The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-03-13

/ Or stitching them Together we made q
ladder some 20 feet long which after
ward enabled us to move from place to
place in the chimney while removing
the bars. The execution of this part OF
the work cost MS six months OF the most
trying and painful labor. We We're
obliged to work in the most uncomfort-
able and torturinS positions, and we had
scarcely struck Il dozen strokes before
our hands were covered with blood. The
bars We're fixed IN an extremely hard
cement, on which we could make no
impression without tools till we had
moistencd it with water, and the water
had to be carried up in our mouths. We
were satisfied when we removed Il SIN
gle square inch of the cement III the
course of u night. We were obliged to
leave each one III its place after loc4en-
ing it, not daring to remove them TIL
the last moment for fear that the CHM
ney might be examined in the mean
time. This completed we went to work
on the wooden ladder by means of which
we were to get into the governor S gar
den, which lay on the other side Of the
ditch and to make it we set aside the
pieces OF wood sent to us as firing. using
part of an old chandelier, notched With
our pocketknivos, as a saw. Viii this
and another rude tool made from the
ironwork of our table, we cut the wood
into smaller r:cces, fastening them to-
gether viii, small bits of metal and
bolts Sc wood that served as hinges and
Screws Thus we got single pole near
iy % feet long, through which we put
pieces of wood that projected about SIX
inches on either side II could be folded
together and easily put away into our lit
tie subterraneau workshop. How we es-
capped detection seems wonderful, for 1t
was the custom with the officers OF the
Bastille not only to visit the cells them.
selves at the most unexpected and irreg-
ular times, but even to set spies upon the
prisoners most secret hours. We dared
not, therefore leave the slightest trace
of our work anywhere. But guards have
ears MS well as eyes, aud to avoid all
danger from this source we invented "A
language of our own, calling our saw
'fawn;' hook, 'Tubal CAIN the hole
in the floor, 'Polyphemus, while our
pocketknives went by the name Of pup
pies.
And now for our great ladder by
which to reach the top Of the chimney,
$50 feet above us at the least calculation.
Everything we POSSESSED i'll the way Of
wearing apparel we ripped and tore to
pieces, hiding each hank III Polyphe-
mus. One night we spent in binding
them together, but we had this satisfac-
ton, that our rope was not only Us long
as we could possibly need, bur AS stout
too,
Ropes for the ladder and the guy and |
anchoring ropes measured 1 400 feet
The prisoners spent IS months i'll the |
preparations TO mount the tower and |
drop into the ditch. All being ready |
they chose dark night III February. !
when the river was flooded and the !
ditch filled with water. standing to the |
armpits in the chilling tide, they labor
ed nine hours tuuncling passage under |
meath tlit buttT Will. AZ > - tIOth III |
the morning they emerged from the tun
mel just rs the prison hell struck the |
hour and stood on the main road, free |
men. After many wanderlngs and ad |
ventures they reached Brussels separate |
ly, where Allegro was Immediately ar
rested. Latude avoided detection for |
time, but was finally caught at Amster I
dam, He WAS loaded with irons for a
number of wears, but at last became u
privileged prisoner ut Nincennes. One /
day, nearly Ten years after his escape |
from the tower, he dashed past the senti-
nels and disappeared in the crowd gath
cred by the uproar Outside the gate he
offered himself for arrest To the single
guard, but suddenly disarmed him and
hurled his musket some rods away, then
ran and hid in park. After hours Of
he entered Paris and found
asylum with two girls who had be-
friended him in prison.
AT the end of few weeks Of rest his
daring spirit once moe brought HIM
into trouble. He wrote to the governor
If Vincennes asking him to interfere for
MS pardon, and also boldly Went i'll per
son to two ministers of the king TO sue
'or their protection He was shortly re