The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-07-09
ABOUT THE BAsrLILE.
An Interesting Letter Regarding
This Famous Prison.


Editor San Antonio Light
IA the weather seems to be recover
ing from Its long lachrymose condition,
1t occurs to me that II would be a good
idea to combine our "explodcdn Fourth
Of July with the coming celebration OF
the nth by our French citizens In mem
DRY Of the fall Of the Bastile in l7s0. We
could then combine an our forces to
have one grand jolliication that would
satisfy us till the recurring year rolls
round again.
In view of the friendly relations that
have always existed between sunny
France and these United States. 1t may
not be out Of place to give short sketch
OF this terrible and noted prison, La
Bnstile. It was inaugutated under the
reigh Of Charles V, and was enlarged
and added to during succeeding reigns
until 1t was destroyed by the people In
1850. 1t was situated at the gate OF St.
Antoine, and when completed contained
eight immense round towners, connect
cd by walls OF massive masonry and sur
rounded by wide ditch % feet deep,
this ditch was also enoiroled by high
wall to which was attached n wooden
gallery called "the rounds" accessible
by two staircases and guarded by senti-
nels. The management during the 18th
century was vested In governor, n
royal intendant, a major, majors aid,
surgeon and marion. The garrison
was composed OF 100 men, commanded
by two captains; lieutenant and ser
geants. The cells were located In
all the towers, the wall being IL feet
thick, and at the base 80 or 10 feet
through. Each cell had an opening in
the wall protected by three iron gratings,
whose bars were an inch In thickness,
but so placed over each other that only
two inches OF loop hole remained be-
tween the bars. The dungeons were 10
feet below the level OF the court yard,
and five feet below the surface of the
ditch, no opening being left except
loop-hole leading to the ditch. La Bas-
| tile could contain 30 State prisoners In
single cells. When larger number
| was on hand they were confined in
those cells opening on the bitches, and
as those bitches carried of the sewer
age and ordure Of the prison their con-
dition was almost unbearable. They
were poorly fed, and treated in the most
| inhuman manner, In fact the name of
| Bastille has become the synonym Of all
that Ia cruel and unjust. The prisoners
were placed there without any form Of
trial or accusation, allowed no oommu-
nication with relatives or friends; their
fate was dependent on the caprice Of
despotism. unknown to the world. I'M
| til the ascension Of Charles VII the Bas-
tile was only aroyal fortress. 1t became
State prison under Thomas Beaumont
In his the people broke into the prison
and killed the Princes of the house, Ar
magnac. Some OF the most noted men
of those days were confined In this hor-
rible place. Such men as Basompierre,
Richelleu. Noltaire, Latude, while the
| identity OF that victim of Louis XIV,
| known rs the imam of the iron mask"
has never been fully established. On
July II, 1879, after short struggle,
the populace entered the prison, llber-
ated the prisoners, and afterwards Its
| towers were RACED to the ground and Its
dungeons filed with the debris Of Its
| battlements. Seven persons were found
having been there since their tenth year
| and who, on their liberation, were be-
wildered at their freedom and with intel
| lects broken and shattered. Records OF
| horrors were found written on the walls
and in the registers OF the prison, more
| fearful than those already known. 1t
would take too much time and space to
say more, but would refer the reader to
the CyclOpmdia for further information
on this interesting subject.
On the site, once occupied by the old
Bastille, now stands the column Of July,
erected in memory OF the patriots of
| 1883 and 1880. Considering the circum-
stances attending the dark days of the
Bastille 1t Is but right and seemly that
the sons and descendants of France
should yearly meet to celebrate Its down
fall. Our own loved country has pro-
duoed some noble men and women. Still
we never can forget such men as Napo-
| leon OF Victor Hugo, such noted and
patriotic women as Joan OF Arc, Char
lotte Corday, Mad. Recanner or Mad. de
Stael. Their names nre emblaZoned on
the pages OF history and can never die.
| And last, but not least, can we ever for
get the young and noble Lafayette, who
left both home and kindred to link his
fortunes with ours during the dark days
of our revolutionary war.
when Bartholuis statue arrived at
New York city, not long ago, in
the French transport Isere, what dis
play was made, and how America and
France Joined hands In fraternity and
Joy, till the impetuous Frenchmen, with
unbounded enthusiasm, waved their
caps, while cheer after cheer arose for
Vive Ia Republique. SO may we always
dwell in pence together, the Republlque
of France and the Republlque of Amer
lea. They were born alike mid storm
and tempest, and mustered through the
dark days OF adversely. Long may 1t be
ere their lustre fades, united In bonds of
fraternity and brotherhood, may their
days glide on forever. MAGNOLIA.
Mr., Conkllng and the Texan.