The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-01-16
THE FIELD OF ADVENTURE.
THRILLING INCIDENTS AND OAR
ING DEEDS ON LAND AND SEA.

THRILLING INCIDENTS AND OAR
ING DEEDS ON LAND AND SEA.
Romantic Career of Captain De
Rudio-Battle With a Snakc-A
Balloon Duel in War Time.
1APTAIN CHARLES c. DE RU-
do, OF the Seventh Cavalry of
~ the Army, recently retired,
has an interesting history.
The Army List, which gives biograph-
ical sketches of the officers OF the SER
vice, mentions the fact that he was
born in Venice on August 20, 1892;
that he entered the Austrian Military
Academy of Milan; that afte- the rev.
olution of 184S he left the Austrian
army and joined the Venetian Legion
of the Cacciatori dele Alpi in Venice,
serving until March, 1S49, when he
left Venice and entered the Legion of
Garibsldi in Rome; that he took part
with that legion in the battle of April
so, 1849, against the French. at the
battles of Palestrlna and Velletri
against the Neapolitan Bourbon army,
and at the siege of Rome till its fall
The sketch then gives his connection
with the United States Army from Au-
gust 25, 1864.
Captain de Rudio adds an interest
ing chapter to his foreign service by
relating his experiences on the scaFold
and his escape from death in 1853. He
had been sentenced to the guillotine
for joining with Orsini and others in a
plot to assassinate Louis Napoleon.
Three of the accused men were con-
demned to death, Captain de Ruiio
being elected as the second one to suf-
fer the penalty, Immediately preced-
ing Orsini. He had made his final ar
engagements, had hidden farewell to
his wife and child, had been led to the
guillotine by the guard, where the
black cap had been adjusted, his arms
tied behind him aud with his clothing
stripped from his neck and shoulders
almost to the waist, to give the gilt
tering blade free and upobstru .ted
way. Then, at his own request, he had
received couple OF moments to smoke
his pipe.
1t was just five minutes before the
moment for the execution to take place
when man was seen hurriedly to en-
ter the prison gate and hasten to where
De Rudio was standing. There he re-
marked to the victim in an informal
way:
''This is cold, unpleasant day to
be ont in such costume, my friend. I"
"Yes, but I don't care. I haven't
time to catch cold," was De Rudio' S
reply. Not knowing who it was that
addressed him, the officer continued !:
Excuse me for continuing to smoke,
but I cannot take this pipe out of my
mouth. Besides am great smoker,
and as this is the last pipe expect to
smoke want the full benefit from it. -
''Oh, go ahead and smoke. But I
am happy to say that you will probably
smoke many more, added the stranger
81 hardly think SO; will be dead in
few minutes" answered De Rudio
"No you won't, because have re-
prieye for you," came the response.
De Rudio, still in doubt, remarked /:
stBnr if ! am not executed at seven
O'clock, according to the law, I cannot
be executed at all under this sem
tence."
"Never mind about that. That is
my business. Go to your cell, and I
will call and explain all at nine
O'Clock" went on the stranger. At
| the same moment he ordered the
| guard to reconduct the condemned
man to the death cell. On the way
TO gate he met Orsini on his way to
the guillotine, and both men, from a
common impulse. stepped and kissed
| each. As De Rudio entered the pri-
son gate he turned his face toward the
scaffold and bowed to Ofsini. That
WAS the last they saw OF each other.
The stranger who had prevented the
death of De Rudio was the private
secretary of the Empress. Later he
called and explained to De Rudio that
Her Majesty had pleaded with the En-
peror and also with the Senate to spare
the youngest of the three men, and,
finding that nothing could be done,
she had ordered the Project of Police
not to carry out the execution, and
the order had been obeyed.
The Emperor was angry at the in
reference, but his only recourse was
to have another trial. De Rudio was
again sentenced to be executed, but
the sentence was committed to exile
for life. He escaped, aud, coming to
the United States, entered the United
States service as private in the
seventy ninth New York (aigblanders)
Volunteers On August %. 1864.