Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-18
BASTILE TORTURES.
Revolving Forms of Cruelty Used to c

Revolving Forms of Cruelty Used to Com.
pei Prisoners to Testify.
The executioner, with the help of
his assistants, inclosed the leg and
knee within the tight iron boot, or
case, and then placing wedge Of the
same metal between the knee and the
edge of the machine, took mallet in
his hand and stood waiting for further
orders. A surgeon placed himself on
the other side Of the prisoners chair
and applied his thumb to the pulse, in
order to regulate the torture accord
ing to the strength of the patient
When these preparations were made
the president of the council repeated
with the same stern voice the ques-
ton, when did you last see John
Balfour, of Burley?" The prisoner,
instead of replying, turned his eyes
to Heaven, as if imploring divine
strength. The Duke of Laud-
erdae glanced his eye around the
council, as if to collect his SURFACES,
and, judging from the mute signs,
gave a nod to the executioner, whose
mallet instantly descended on the
wedge, and, forcing it between the
knee and the iron boot, occasioned the
most acute pain, as was evident from
the flush which instantly took place
on the brow and on the cheeks Of the
sufferer. The fellow then again raised
his weapon and stood prepared to give
second blow. will you yet say"
repeated the Duke, when and where
you last parted from Balfour, of Bur-
ley?" ''You have my answer" said
the sufferer, resolutely; and the
second blow fell. The third
and fourth succeeded. but at
the fifth, when larger wedge had
been introduced, the prisoner set up
scream of agony. He is
gone" said the surgeon; "he has faint
ed, my lords, and human nature can
endure no more" And when the UNI
fortunate Macbriar was recalled to his
senses the Duke passed sentence of
death upon him. This gives an idea
of the kind of instrument which was
in favor in the Bastile, but not in the
Bastile alone.
On the 18th of October, 1868, GILES
Davot, a priest, was committed to the
Bastile, accused OF sacrilege. He was
soon afterward condemned ''to make
amende honorable in front of the prin-
cipal door of the Church of Notre
Dame, to be hung and strangled to
gallows on the Place de Greve. his dead
body cast into the flames, and his
ashes scattered to the winds; the said
Davot first of all to suffer the ordinary
and extraordinary question, in order
to learn the truth from his mouth"
After having been examined at con-
siderable length this unfortunate
wretch was subjected to the torture of
water-that is to say, he was chained
down to the floor and was then filled
with water. For the ordinary ques-
ton four cans were administered, and
for the extraordinary, eight cans.
AFTER the first cam" says the
report, ''Davot said, My God,
have mercy on me! What do you
wish me TO say? l have told
all Exhorted to tell the truth, he
said that If he knew any thing he
would not allow himself to be tor
tured.' At the second can he cried, L
know nothing-I am ready to dien
ExhOrted again, he persisted that he
had nothing to reveal. At the third
can he said nothing. At the fourth
can he cried, That he had told the
truth; that he could support it no
longer; that if they would relieve him
he would tell the truth He was re-
heved, but having once more declared
that he had spoken the truth, the ex-
traordinary question was commenced
AT the fifth can he cried. oh, my
God! Oh. my God!' At the sixth can
he said, L am dying. can hold out
no longer. | have told ALL At the
seventh can he said nothing. At the
eighth can he screamed out that be
was dying and said no more" After
this he was relieved and unbound. and
as the master surgeon, Morel, said it
would be dangerous to leave him any
longer in torment, he was placed on a
mattress near the fire, when his decla-
rations, made under the question, were
read to him. After reposing himself
for some time he was re-examined.
Asked for his name. surname and age,
after having placed his hand ad pectus.
he said, Il am Giles Davot. priest, forty
years of age" The rest of the sentence
was afterwards ruthlessly carried out.
Hon. D. Bingham.
CURIOSiTlES OF COAL.
The Almost Uncomfortable Variety of Sub
stances Derived from Pit-Coal.