The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-05-27
THE DARK DAYS OF HUNGARY.
A Dramatic Episode In the Rebellion
of 1S49.

OF the hungarian revolution has lust died.
Tar away from the country whose indie
pendence he tried to win, it may be inter
esting TO bring before our readers one of
the most dramatic episodes OF the rising
of lS4s, and 10 introduce VI on The scene a
hrm disciple and faithful friend of old
kossutn.
When, on the morning of Oct. s. 1919.
the news of the taking of Komorn
reached Festh, there was nothing but
CONSERVATION and disbursement in the
ranks OF the patriots. The old citadel of
homorn in the hands of the Austrians
meant nothing less than the final aban-
comment OF all the hopes of Hungary. Ii
was the cause of independence crushed
IL was the commend ement of a reign of
terror
AS long as Komorn resisted. the cabinet
OF Vienna pretended that it would exer-
else clemency, and the Hungarians hoped
that there would be no leprisals. But
with the surrender of the fortress the
conquerors considered that they had no
reason 10 spare the conquered: and a
repression the most terrible and oCious
IN the records of the history OF the mod
ern civilized world was exercised
throughout the rebel territory
10 Pesth came a dispatch from the
young Emperor rancis Joseph giving an
order to bring Immediately before courts
martial all the prisoners who were con
lined. Then, as if by enchantment, all
life seemed to leave town. I he houses
We're closed, the streets and squares were
deserted, and that silence which of old
relgned IN the Rome o. Nero and Caligula,
and which Tacitus called the compan on
OF tyranny" came over the two banks of
the Danube
In the high square tower of the city
nall, behind the Ludovicum, the council
assembled 1t was composed of Austrian
oMcers and soldiers, presided over by
Gen. WindiSchgratz. the conqueror Of
hakos end Fresbourg.
The prisoners appeared. They num-
bered eIeyen-nine men and two women
all accused OF taking part in the insurrec-
tlon OF the two previous years.
After having rapidly proved their iden-
tlty, the court examined them summarily,
and finally asked each one if he had any
thing to say in his defense. The greater
portion OF them refused to answer, clos
ing their mouths in a disdainful silence,
well aware of the fact that their pre-
tended military judges were there to con
denim them and not to try them.
In few minutes the cases of the first
ten prisoners were disposed of.
When the eleventh was called, a 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 minis
tors of Hungary" there was movement
OF curiosity and emotion in the crowd
and even among the judges.
This last one of the accused arose, and
in manly and sonorous voice presented
his defense. He began by refusing ener-
getically 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 elo-
quence the services rendered by his fam
lily to the cause of Austria, since the day
when Batthyany conquered at Hohacsz
down to the time when his grandfather
uttered the famous shout, Let US die for
Marie-Therese ~ a 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 a court, he sat down.
The members of the council then left
the hall to go Through the form of de-
liberation. They returned in quarter
of an hour and the clerk read the SEN
tence.
Two old men, Gems. Kiss and Schweidel,
We're condemned to be shot. Louis de
Batthyany, Nagy-Saudor Damianich, and
the other insurgents were sentenced to
be hanged and their property confis-
Gated
AS to the two women, Esther Lazar and
Adele Maderspach, the court did not dare
to sentence them to be shot or to be
hanged. but inflicted upon them punish
ment 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 implore the clemency
of the emperor. Then, moved by the same
sentiment and as if to respond 10 this last
act of tyranny. they rose, all a little pale,
but with flashing eyes, and together they
shouted: "Eljon haza" (Long live our
countryD
When the Countess Elsa de Barthyany,
who was in Vienna, heard of the convic-
ton of her son, she exhibited neither
establishment 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
hOQOrn anu inc OGn6E dt V llIdgOS. Tor
the cause of their country. Her oldest
son, Casimir, a prescribed wanderer, was
at last forced to seek safety in fight: and
now Louis, the youngest, the one upon
whom she lavished most of her solicitude
and affection, was about to be executed
Too noble to know hatred, and too
energetic to allow herself to be cast
down, she resolved to do everything pos
sible to save her son at the cost Of her
patriotic pride.
She went to the imperial palace and OBJ
tanned an audience with the Archduchess
Marie Annie, the emperor's aunt, who
was then about 40 years old, woman of
naughty Inen, 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 trib-
ute 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 triumph
ant cheers.
The passion, however, was known to
the mother of Louis. She threw herself
at the feet of the princess. Bent down
by grief, with supplicating arms, and her
breast heaving with sobs which she could
not suppress, and which almost him
dered her from speaking, she implored
her to have pity on the captive that she
loved and to spare him the shame of
deurad in O death