The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-06-13

thrilling letter on the working of the the-instIument-the internal guilloline Now thought that as all executions are pretty much alike would see the con- oemned cells and the locality of the affair and get some one to work the gull lotine for me, so that could write up the thing as we'll as if l saw the real business This could send away couple of weeks in advance, and the Seave1gey could use it as if it were a special dispatch all for the cost of half . franc or so postage. See?"
 "Great scheme. Did it work P
 ~eut to the chief of police day after day to get the necessary permission, but he put me off, told me that although the,e were many people in France who ought 10 be guiliotined, yet he didn | like to take the responsibility ot executing anybody without having the proper au :. thority for it. think made life a bur den for him. At last, about three weeks before De Sabte's cut of, vent to the chiefs residence. There was a ball or something, for the serv lnts let me in under the impression that was a guest. and the moment the chief saw me he ut l couple of gentlemen there and hurried way. The gentlemen approached me, and one, whom was told was the chief s nephew, came hlandlS toward me and said:
 Are you the American reporter?'
 "'Yes, said l, | wanted word with Monseur le-"
 "We are authorized, said the nephew interrupting me, to furnish you such in- formation as you desire, but this is hardly the proper place to-
 !" l know-and apologize for my intru- sion, but the matter is urgent
 Then follow me, said the other DO li.e!y, and he led ne to =hs. seemed .c be the library. told him what l wanted
 "' It is unusual he said, Out if you are willing to submit to the inconven. fences of a short time in prison will give you permission
 :" I'll submit to anything said.
 "' Then sign this document, which ex. presses your willingness to do so,'
 It seemed harmless, and merely stated that any ind gnities might re ceive were accepted with my own free will. signed, and he wrote out another and calling a gendarme, gave the docu ment to him saying, pointing to me:
 "' This is the man.
 The officer saluted the gentleman and then asked me to accompany him The moment was out of the house two others fell on me and pinioned me, and before | could protest we were in apolice van hurrying to the prison. was kept three days in condemned cell, and a guard put over me Hound it impossible to ge. word out of my guards. On the fourth morning l was awakened at day. break. A priest stood beside the guard and behind him a masked man. The cell was quite dark, lit only by the lan- tern carried by the man in the mask.
 "My son. said the priest, solemnly am here to offer you such consolation as one of my calling can bestow on fel low creature in your situation
 " What situation ? demanded.
 {" You are condemned to die within the hour
 "'Nonsense,' said, q have don. nothing. am not condemned.'
 "The priest looked toward the door inquiringly, and as the lantern was shifted l saw standing there the two had met at the chiefs house. They were in even ing dress and had evidently come from some revel directly to the prison.
 "'A case of cowardly murder, fath Ter, said the nephew, stepping forward, and now case oi real or feigned insanity
 "l sprang at the man. but the guard at once grappled me, another stepping from the outside gloom to help him Instantly the executionef tied my elbow. together, then my wrists and next m, ankles in spite of my struggles. He Jeff room for my feet to shuttle along, and 6 guard took me by each arm and forced me along the corridor, the priest going in front and murmuring the words of the service for the dying. Alter turning into another passage lighter than the 6rst we came to square room, in the centre oi which stood the gaillotine, with its bright axe in the sliding perpendicular frame work few feet from the floor.
 Gentlemen cried, this is carrying joke little too far
 what he considered my levity or sham ming, retired, and the executioner bound me to an upright plank attached to the guillotine. The plank itself was horror. It had evidently been painted and re- painted to cover the stains of blood. Across the upper end was drawn black line, and on that line the edge of the axe had fallen repeatedly and left deep in den.aiion. A strap around my brow se- cured my head firmly to the plank, and other straps bound me Co it, 90 that 1 could not move a muscle. The axe was then raised to the top Of the framework and twice dropped, with a siekening swish through the air, till it struck tenn porary block placed under it. Then it was finally fixed a: it's proper altitude. 1 had read or heard that the plank swung swiftly under the axe carrying the victim with it, and at the same time the blade dropped. Nov, while had no doubt that this was all practical joke. for, of course, ii was impossible thus to murder an innocent and uncondemned man even ;n France, yet began to fear that some OuA wnuld ju aAvNxt~nf1v sNuek tha t~v@x