The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-08-19
sDIsIsn Through tas Streets Of Paris by
l;I., Rsadless Man.
.sToaY OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
An Account of the Death of Dr. Gas.
pard. abe Young French Scientist
he Met a Horrible Fate Under
Very singular circumstance
Terrifying and SHOCKING Spectacle


che average reader, the old gentleman who
sslated tho incident to mo firmly believed
Il, and u few experts In electricity have
admittcd that Such things are possible.
When the revolution was at Its height in
/ Paris during 1899, young doctor named
Gaspard met horrible fate under very
singular circumstances. The doctor was
devoted TO science He had mastered many
of the secrets of electricity, and there Is
good reason to believe that If he had lived
in our generation he would have been far
In advance Of our lesding electricians.
Or. Gaspard loved science and hated Du-
ment. dreaded rival In his own particular
Sold Ono night pumont was arrested and
carried before the revolutionary tribunal.
He VISA tried and convicted Of treason before
midnight and was sentenced to die at an
early hour the next morning. In this case,
90 hurriedly disposed Of, the prosecutor was
Gaspard. Ho made the affidavit which
caused tho arrest, and he was the only
witness against the prisoner.
IS The square where the execution took
place was crowded at sunrise, for there
wero so persons to suffer the death penalty.
ipumont was young man Of gigantic size
he was worry tall, with massive frame,
and his head doomed far above his follow
prtsonera he had nothing to say, but his
rowing eyes searched tho ranks Of the spec.
tators until they finally rested upon ono
3fnce--the face Of his false friend, Gaspard.
With mighty effort the prisoner burst
his bonds.
i "VillainP he shouted in q ringing voice
40 ho pointed to tho man who had BETRAYED
him. My death will be avenged! Your
hour of doom is near at handr'
he was roughly seized His wrists were
bound aed the beating of tho drums
drowned his voice.
GaspaTd hid himself In tho crowd and
waited. He did not have long to wait. His
enemy WINS the first victim, and the guillo-
tine had hardly severed the head before
tho remains wcro placed on q stretcher and
carried to the Doctors laboratory close ut
hand
4, Gaspard locked his doors Mt onco. He
had everything ready for the experiment..
"A few stitches reunited tho head to the
body, and tho doctor went to work with
his electrical appliances Just what oc-
Cured ia tho laboratory will mover be
known. There were still ten persons to be
executed, when tho people around the gull
aotine were struck dumb with horror by n
spectacle moro shocking than tho scenes
which they had just witnessed on tho scat.
fold.
Dr. Gaspard was seen rushing from his
laboratory In u frenzy of frantic terror.
Close at his heels followed Dumont The
pursuor's dress was disordered and covered
with crimson streaks from his neck down
ward to his feet. His face, conyulsed with
rage, was a horrible sight to behold.
When they had recovered from their
fright sufficiently to moyo, the spectators
scattered in every direction, leaving only
tho e1eoutioners, the guards and the pris-
oners who were awaiting their turn to
mount the scaffold.
Straight through the square the two doc
tors darted, Gaspard uttering tho most
ferrifying cries, while the other sped along
IN silence. Tho two reached narrow
atreet leading to the river, and thon came
she most exciting part of the race
They had trnversed about 200 yards, when
ehe stitches became loossned In Dumont's
neck Quick as lightning the victim Of
the euillotins snatohed of his bleeding
head and continued to run, holding the
tjgory, CHASTITY thing In one hand, with Its
staring eyes fixed on Gaspard. The
wretched fugitive, looking backward, saw
this now horror, and with blood ourdlina
yell he almost doubled his speed.
Onward and still onward they few, the
pursuer slowly gaining In the race Scared
ehopkcepers closed their doors, women
lahrteked from their windows and tainted,
bravo soldiers turned white with fear and
many old people fell upon their knees and
crossed themselves. Looking nsithor to the
right nor to the left, Gaspard rushed on
ward, continuing his cries
Attracted by tho uproar, tho Judge who
had sentenced Dumont stopped his carriage
and waited with his daughter to ascertain
the meaning Of 1t all The young lady was
Gasperd's sweetheart, and when she saw
her lover flying before tho rcd and headlsss
ayenger behind him abe gave desperate
Scream. The fugihyo saw her, but dared
not stop.
Without pausing, Dumont, when no
passed the carriage, suddenly gave his head
q swing and hurled it through the air. 1t
landed In the lap Of the judges daughter,
and, seeing its staring eyes looking into her
own, the poor girl gave another scream and
then tainted. The judges horses dashed
away at the top Of their speed, and the few
people who saw the affair barred their
doors and fell to praying In good earnest.
Gaspard was about 80 yards from the
quay when Dunont caught him. The
headless NAN wound one crimson arm
around the captured doctor and then drag
ged him rapidly to the river. A moments
pause, and tho struggling doctor was forced
To leap into the water with the red terror,
IN whose grip he waG utterly helpless.
was hopeless, frightened face that
disappeared under the black current. This
was ell that party of pleasure seekers in
= beat near She scene could toll about 1t