Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-12-29
pRADo.

1t was long wait we all had in the chilly
night air awaiting the dawn. Within the
depot DIES eondamnes the prisoner was re-
ported To be sleeping quietly, unconscious OF
his impending death.
Progress in cab was impossible along the
little street lending to the prison, and alb
ruptly closed beyond by the cemetery of Pere
Ia Chaise A large wine shop on a corner at
the left was aglow with life. Cocottes from
the European quarters, dressed in the
height of fashion, had taken shell
ter from the cold therein elbowed by
drunken man in blouses reeking with
the smells OF Belleville and Montmartre. 1t
was n heartless Partisan mob. In front of
the prison gates were found q group Of men
occupying the two hard benches or standing
along the line Of curbing that leads from the
gloomy portal of the prison to tho center OF
the place. Before the ak fell this small
group had grown to over 200 spectators,
among whom were seen several of tho most
distinguished mon in France.
Even the privileged few inside the lines
tired Of waiting, and from the great mob
kept by the police out of the square came
frequent roars OF dissatisfaction and snatches
of rihald songs Ten thousand people were
In tho neighborhood.
The crowd at the eastern entrance OF the
~
little byway known as the Rue do la Folie
Regnault It's members knew that les bois
de justice, as he guilotine is called, was hid
den there Finally the doors Of the shed
opened and two covered wagons emerged.
They looked like New York ice carts painted
black. The heavier one contained the ma
chine and the other the zinc lined boxes
in which the head and the trunk are
thrown after being severed. Slowly the
teams made their way through the crowds
and drew up under the line of trees to the
north side of the path leading to the door
Of the Doomed The wagons were opened
at the rear ends and the few beams and
boards forming the deadly mechanism were
taken out. They fitted together accurately.
First the superstructure was placed upon four
large stones in the pavement, which every
visitor to the square must have observed
Then the two tall uprights were raised Then
a ladder with workman upon it was placed
alongside. just at this moment detected
the round, grave face of Monsieur de
Paris ! had seen him before. He wore a
broadcloth coat and a tall black hat with a
blim as wide as a bishops He was motion
Ing to an unseen assistant in the second
wagon To have something passed out to him.
The thing was in a case like window glass
box. The chubby old man opened the case
and ran his thumb over the edge of the
triangle shaped knife. 1t was keen and
satisfied inspection Heavy iron weights
nearly 400 pounds, it is said-were
fastened TO the top of the blade after it was
placed in position between the gaunt up
rights. Then the knife was raised and
dropped-like pile driver-several times
All this time, remember, there was not
sound that could have been heard within the
gloomy walls, where the poor wretch who
was to embrace the Virgin of Justice lay
asleep. More than two hours passed thus
The smell of rank cigars, bad cognac and
worse cigarettes added dread to the foggy
and malarious atmosphcre.