Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-12
The ROMANCE OF HISTORY.
vIDoCQ.

| chamber called the Bull's-eye; but the com
mon room, where near a score of dirty seoun-
dTels roared and squabbled all day long,
was also open TO him. Three OF these gaol-
birds, who had conspred TO iorge an order
of release, requested him TO let them use
his room ito draw up memorial" He did
so. The order OF release was forged; the
forgery was detected; and Vidocq, though
quite innocent, was held guilty with the
rest
And now, instead of few weeks of light
captivity, his prospect was the galleys for
term Of years. At first his anger and de-
spair brought on fever. Then, as he re-
covered, he began to rack his wits. Schemes
OF deliverance arose before him, As yet he
did not know his own capacity. But he
was soon to show that in the art of making
an escape he was the cleyerest rascal in the
world.
Franeine, woman who caused his troub-
les, now came to see him daily. BY degrees
she brought him in her muff the uniform of
an inspector. Vidocq's power OF mlmicry
resembled that of Garrick or the elder Math-
ews. He put on the disguise, and with
face which his own mother would have failed
to recognize, walked boldly to the prison
gate. The gatekeeper, an ancient galley
slave, and as sharp-eyed as a lynx, pulled
moment Vidocq was at liberty.
He hastened to the lodging Of friend Of
Francine, where, as long as he kept quiet.
he was perfectly secure. But VidOcq's
name was Reckless. Next morning, when
the hue-and-cry was ringing after him, he
walked abroad in his disguise. He was sit
ting down to dinner at a tavern, when a SER
geant by the name of jacquard, attended by
four men, came in to look for MIN. Vidocq
went up to jacquard, and led him to pam
try with a window in the door, "If you are
looking or that rascal Vidocq," he said,
''hide here and you will see him. 1 will
make a sign to YOU when he comes in" The
sergeant led his men into the pantry, and
VidOcq turned the key. Then. crying to his
prisoners, 1T is Vidoeq who has locked
you in; farewell!'-he went off at his leis-
ure, leaving the sergeant, mad with fury,
trying to kick down the door.
But such bravado could not long escape
scot-free. A few days later he was caught,
was taken to the Tower, and was locked up
in dungeon with culprit named Calen-
dren. Calendrin had already worked a
secret hole half through his wall; and with
VIdoex's help the task went forward gailv.
The third night all was ready; the moment
Of escape arrived; and Vldocq, stripped stark
naked, thrust hiuself into the hole. To his
horror and dismay the passage held him
like q trap. He could not stir; his agony
became unbearable; and he was forced to
call the sentry. The guards rushed up with
torches. He was tugged out, hayed and
bleeding, and dragged off to another cell,
where he was vigilantly guarded.
But soon his trial came of.
With 18 other culprits he was
taken to the court. The entrance Of the
ante-room, in which they waited, was
guarded by a corporal with troop of sold
iers The prisoners we're attended by two
gendarmes. One Of these put down his hat
and cloak to go into the court. In an in
slant Vidocq slipped them on, took q pris-
oner by the arm, and led him TO the door.
The corporal threw 1t open, and the pair
walked out into the street. An escape 30
prompt, so simple. so audaeious, is sufficient
of itself TO mark o master mind.
Vidoeq vent of 10 hide with Frsneine.
They resolved TO Ily to Belgium. but on
the eve Of their departure Vidoed stole
abroad, and ehaneed upon a girl Of 6ls ae-
qHaihtaHes, who took him home with her 10
supper. Ffabeihe, at this neglect. went
mad with Jealousy, She vowed 10 call the
guards and hand him over 81 the
fetfibatieH which his iBiidslity de-
served, Willing 10 let the storm
blow over, Vld6eq left her, and lay fef i've
days hidden ~ suburb NJ The eitYi Then,
dressed A. q country bHmBklH, he returned
ta make his peace, tiHt instead 8f finding
fFaaeiHs, - he expected hs was saisad
bV the police, was dragged Ia prison, aud
was accused, 10 his amusement, ai attempted
murder, As hs stgDd before the magistrate
. door iiaW open, and girl, supported by
two gandaTmss, staggered, while as death,
into the court, cast her eyes upon him, broke
into q shrisk, and tainted. The girl was
fTanoinsl A few hours after his departure
she had been disGoyGrgd lyillg ssnssless in -
pool Gf blo0d, stabbed IN i've places, with
Vidooq's knife bssido her, As soon rs she
could speak, she had declared that In Nc
of Jealous passion she had stabbed herself
hut hsr story WIS suspeeiad Tor their quar-
rel had bean overheard, aud II was thought
that she desired 10 screen him. Vidoeq'a
narrative confirmed her story. Bul no had
had near escape. Had Franoins's hand
but struck little surer, hs must infallibly
have ended his career by an asaaaain's
death.
His lie was saiej but no was once again
In prison, with the galleys waiting 10 re-
esiVs hiHi. A few days aftsrwaFd u strange
thing happened. The ga0ler left his door
unfastened. In the gray dawn, while all
the prison was asleep, he walked out Of his
cell.
The gatekeeper had that moment slipped
into tavern opposite; but rs VidOcq issued
from the gate, he rushed out baWling In
pursuit. Vidocq escaped by speed of loot;
but the city gates were guarded, and he
could not leave the town. AT dusk no
gained the ramparts, glided down a rope,
fell 10 feet into the iOsse, and sprained his
ankle. He was discovered by carter, who,
with striking kindness, drove him TO his
hut in the next village, rubbed his sprain
with soap and brandy, and kept him hidden
for some days.
Thence Vidocq made his way to Ostend.
He wished to sail for India; but he had no
papers, and no skipper would convey him.
In this predicament, he Joined a gang Of
with whom he helped 10 run
ashore by starlight some kegs OF muslin
and tobacco. But the custom officers at
tackled the party; two smugglers were shot
dead; and Vidocq, though the bullets
missed him, caught a chill, and fell into a
lever. One nights experience was sufficient
for him. He decided that he did not care 10
be a smuggler.
Moreover, he was dying to see Francine.
He resolved to venture back to Lille. On
the road, two gendarmes who were drinking
Ut wine shop asked him for his papers,
and, on finding that he had none, took him
to the guardhouse. A brigadier of Lille,
who had seen him ut the prison, happened
10 come in, and recognized him. He was
conveyed 10 Lille, thence TO Doual, where
be was locked up once more.
He shared the dungeon of pair Of des-
perados who were already scheming an es-
,ape by burrowing beneath the pavement,
md thence through the prison wall. The
three now worked by turns. One man was
alwsys in the hole; while. in case the guards
should enter unexpectedly, a shirt and vest,
stuffed out with straw, lay on the bed to
represent him. The rubbish from the hole
was thrown into the river Scarpe, which ran
below the window. The work was slow, for
he walls we're five feet thick; but after two
months labor the last stone was reached.
At dead Of night the captives knocked 10
,ut. But they had, in error, made the hole
100 low. To their horror and dismay, the
river rushed in like a millrace. The turn
Keys heard them bawl, ran mp with lights,
md found them splashing in the flood.
Dripping and crestlallen. they were hoisted
,ut, and lodged In separate cells.
A littlp altar Vidapd was oondunfod IN