The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-29

pavement is perhaps fourteen reel a
painted n blood color, ana pIeS ,as5o-
reaernffance 10 a section OF hfe iaoaS'.
waiting IN the chill morning, ID ,ne
rIoomv asyemb,sge of the ''priviegeo, ~
a fsint light. under the shade OF nc
dustv chestnuts was wearisome anu ~.
rnlr,;tes passed dreaTily. ABOUT 49, ,,'
o,ciock the machine was complete nc
rarts were all fitted in their places b ~,
ed by skilled and steady nanus' 1sa
screws were turned with exactness. ny
ugly knife glided as slender rope We
n,1IIed 10 the top Of the franc on trih
"a ,he long acute angle OF the ecge
showing for a second. as IL answered the
cord. ,,,r.
privileged persons Increased In numbers
ond messed upon the guard in manner
not dignincd In the distance we could
hear the hoarse cries and mrrmurs OF
the monstrous throng. kept back by MES
Of soldiers The black van had told inc
tale that the hour OF expiaticn was be-
vond a doubt at hand. Officers with dec
orations. wearing tri-colored sashes NOV
ed to and fro. The Commissioner Of Sc
curity. think they called him, appeared
with a specially gaudy sash. Udications
multiplied that the formalitie3 OF admin
jstration that distinguish all proceedings
in France were In progress. The police
were irritated by the pressure OF the
crowd and at last manifested Importance
by driving back the whole mas without
much hypocrisy Of politeness. l had
gained front position on the curbstone,
and sustained the pressure from the po-
lice for some time. but they were not
grateful, and two OF them. with the aid
OF a soldier used me effectually against
those in the rear. Their duty Of demon
stration done. the guardians OF the peace
relapsed into expectant attitudes ana
were quiet for nearly an hour when they
again flung themselves upon the privileg-
ed classes with energy.
The guillotine was during this time
displayed by two candles of the lanterns
OF the workmen. There YVES the basket
half filed with sawdust to receive the
heads, and a heavy box for the 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, revealing parts OF the dismal
congregation, and the leaves end burrs
of the trees. There was lot a star to be
seen, nor a breath Of air to stir a leaf,
and 1t seemed the light was very long
coming The Able Grozes appeared,
venerable 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 emo
ton, as the French reporters say. 1t
meant that the waiting would not last
much longer.
Between the hours Of three and four
Do
and Liebez were aware that they
were so soon to die. and wakeful and able
to hear through the thick walls the deep
wailing sounds, like the weird voice Of the
ocean, that told Of the presence of a
multitude. 1t was strange to think that
perhaps they did not know of the fright
full apparition at the gate, or of the pale
faces that turned upon It, The papers
said that Barre was awake, having just
finished writing his memoirs, but Liebiz
slept profoundly. They were called at
a quarter after four O'clock, for their
toilet of death"-that is the phrase the
French use%made for the embrace Of
the guillotine Barre wanted wine and
cigars. Liebiz did not care for anything.
AT last the clouds IL the East began
TO whiten, and we who were waiting and
watching, and weary saw, with a shud-
der that 1t was dawn. Whether the chill
was in the air or the nerves / do not
remember. Then we discovered that
there we're classes among the "privileg-
ed'-circles within circles. The faVorte
reporters and the select important per-
sons were passed through the lines Of
police. 1 was not of them, but held my
own in the front rank of those behind
the police. The light increased, and the
crowd was strangely quiet. At half past
five the daylight was clear, and the
iron gates slowly TUNED. a group APP
peared advancing; the central figure was
a short man, clean shaver, with hair
cut short, his chest naked his arms PIN
toned, his shoulders covered by a tunic.
This was Barre The most miserable
horror was never more strongly depicted
in a mans face than in his at this mo-
ment The removal of his beard had
given his cheeks a chalky whiteness.
His mouth was hanging open, and the
lips were blue. His eyes were rolling
and red. He seemed almost incapable
Of walking. His attendants supported
him and urged him forward. Within
few PAGES Of the guillotine the Able
Crozes, who preceded him, paused, and
turning, presented a crucifix TO Barre,
who kissed it convulsively and was hur-
ried on. L had expected an instant's de-
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