The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1889-04-11

tuc TepuDiiC Us u bpeclhi tANOTg uuo OhAy
at their own written request. Would
they like TO see the honorable secretaire
for that purpose?
II Is matter Of record that not few Of
the wretches, maddened and despairing as
they were, followed the keepers advice,
and sent for the secretaire, who drew up
for them petition, in which they assured
the grand council that they had deserved
death for their
HIGH CRIMES,
and penitently solicited their own speedy
execution. This petition they signed, and
in few hours afterward they were stran-
gled to death in their own cell.
On the 9th Of March, in the above-men-
toned year, the Chevalier BuscOli SSrived
at last in Venice. He was at once 0r-
rested, and thrown into one Of the cells
with the movable walls.
Vainly did he inquire Of tie keeper who
brought him his food what he was there
for. The keeper made no replies what
ever.
This lasted for one week. On the
morning Of the eighth day Of his con-
finement the prisoner discovered beyond
q doubt that
HIS CELL WAS GROWING SMALLER!
He had heard Of these cells before, and,
in his terror and despair, began to shout
loudly for help.
His shouts produced no effect what
ever.
In bis anguish, with his eyes bloodshot
and protruding from their sockets, his hair
standing on end, and his forehead COW
cred with perspiration, the unfortunate
attache threw himself on his narrow
couch, loudly bewailing his horrible fate.
Finally he became almost delirious,
and he did not hear that the keeper had
opened the small window in the iron door
Of the cell.
This keeper was slender man Of me-
dium height, with q swarthy face, small
twinkling black eyes, a long black head,
and lurking expression.
Upon seeing the Chevalier Buscoli
stretched out on his couch, evidently q
prey to intense anguish, a malignant
smile overspread the repulsive features Of
Andrea Chat was the keepers name.)
"Signor Buscoli," he said at last, ~
have brought you food"
The chevalier sprang to his feet.
With q gesture Of despair he exclaimed:
Keeper, for the sake Of the holy virgin,
tell me, what does this mean?"
So saying, he pointed to the wall that
had moved.
The keeper shrugged his shoulders.
,"Have you heard no noise outsider
he asked then.
"No, no." replied Buscoli, impatlently,
"pray-"
THAT is very strange, )" rejoined Andrea,
''he certainly cried loud enough to be
heard for miles,"
"Who cried SO loud?" asked poor Bus
coli.
"Why, your neighbor in the cell right
across from you"
"What about him2'
"Half an hour ago he received the
benefit Of the cord," said Andrea, with
the utmost GOODNESS.
THE cordT asked Buscoli. "What is
that"
$50 you don't know what that is, Sig
nor Buscoli? Well, let me tell you. In
that cell was the Able Ferrati; mark me
well, in a cell Just like yours. He was
there two weeks. Then he had enough
fit. Yesterday he petitioned the grand
council for the
"BENEETT OF THE CORD.
"I1is prayer was granted this morning,
and half an hour ago I took Signor
Valdoni to him. Signor Valdoni, you
know, is the executioner. We entered
Ferrati's cell, and Valdoni requested
him to sit down in an arm chair which
he had brought with him. Ferrati
wanted to know what for. 4 am here
to give you the cord,' answered valdoni.
Then the able shrunk away from him,
as II he himself had not prayed for the
cord. He wept and cried for mercy. He
shouted and screamed when Signor VAL
doni pushed him down on the chair. In
the twinkling Of an eye the cord was
around the abbe's neck, and the execu-
toner began to twist Il behind the chair.
The able behaved badly, and did not die
game. Had he held still all would have
been over In five minutes. As 1t was, It
took signor Valdoni about ten minutes.
I myself held the abbe's legs. His corpse
still lies in the CELL"
Anrea told these horrors as II It was a
pleasant anecdote. The Chevalier Bus
coli had at first listened to this recital
dumbfounded with terror. Then his
courage had returned, and, while Andrea
was rattling of his story, the prisoner
had arrived at
A DESPERATE RESOLUTION.
He asked the keeper coldly for the tin
dish containing his soup. Andrea handed
1t to him through the window. As he
did 80, Buscoli suddenly seized his long
beard and drew his head through the
aperture. Andrea tried to draw Il back,
but the chevalier held his head in his
powerful grasp a. in q wise.
LET me 60. gasped the keeper.
Not At ALL" replied Buscoh. There
Is but one way for you to save your