The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-07-13

from Elba, Lava
lette was among the first OF his old adj
herents to join his standard and for this
act of loyalty to his old chief he was con-
demned to death. Mime. de LavaIette tried
every means to soften the heart Of the
king, but failed and repaired to the prison
with plan of escape. The doomed man
had learned that he was to die on a certain
Thursday morning. On Tuesday evening
his wife visited the cell to dine with him
and laid before him this project, which
with outside help, she had made arrange
ments to carry out: At O'Clock the pris-
oner, dressed in his wife's clothing, was to
pass out on the arm of her usual attend
ant, enter her chair and once outside place
himself in the hands Of friends. This bold
plan of jailbreak and all it's details had
been devised and was to be undertaken by
women. The madame, her young daugh-
ter and an old female servant were to be
the agents Failure meant punishment
for all, and success would leave the faith
full wife prisoner in the hands of bitter
enemies. Lavalette opposed the scheme
strongly, but finally consented after a
days postponement. That brought it to
the eve of the day fixed for his death a
slip would therefore be fatal
At O'Clock on Wednesday the mother
and daughter entered the cell, accompanied
by the servant. Mime. LavaIette then
displayed her outer robe, bonnet and the
chief features of the disguise, dwelling
infinitely on the way in which the fugitive
must act in the strange garb and charac-
ter. He must counterfeit the part per
fectly, yet not overact. The exchange of
costume was about to begin when a warm
personal friend of the prisoner entered the
cell to bid him goodby, for the hour of exc
oution was to be at daylight Not a mo-
ment was to be lost; the unconscious in
truder must be dismissed at once. Lava
lette lifted his hand to enjoin secrecy and
conveyed to the visitor by ardent gestures
the idea that the madame and the daugh-
ter were ignorant of the impending fate
The happy ruse was successful and the
caller went away. 1t was again used on a
friend who arose from the bed of pain,
where he was confined with several
wounds, to take a last leave of his com
rade.
Once more alone, the dressing was soon
completed by means OF a screen, and this
was to serve also to hide the bogus count
when the jailer or his attendant should
look in to see that all was well. Mime. La
valette would then remain hidden, NOV
ing piece of furniture or in some way
making noise to satisfy the watchers that
the cell was occupied. When all was ready,
the prisoner pulled the rope of the jailer's
bell feebly, and his wife passed behind the
screen. The door opened and the count
stepped out followed by his daughter, the
servant last. "After crossing the CORR
DOR" says the count in his narrative of
the escape, 81 came to the door of the out
er room. There / was obliged 20 lift myfoot
on account of the doorstep and at the same
time to bow my head so that the feathers
of my bonnet should not touch the cell
ing. 1 succeeded, but on raising my head,
found myself opposite five jailers, sit
ting, leaning, standing, the whole length
of the way. L held my handkerchief to my
eyes and waited for my daughter to join
me, as agreed. The child took my arm,
and the porter, coming down stairs from
his room, advanced toward me and placing
his hand on my arm, said, you are leav-
ing early, my lady He seemed agitated
and probably thought the wife had hidden
the husband adieu forever. They after
ward said that my daughter and 1 cried
aloud, although we scarcely dared sigh.
AT last came to the end of the hall Day
and night turnkey sits there in a large
armchair in 4 space narrow enough to al
low him to place his hands on the keys of
the two gates, one an iron gate, the other
made of wood, and called the first en-