, 1884-11-30
AT THE G~UILLOTINE.
Reprieving a Man Whose Neck Was
Barred for the Knife.
How the Empress EuGenfe Saved one
or the Orsfnf ConsPirafors-
Capt. NE Hudio,s Trying
Experience.


faced the French guillotine under sentence
Of death with necks barred for the cruel knife
and have lived to describe their sensations
under the terrible ordeal. Capt Carlo de
Rudio, one Of the companions of Orsini In
conspiracy against the life Of Napoleon III,
and one OF the men who threw n hand gren-
ade at the emperor, all Of which is a matter
Of history, has passed through this expert
ence. Capt. de Rudio Is now an officer in the
Seventh cavalry, U. s. A, and has been
spending several days at the Planters await
ing an assignment to duty. He Is unwilling,
as a rule. to talk about this part Of his life,
but in a friendly conversation with a re-
porter he gave a vivid and graphic picture
OF the scene on the scaffold, and Of the Incl
dents connected with this faDeful period OF
his life.
The attempt on the emperor's life. the ar
rest Of the conspirators, and all OF the events
connected with the trial and condemnation
are matters of history. Napoleon was urged
to clemency by an almost united European
press, as It was thought an act Of magma
nimity such as that would have a good effect
on the revolutionary party. He was urged
to pardon all OF the convicted men He,
however, was bent on the execution of the
sentence and the execution of three patriots
who had been condemned to death. He
therefore referred the whole matter to his
senate. De Rudio was the youngest Of the
three condemned men, and had u wife
just 10 years old, with an infant in her arms.
Mr. De Rudio was an English girl, and In the
hope Of saving her husband through
English influence, she excited the pity Of
Queen Victoria, who communicated with the
Empress Eugenie and obtained her promise
that she would do all in her power to save his
life. The emperor would do nothing himself,
aud fnaiafad nm laa Ufun tho ruhola rsrauffor ~
pardon with the senate. The senate voted
against interfering with the sentence Of the
court
It was half-past 3 o'clock in the morning
when the senate adjourned, and the sen
tences were to be executed at Z o'clock. As
yet nothing had been done to save De Rudio.
Tn empress, when she heard what had been
lone by the senate, found it was impossible
TO influence Napoleon. It seemed Inevitable
that De Rudio should die and that tho
prayer Of his young wife should be in vain.
The second place in the trio had fallen TO the
lot Of Capt de Rudio, and he was to die i'm
mediately after the first victim, and before
Orsini, who was last. In accordance with
the rule In France the prisoners were notified
Of the fact that they had TO die at o o'clock,
one hour before the time of execution.
Priests were admitted TO their presence, and
all preparations made for death. DE Rudio
had completed the arrangements for his ex-
peoted dissolution, had hidden farewell to
his wife and child, and a few minutes before
z O'Clock was led by his guard TO the scat
fold.
1t was the 18th of March, a cold, buster
ing day, with an unpleasant mixture Of
snow, rain and sleet falling. A most dis
agreeable, gloomy day, more fitted for the
scene that was to take place could not well be
tnn.OfraH Cant 10 n..Ifo hoI NJ. -.
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 a
free and unobstructed course through his
mock. Tho black Gap had been adjusted on
his head preparatory to being drawn over
his face. He was very fond Of smoking, and
had requested the privilege OF emptying a
final pipe, which had been granted
by the guard, and he was putting
away in "A dripping rain calmly awaiting
the stroke of the bell which should an
nounce the time for his death. The hand Of
the clock pointed to just Eve minutes before
0 when a man was seen to pass through the
prison gate and h~urrisdly 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 WINS standing,
scarcely noticing surrounding objects, so In
tent was he upon his own thoughts.
This Is a cold, unpleasant day to be out In
such costume, my friend, " he remarked to
De Rudio.
YES" was the nonchalant reply, "but !
don't care a d.. / haven't TINA to catch
cold.p
De Rudio did not know the person who
had spoken to him, but he noticed that he
was covered with decorations, and in defer.
ence to bis supposed rank, he apologized for
keeping the pipe in his mouth, and said
Excuse me for continuing to smoke, but !
cannot take this pipe out Of my mouth, and
besides, 1 am a great smoker, and, as this is
the last pipe / expect to smoke, 1 want to get
the full benefit of itn
"Oh, go ahead and smoke" was the smil-
ing rejoinder, shut 1 am happy to say that
you will probably smoke many more.n
Il hardly think 50; l will be dead in a few
minutes said De Rudio.
@No, you won't; because l have a repreive
for you"
"But II 1 am not executed at 7 o'clock, ac-
cording to the law, 1 cannot be executed al
all under this sentence"
Never mind about TINT. That Is my
business. Go to your cell, and I will call
and explain all at 9 o'clock.
The gentleman then gave hurried orders tc
the guard and they Immediately conducted
De Rudio to the death cell. As he was pass
ing through the open space from the scafold
Onini entered the gate going toward the
Bcaffold. With a common impulse they
stopped and kissed each other.
What is the mattsrf' asked Onini.
Il don't know. / only know that / am mol
to die yet" rejoiDed De Rudio.
Better two than three" replied Orsini, as
the soldiers hurried him on. Just as De
Rudio 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 sver saw of each
other. At o O'Clock the private secretary OF
the empress, for it was he that had inter.
posed at the critical moment In his behalf,
called on De Rudio and explained the whols
affair to him. When the empress found that
nothing could be done through the senate OF
the emperor, she sent at the last moment t.
the project Of police and ordered him not tc
execute the youngest OF the trio, and he
obeyed the order.
Napoleon was very angry at rue interior
ence, but IL was impossible TO execute d.
Rudio under the same sentence, and he went
through the form of another trial and was
again condemned to death, but the sentence
was oommuted to life exile. He escaped
from exile, and, coming to America, entered
the Federal service in 1855, serving through
the latter part of the civil war.
By the Efforts Of Honcure Conway, Horacs
Greeley, DIR. Bellew. and others, Can't d.