The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-07-22

confined in damp cells when they had
done nothing to bring them there but
invoke the wrath of an unjust and tyran-
nical power.
AS Jacques Desmoulins stood at his
window one night he was surprised to
see the sentry lean his mus1et against
the wall of the prison and sit down di-
rectly under him. Ere long the fellow
fell asleep. Plan after plan flashed
through the mind of Jacques Desmoulins
as he observed the fellow, wholly un.
mindful that u pair of eyes were watch
ing him, but none of them offered eff
fective means for his escape. He would
ifpossible gain possession of that lnusket,
and with that in his power he would pa-
tiently bide his time, when it could utilize
effectually to gain his release.
Without waiting to allow the time to
slip by unimproved, he took off one of
the cavalry boots, and with an old knife
commenced to cut the leg into long
string. His plan for proceeding was to
drop slip moose over the muzzle of the
gun and then draw it up to his window,
where it could easily be taken between
the iron bars. He would great deal
rather have dropped the moose about the
neck of the sleeping sentry, but he knew
this would only result in his being placed
in stricter confinement, with less oppor-
tunlty there for effecting an escape.
AS the leather was cut inch by inch
the prisoner all at once came upon a
piece that was split. and moment later
the opening revealed n piece of brown
paper The look of surprise on the face
Of Jacques Desmoulins would have made
a fortune for a photographer could he
have produced it. All thoughts of the
sleeping sentinel had faded from his
mind, and unfolding the piece of paper
he anxiously looked at the drawing OH it.
By the faint light of the moon which
made its way into his cell he was able to
see quite distinctly. Below the little
chart indicating the points Of the com
pass We're deciphered the following
words:
LA CoNcIERGERIE, CELL No. L3.
Having discovered an opening to an under
ground passage leading from this cell. leave a
diagram secreted In my boot leg showing where
the opening may be found. Being summoned
before the tribunal to answer charges brought
against me rs a traitor, prefer to appear there
rather than effect an escape, as my own words
will prove my innocence This beaueath to
hands of some unfortunate prisoner and be the
means of effecting his escape.
GENERAL LoUIsPIEHRE DUMOURIER.
1t was not long before Jacques Des-
moulins had solved the little diagram.
With the blade of his knife he loosened
the earth in the crevices between two
large stones which formed part of the
wall to the cell. Placing his weight
against one of them, the beads of per-
spiration pouring out upon his forehead
and his hands trembling with excite
ment, the stone turned and disclosed a
cavity beyond. He lost little time in
entering it, and cropping his way
through the passage at length came out
on the slope below the prison wall.
AS he looked back he saw the sleeping
form of the sentry. A moment he
stopped to consider the bold idea which
had come to him, then softly crept to
where the soldier lay. He took the mus
ket lying against the wall of the prison
and brought the butt down upon tho
head of his victim, stunning him with
the first blow. A moment later and he
had donned the clothes of the sentry and
was making his way as rapidly as posi-
Bile from La Conciergerie.
The stone walls of the prison never
saw Jacques Desmoulins again, for gain
ing the coast in safety he shipped on
board an outward vessel for America. 1t
was years afterward, when he had be-
come citizen of the United States, that
he related to tho father of the writer the
events recorded i'll this storv.-Ex-
change.