Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-12

Gus OF so weak captive, soon relaxed their
vigilance. All at once he dropped the
handkerchief, threw open the coach door,
bounded out into the road, and was of like
the wind. Almost be ore the gaping guards,
impeded by the sabers and jack boots. had
struggled from the coach, the fugitive was
out Of sight and danger.
III.
A fugitive Of Vidocq's character was
never out of danger. He reached Dunkirk,
and there struck up q friendship with the
supercago of = Swedish brig, who promised
him berth. But before the brig set sail,
Vidoce, in his sailors dress, was taken
up for brawling at a pot-house, was sus-
pected, from his lack o. papers, to have
escaped from prison, was taken back to
Douai, and locked up once more.
And now his trial. repeatedly postponed
by his escapes, at last came on. Of the
forgery of the order of release be was en-
tirely innocent; for the conspirators who
had used his cell had told him nothing of
their purpose. Appearances, however,
damned him. He was condemned to eight
years at the galleys.
The cham of galley-slaves, linked two by
two, set out upon the march for Brest. By
day they toiled on foot dragging weight
of Is pounds at either ankle, or rode upon
long wagons, while their irons, white with
hoar-frost, struck cold into their bones. At
night they huGdled like foul beasts in cat
tie stalls or stables, and munched crust OF
moldy bread. Yet the march was paradise
beside the Bagne at Brest. The first ap-
pearance of that home of woe-of the vast
grim dens, in each Of which 600 cutthroats
and thieves, dressed in the red frocks, the
sail-cloth trousers, and the green caps of
galley ielons, sat in endless rows-jn which
no sound was audible amid the ceaseless
clank OF bolts and ankle rings, except some
curse or filthy iest-in which no sight was
visible but haggard eyes, shorn heads, and
faces of despair--these things awoke the
horror of the boldest. Such was the place.
and such the company, in which the
luckless Vidocq was condemned TO wear
away eight years.
But the prison was not built that could
hold Vidocq for eight years. His wits went
instantly to work Some Of the galley
slaves possessed more freedom than the rest,
and were wont to smuggle articles into the
prison. Vidocq obtained from one OF
these file, n sailors shirt and
trousers, and wig. That night he cut
'etten nearly through, and, with n dexter
ity which gulled the sentries, put on the
sailors dress beneath his convict's frock.
Next day his gang was sent 10 work the
pumps, lie watched his moment slipped
behind n stack Of timber, stripped Of his
galley-irock and trousers popped on his wig,
snapped his nearly severed letters, and be-
fore the guards had missed him, was of
into the town.
But TO pass the city gate was thought i'm
possible Tor tugltives 1t was watched by
an old galley-slave, Lachique by name, who
was celebrated for the eagle eve with which
he could distinguish a cropped head beneath
the closest cap, or the almost imperceptible
dragging OF leg accustomed to the fetter.
But Lachique that day had met his match.
Nidocq, in his wig and sailors suit, came
gaily up and asked him for pipe-light.
The old man gave it with the utmost
courtesy; and Vidocq walked of, putting,
through the gate.
He took the road for Cannes.
For two davs all went well; but
on the third he met two gendarmes, who
asked him for his papers. Vidocq was
ready with story:-his name was Duvai,
born at IOrIent, deserter from the frigate
Cocarde. Duval was no imaginary being;
such was the name OF a real sailor, OF whom
ne had heard spoken at the Bagne. In ac-
cOrdance with this story, be was led to
POrient, and was lodged, as a deserter, In
the naval prison. There, among other cap
tlves, was sailor who looked at him with a
mysterious smile. my boy" said be, 81
do not know you, but YOU are not Augustus
Duval, Tor he died two wears ago at Mar
nnlco. Then, as Vidoeq stood dunn
founded, he continued, But no one knows
"a he hag hp fu-iu
ior him with ease; be ran away to sea when
very Young; and 1 can tell you all about
his iamily. But you must have his mark
upon your arm-a tattooed altar with a
garland" Then the new friends laid their
heads together. They pelted a sentinel
with erusts of bread, for which they were
locked up ior punishment ipto a solitary
cell. There, with bunch of needles dipped
in Indian ink, the sailor pricked on
Vidocq's arm the altar and the garland. A
fortnight later he was taken from his cell to
be CONFRONTED with his family He fell
upon his fathers neck; and his father, mis-
mother, his uncle and his cousin all recog-
missed with joy their lost Augustusl
His kinsIolk filled his purse with louis,
and he was sent of, still in custody, to Join
his ship, which was in harbor at st. Malo.
His late now hung upon his chances of es-
Gaping by the way; but when the party en-
tered Quimper he had found no means to
dupe his guards. Then he resolved to try
his chance as sick man. He munched to-
bacco for two days, until he gave himself q
gastric fever, and was ordered to be sent
TO the infrmarv. There he soon
found out that one OF the attendants,
who had been a convict, could be
prevailed upon, for lucre, to procure him a
disguise, and to show him where to scale the
gfrden wall. A disguise was not so easily
6btained; but Vidocq hit upon scheme OF
Strange and ludicrous audacity. When
Sister Frances, the tallest and stoutest nurse
in the inirmary, had gone 20 early mathis,
Vidocq's confederate stole into her cell, and
helped himself TO a nuns robe and bonnet
with veil. Vidocq put them on. The two
conspirators crept out, before the dawn, into
the garden, where Vidocq, with the help oil
his companions shoulders, scaled the wall
with ease.
Before the sun rose he had walked two
leagues At 10 o'clock he reached little
hamlet with church. The sexton of the
church, n little busy village gossip. be-
sought the weary nun TO rest and take re-
freshment at the wears house. The vicar,
a kindly gray old man, was on the point of
celebrating mass. Vidocq was pressed
10 join the service, and consented;
the signs and genufexions, very nearly let
his secret slip. Then, with the vicar and
the sexton, he sat down TO break fast, where,
although he was so starved that be could
easily have cleared the table, he was forced
10 nibble like q mouse He announced that
he was bound upon a pilgrimage OF penance.
For what sin, dear sister?" inquired the
busy little sexton. "Alas, dear brother"
replied the simple nun, "Ior the sin of
curiosity" And the sexton, at that answer,
held his peace.
With the wears blessing he resumed his
Journey. A week later he reached Nantes.
In that city was a robbers tavern, Of which
a fellow-convict had in ormed him. He
sought the house, knocked, gave the watch
word, and was ushered by the landlady
through a sliding panel into low room, in
which eight men and women were engaged
in playing cards and drinking brandy. At
the sudden entrance of a nun they stared
in stark amaZement. But in an instant, to
their wonder and delight, he dropped his
robe and veil and appeared before them as
the famed escaper,