Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-04
a DEVILISH BUTCHERY.


berg, two small towns in Prussia, on the
frontier of tho little State of Waldecs, was
| the scene OF the most horrible and hideous
crime committed for long years in Z civ
ilized country. On the morning of October
1G some travellers were Mortified By sight
they will never forget. The roa,i, u narrow
thoroughfare, bordered by meadows and
fields, bore the aspect Of i:;:ttleGeid on
which wild and ferocious nations might have
fought-people to WHOM civilization was
utterly unknown.
From a little forest two miles below Bred
elar up to the town limits OF that place the
road was covered with men, women and
children horribly butchered and mutiinted, :,
some OF them dead, some living yet, sruan
ing with intense pain. From ten to twenty
PAGES they were found lying ON the road,
and every one treated the same way. The
abdomen was cut opea with sharp inatru
ment and then the skull knocked in. The
sight was such frightful one that even the
Oldest police officers and physicians, who
were summoned as soon as the fact was
known, shuddcrcd and declared emphat-
| ica:ly that in all their lifetime they had
never witnessed sight like that.
Imagine thirty-four persons lying strewn
! along road, their abdomens cut open, their
intestines hanging out and covering the
ground, blood flowing IN streams, inter
mingled with the brains of some Of the vic
Tins The faces OF those who were dead
showed the terrible ogony they had to un-
tergo before death came as salvation. The
sight was terrible. They were dispersed on
the road with regularity showing that The
,t11a 81, Inoll. o.,T
the injuries were the same with all the
victims it was clear that the same people
must have butchered one by one as they
passed by.
There was a cattle fair the day before the
bodies were found at Marsberg, . little town
about ten miles from Bredelar, and the
peasants Of the surrounding villages had
driven their cattle and sheep there 20 sell
them if possible. Returning home they were
overpowered by two scoundrels, VINO both
had served terms in the penientiary, and
one by one they were butchered as describ-
ed The deed was dore with 81 plowshare,
and so quick that the victims had no time
to utter cry, which might have warned
those who followed them.
One by one they were Knocked insGnsible
by a terrible blow Oh the head and then the
abdomen cut open with the sharpeued blade
of the plowshare. They did spare anybody.
Old and young men, women aad children
fell under their blows and met their horrible
fate without murmur Some Of the bodies
were fearfully mansled. The head OF sotne
Of them were so crushed that ldsntihce-
ton was only possible by their clothing.
Some aF them had their limbs broken, prob
ably in resisting the murderers, who wcro
the NEST cruel wretches the history ofcrimc
knows The physicians found fifteen of the
injured yet living, but in an almost hope.
less condition, and ssnt them to Brcdelar 10
the hospital. Seventeen were found dead.
Bat those thirty-two were not all. After
the news Of the horrible deed had been
spread around the country two shepherds
appeared, who were also attacked by the
scoundrcis, but who fortunately escaped
badly Injured, and leaving thei: flock Of
sheep behind them. They say that other
people besides could be found in the village
who are suffering from their injuries yet,
but were able TO go home after the sconn-
drels thought they were dead
The two shepherds identified two tramps
who afterward were arrested, known as des.
perate fellows, who would be able to COM
nit any crime. The crime seems to have
been prompted only by love of blood.
They made no effort to rob, as the cattle OF
the victims were found afterward dispersed
| on the meadows and fields, aud their valu'
ahes were not taken FROM them, but it was
morbid desire for boodshed, and nothing
else