Por-
raj, only 81 years of age, of bold and ardent
spirit, protited by this interval to devise a
plan Of escape. His sisters having, by
means of q very large bride, obtained access
to this abode of horror, began to weep
around him.
1T is not now a time to weep" said he,
1T is the moment to arm ourselves with res
olution and activity, and endeavor to find
some way by which we can elude our
turnscrew and advertisements; bring wine
in abundance; bring poniard that, if re-
duced to extremity, we may not perish with
out 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 a variety
of tools, twelve fowls, and about sixty bot
ties of wine. Porral communicated his
projects to four others, bold and active like
himself, and the whole business was ar
ranged to his complete satisfaction.
The evening arrived; general supper
was proposed-the last, they thought, they
should ever eat The prisoners supped
we'll, and exholted each other TO meet their
fate tho next morning with heroism and
fcrtitude.
Att o'clock the associates began their
!ahnrs; one OF them was placed as !, senti-
mel next the door of the cave, armed with
:. poniard. ready to dispatch the turnkey if,
should appear to suspect anything; the 9TH
AIS pulling off their coats, began to make
their researches.
At the extremity Of the second cave they
began their operations. It was OF oak and
double haired: by degrees the hinges gave
way to the files, and the doc, 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 a
chisel, ;ssid, locking through, they perceived
it was tied by very strong rope to Il post at
4 ;1st:Acc.
Ills was a terrible moment! They en-
tiAayoced III vain to cut the rope with the
rhisel OF file, but they could not reach it.
\ piece Of Wax camille, however, was pro
cared; and being lighted and tied to the end
III a stick, they thrust it through the hole
IN the door and burnt the cord asunder.
I he door was opened, and the uaventurers
proceeded forward.
This door they found led only to another
vault, which served as depot for con1isca-
ted effects and merchandise. Among other
shings WAS Il large trunk full of shirts. They
;iri'tited By this discovery to make Il change
Of linen; and, instead of tue clean ones
which they took, they left their own, which
they had worn for many weeks. Two doors
beside that at which they had entered now
offered themselves to their choice. They
began to attack one; but they had scarce
l. applied the file, when they were alarmed
by the b;,rking ct a dog behind
A general CONSERVATION siezed the party;
the work was stopped i'll an instant: per-
haps tie door lc,l into the apartments of
the 1al!or. This idea recalled to their minds
that it WAS now NEAL on to o'clock, the
tins Of lis visit One of the party returned
toward the Cave of death to see whether all
vas safe, and it was agreed to suspend their
itLors till his return.
When the scout returned he said that on
his arrival at the Cave of Death he shud-
:iered with horror to find the turnkey their
already. The man, however, who had been
l:-ic as a sentinel had engaged him to drink
with him; ;,nd the scout joining the party,
they had piled him so we'll 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
consolinG news.
Quitting the door at which they had
heard the dog barking, they applied them
selves to the other. They found here fold
ing doors, one OF which they opened and
found themselves in long dark, passage
At the end they perceived still another door;
but. listening very intently, they heard the
sound Of voices; it, in fact, led to the guard
house, where several soldiers in their nation
81 uniform were assembled This, was in
ia, Il q terrible stroke. Had they then
1ene SO far only to meet with worse OBJ
;,ao,e ;. han any they had yet encountered?
Mnst Ill their labors prove, then, at length
:Sruitlsss?
ONLY enc re- 'ource now remained and
this was door y hich they had passed on
the side of the pas age, and which they
conceived must lead t. the great court Of
the Hotel de Vile
IN fact, having forced the door, it APP
reared that they were not mistaken; that
they We're at the bottom of the staircase
which led into the court. It was now half
past 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 preparing to
mount the staircase, when Por1al cried out:
"What are you about? If we attempt to
go out at present, all is over with us. The
gate is now shut, and if anyone should be
perceived in the court the alarm would in
stantly be given, and all would be discov-
cred. After having had the courage to pen
citrate thus far let us have the resolution
still to wait awhile. At eight o clock the
gates will be openedand the passage through
The court free. We can then steal out by
degrees, and mingling with numbers, we
can 90 away without being perceived. It is