The Wichita daily eagle., 1893-11-03
Trial Size 10 Cents.

leading to the prison were guarded by
police in force, backed by cavalry.
The latter were once used in a clatter-
ing charge to drive back the violent
multitude. Only the few knew that
the execution was positively fixed for
that morning. The many had conicc-
tured that there would not be further
delay, and the third night after the
refusal of reprieve they had assembled
at midnight and waited n straggling
crowds for the dismal drama.
About ten minutes after three two
huge black vans came up, and were
recognized as containing the ma
| chinery of the executioner. With them
| appeared Roch. the famous headsman,
stout. hearty, resolute looking man,
with very decent face. He wore q
new silk hat, appearing to think some
! thing in the way of distinction neces-
sary, was quite at ease, and his ORDERS
were swiftly obeyed by aids. who
seemed familiar with their duties.
Their wooden hammers made little
noise in driving the wooden bolts He
was facetiously called by the mob:
''Monsignor de Paris" and was a per-
son of Importance. There is as much
/! gossip about his habits and as many
rumors relating to his private affairs
as if he was a grand duke, or one o.
the pretenders to the throne.
The guillotine is almost as simple an
affair as ladder. Put up for immedi-
ate service by the light of two lam
terms and one gas lamp, in the midst of
curious crowd of reporters and the
friends of the authorities, it was not
handsome. The triangular bit of
edged steel is concealed by a board
when drawn up: and this is thought to
be humane, as it masks from the con-
demned the glitter of the instrument
of death. When erected the height of
the frame of the guillotine above the
pavement is perhaps fourteen feet. 1t
is painted blood color, and presents
a resemblance to a section of a fire lad
der.
In the distance we could hear the
hoarse cries and murmurs OF the mon
strous throng, kept back by the files
of soldiers. The black van had told
the tale that the hour Of expiation was
beyond doubt at hand. Officers with
decorations, wearing tri-colored sashes,
moved to and fro. The commissioner
of security. 1 think they called him,
appeared with specially gaudy sash.
Indications multiplied that the formal
tiles of administration that distin-
guish all proceedings in France were
in progress. The police were irritated
by the pressure Of the crowd, and at
last manifested impatience by driving
back the whole mass without much
hypocrisy of politeness.
The guillotine was during this time
displayed by the two candles of the
lanterns of the workmen. There was
the basket half filed with sawdust to
receive the heads, and heavy box for
trunks, and the cradle about two feet
above the stones, with the place for
the necks of the criminals: and as the
cord by which the knife is raised could
be seen between the posts of the frame,
it was evident that the steel rested on
the India rubber Improvement at the
top. At intervals there were lights
from matches used by smokers, reveal
ing parts of the dismal congregation,
and the leaves and burrs of the trees.
There was not star to be seen, nor
breath of air to stir a leaf, and it
seemed the light was very long COM
ing. The Able Crozes appeared, ven
cradle man with long white hair and
sad, benevolent countenance, attended
by officers, and passed into the prison
through a narrow door in the gate.
This incident caused a movement of
emotion, as the French reporters say.
1t meant that the waiting would not
last much longer.
At last the clouds in the east began
to whiten, and we, who were waiting
and watching and weary, saw, with a
shudder, that it was dawn. Whether
the chill was in the air or the nerves /
do not remember. Then we discovered
that there were classes among the
privileged" - circles within circles.
The favorite reporters and the select
important persons were passed through
the lines of police. / was not of them,
but held my own in the front rank of
those behind the police. The light in
creased, and the crowd was strangely
quiet. At hSlf-past five the daylight
was clear. and the iron gates slowly
turned. A group appeared advancing;
the central figure was short man.
clean shaven, with hair cut short, his
chest naked, his arms pinioned. his
shoulders covered by a tunic. This
was Barre. The most miserable hor-
ror was never more strongly depicted
in q mans face than in his at this
moment. The removal of his beard
had given his cheeks chalky white
and the lips were blue. His eyes
We're rolling and red. He seemed
almost incapable of walking.
His attendants supported him and
urged him forward. Within a few
PAGES of the guil!otine the Able
Crozes, who preceded him. paused. and.
turning, presented crucifix to Barre.
who kissed it convulsively and was
hurried on. ! had expected an in
stant's delay before the fall of the
knife. but while turned to see if the
second of the condemned was in view.
and saw that he was not, Barre disap-
peared in the group of attendants at
the spot Of execution distant from my
standpoint perhaps twSlve yards, and
in the twinkling of An eye | heard
the crunching hiss OF the knife as il
Glove through the thick neck of the
murderer. / have not forgotten that
noise. Barre shrank from the deadly
knife, bat was, of course. helpless