Morning journal and courier., 1884-11-04

ED IN THE LEGISLATURE. VOTE FOR MERWIN AND FOX.
 UNDER THE GUILLOTINE.
 The Story of Man Who Was Re-
 prieved Under the Shadow or the
 Knife.
 Few men have stood on the scaffold and faced the French guillotine under sentence of death, with necks barred for the cruel knife, and have tried to describe their sensations under the terrible ordeal, says the St. Louis Post Dispatch It is like calmly, coolly meet ing the monster death, having been almost as one dead as far as feelings are concerned, having bidden farewell to the world forever, and only lacking in the complete experience of death the momentary physical twinge, if twinge there be, that marks the severing of the head from the body and the dissolution of life. Captain Carlo de Rudio, one of the companions of Orsini in the conspiracy against the life of Napoleon III, and one ot the men who threw Q hand grenade at the emperor, all of which is matter of history, has passed through this experience. Captain de Rudio is now an officer in the Seventh cavalry, United States army, and has been spending several days at the Planters await ing an assignment to duty. He is unwilling, as rule, to talk about this part of his life, but in a friendly conversation with repor- ter he gave vivid and graphic picture of the scene on the scaffold, and of the incidents connected with this Hateful period of his lite.
 De Rudio was the youngest of three con demned men, and had wife just sixteen years old, with an infant in her arms Mrs' De Rudio was English girl, ana, III the hope of saving her husband through English influence, she excited the pity of Queen V1c- toria, who communicated with the Empress Eugenie and obtained her promise that sne would do all in her power to save hls lie: The emperor would do nothing himself, and insisted on leaving the whole question of par don with the Senate. The Senate met on the night before the day set for the execution of De Rudio and his companions. Napoleon himself opened the session, and, in speech to the Senators, so placed the matter or par- doning the Italians that to have voted Tor the pardon would have been to have declared one's self friend of revolution and an ene- my of the emperor. A majority of the Sen ators were, in fact, Republicans, and III faVor of pardon, but the speech of the emperor made it impossible for them to vote in ac- cordance with their conviction without bring ing ruin on themselves. The empress, when she heard what had been done by the Senate, found that it was impossible to influence Ma poleon.
 It seemed inevitable that De Rudio should die, and that the prayers of his young wife would be in vain. The second place Ill the trio had fallen to the lot of Captain de Rudlo, and he was to die immediately after the tlrst victim and before Orsini who was the last In accordance with the rule in France, the prisoners were notified of the fact that they had to die at six o'clock, one hour before the time for the execution. Priests were admit ted to their presence and all -Pfeparatlons made for death. De Rudio had completed the arrangements for his expected dissotEaN ton, had bidden farewell to his wife an6A child and few minutes before seven o'clock was led by his guard to the scanoid. It was the 18th of March, a cold, clustering day, with a very unpleasant mixture of snow, rain and sleet falling. A more dlsagreeable, gloomy day fitted more for the scene that was to take place could not well be imagined. Captain de Rudio had his arms bound behind him. and his clothing had been stripped from his neck and shoulders almost to his waist to give the glittering curved blade, which he could see suspended before him, free and unobstructed course through his neck The black cap had been adjusted on his head pre- naratory to being drawn over his face. He was very fond of smoking, and had request ed the privilege of emptying 8 final pipe, which had been granted by the guard, and he was pufing away in a dripping rain, awaiting the stroke of the bell which should announce the time for his death.
 The hand of the clock pointed to just 6:55 when man was seen to pass through the prison gate and hurriedly make his way to the scaffold, which he mounted, and through the way made for him by the guard he walked to where De Rudio standing, scarcely mo- ticing surrounding objects, so intent was ne upon his own thoughts.
 stThis is cold unpleasant day to be out in such costume, my friend, y he remarked to De Rudio.
 'eYes," was the nonchalant reply, 'Sbut'I don't care. I haven't time to catch cold"
 24I 4I,a7 1IxyI1Ta had spoken to him, but he noticed that he was covered with decorations, and in deference to his supposed rank he said: 'Excuse me for continuing to smoke. but l cannot take this pipe out of my mouth, and besides, am great smoker, and, as this IS the last pipe expect to smoke, want to get the IuII benefit of it."
 ooh, go ahead and smoke," was the sml- ing reioinder, 'tbut am happy to say that you will probably smoke many more.
 q hardly think so; I shall be dead in few minutes,' D said De Rudio.
 ''No, you won't, because have reprieVe for you. o-,.oz ot .o,,o,, ,,o,oo,, according to law, cannot be executed at all under this sentence"
 sNever mind about that. That is my bus mess. Go to your cell and l will call and explain all at nine o'clock"
 The gentleman then gave hurried orders to the guard and they immediately conducted De Rudio to the death cell. As he was pass ing through the open space from the scaffold Orsini entered the gate going toward the scaffold With a common impulse they stopped and kissed each other.
 s7What is the matter?" asked Orsini.
 q don't know I only know that l am not to die yet" rejoined De Rudio.
 'sBetter two than three," replied Orsini, as the soldiers hurried him on. Just as De Ru- dio entered the gate he turned his head for a moment Orsini had mounted the scaffold and at the same moment he turned his head; their eyes met and both bowed. That was the last they ever saw of each other.
 At nine o'clock the private secretary of the empress-for he it was who had interposed at the critical moment in his behalf-called on De Rudio and explained the whole affair to him. When the empress found that nothing could be done through the Senate or the em- neror. she sent at the last moment to the pre- feet of the police, and ordered him not to execute the youngest of the trio, and he obeyed the order.
 Napoleon was very angry at the lnterfer- ence. but it was impossible to execute De Rudio under the same sentence, and he went through the form of another trial, and was again condemned to death, but the sentence was commuted to death exile. He escaped from exile, and coming to America entered the Federal service in 1863, serving through the latter part of the civil war.