The record-union., 1894-07-07
The BLACK VEIL
A Romance of the Dark Days of
Hungary.
A Mother and Her son-Her Ruse to
Enable Him to Meet Death Boldly
Tho Trial and Execution OF
Disciple of Old Kossuth-The Pun
ishment Melted Ont TO Patriots.

Disciple of Old Kossuth-The Pun
ishment Melted Ont TO Patriots.
Now. when the man who was the soul
of the Hungarian revolution has just
died, far away from the country whose
independence he tried to win, says
.Ftgaro. it may be interesting to bring be-
fore our readers one of the most dra-
matte episodes of the rising of 1S49 and 10
introduce upon the scene firm disciple
and faithful friend of old Kossuth.
When, on the morning of the 9Th of
October, 1S49, the news of the taking OF
Komorn reached Pesth, there was moth
ing but CONSERVATION and discourage
ment in the ranks of the patriots. The
old citadel of Komorn in the hands of the
Austrians meant nothing less than the
final abandonment of all the hopes of
Hungary. It was the cause of lnde-
pendence crushed; it was the commence
ment of reign of terror.
as long as Komorn resisted the Cabi-
net of Vienna pretended that it would
exercise clemency, and the Hungarians
hoped that there would be no reDrisals.
But with the surrender OF the fortress
the con ouerers considered that they had
no reason TO spare the conquered, and a
repression the most terrible and odlous
in the recor ds of the history OF the mod
ern civil Zed world was exercised
throughout the rebel territory.
To Pesth came a dispatch from the
young Emperor Francis Joseph giving
an order TO bring Immediately before
courtsmartial all the prisoners who were
confined. Then, as If by enchantment,
all life seemed to leave the town. Inc
houses were closed. the streets and
SQUARES were deserted, and that silence
which of old reigned in the Rome Of
Nero aud Caligula, and which lacltus
called 1.-The companion of tyranny" came
over the two banks of the Danube.
In the high square tower OF the City
Hall, behind the Ludovicum, the council
assem- bled. 1t was composed of Austrian
officers and soldiers, presided over by
General WindischgratZ, the conqueror OF
Rakos and Presbourg.
The prisoners appeared. They num-
bered eleven-nine men and two women
all accused of taking part in the insur-
rection of the two previous years.
After having rapidly proved their
identity, the court examined them sum
marily, and finally asked each one If
he had anything to say in his defense.
The greater portion Of them refused to
answer, closing their mouths in a dis
dainful silence, we'll aware of the TACT
that their pretended military judges
were there to condemn them and not to
try them.
In few minutes the cases of the first
ten prisoners were disposed of.
When the eleventh was called, tall
and strongly built young man appeared.
There was defiant and proud expression
in his eye. His blonde beard was long
and silky, and his whole aspect inspired
respect and sympathy. When the crier
called aloud, Count Louis de Batthyany,
former President of the Council of Hun
gary" there was movement of curiOs-
lty and emotion IN the crowd, and even
among the Judges.
This last one of the accused arose, and
in a manly and sonorous voice presented
his defense. He began by refusing en-
ergetically to recognize the competency
of the judges TO try him, declaring that,
as a hungarian, he could only be Judged
by Hungarians. and that, as Minister
tried for ministerial acts, he should be
turned over to the jurisdiction of the
High Court of the High Chamber of the
National Diet. He spoke at length and
recalled with eloquence the service rem
dered by his family to the cause OF Aus
tria, since the day when a Betthyany
conquered at Hohacsz down to the time
when his grandfather uttered the famous
shout, Let US die for Marie -Thereseip
shout that saved the dynasty OF the
Hapsburgs.
But all was in vain. His Judges ex-
pressed Indifference, and some of them
Sneered.
Finding that defense was useless before
such court, he sat down.
The members of the Council then left
the hall to go through the form of de-
liberation. They returned in a quarter
of an hour and the clerk read the SEN
tence.
Two old men, Generals Kiss and
SchWeidel, were condemned to be shot,
Louis de Batthyany, Nagy-Sandor Dam
janich and the other insurgents were sem
fenced to be hanged and their property
conhscated.
AS TO the two women, Esther Lazar and
Adele Maderspach, the court did not dare
to sentence them to be shot or hanged,
but inflicted upon them punishment for
feminine modesty more cruel than death.
They were condemned to be publicly
whipped.
All, according to the usage. were al
lowed three days to impIore the clemency
of the Emperor. Then. moved by the
same sentiment, and as if to respend to
this last act of tyranny, they rose, all a
little pale, but with flashing eyes, and
together they shouted, ELLEN a haza 20
C"Long live our countryr rD
When the Countess Elsa de Batthyany,
who was In Vienna, heard of the convic.
tion of her son, she exhibited neither as
tonishment nor anger. During two
months she had experienced all the Bit
terness that the heart of mother could
endure. Her two brothers fell, one at
komorn and the other at Villages, for the
cause of their country. Her oldest son,
Cassimia, a prescribed wanderer, was at
last forced TO seek safety in flight; and
now Louis, the youngest, the one upon
whom she lavished most of her solicl-
tude and affection, was about to be exc
cuted.
Too noble to know hatred, and too en-
ergetic to allow herself to be cast down,
she resolved to do everything possible to
save her son even at the cost OF her patri-
otic pride.
She went to the imperial palace and OBJ
tanned an audience with the Archduchess
Marie Anne, the Emperor's aunt, who
was then about forty years old, woman
of naughty mien, and of a character both
narrow and cruel. But she enjoyed at
court unlimited authority and influence.
In the bottom of her heart she concealed
a secret and ardent love for Louis Bat
thyany, whom she had seen at the tri-
bune of the Diet, and to whose fiery and
splendid eloquence she listened with de-
light when his magnificent voice thrilled
the entire assembly. which rose in fever
OF excitement to give him triumphal
cheers.
This passion, however, was known to
the mother of Louis. She threw herself
at the feet OF the princess. Bent down
by grief, with extended, SupplicatIng
arms. and her breast heaving with sobs
which she could not suppress, and which
almost hindered her from speaking, she
implored her 10 have pity on the captive
that she loved, and to spare him the
shame of q degrading death. The Arch
duchess Marie Anne lifted her up and
rhon ref1pefed for q c0nSidarahlo fitno in