The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1898-01-11
EXECUTION OF LOUIS XVI.
Tho Unhappy King Went to His Death
Bravely and Calmly.

author, Miss Anna L. Bicknell, says
1t was a dark, misty, January
morning. The presence of the two
soldiers precluded the possibility Of
conversation; the priest therefore
handed his breviary to the king and
pointed out appropriate psalms,
which the king read devoutly and
with perfect calmness, to the evil
dent astonishment of the gendarmes.
The shops were shut along the way,
and crowds of armed citizens stood
on the pavement as the coach, pre-
coded and followed by cavalry and
artillery, went slowly through the
streets, where all the windows were
closed. Lines of troops stood on
each side, while drums beat solemn
ly, as if for military funeral.
AS the coach passed along the
boulevards near the Porte st. Denis,
a few young men rushed forward,
waving swords and crying loudly,
Come, all who would save the
king" There was no response, and
they were obliged to fee for their
own lives. They were pursued and
several were arrested, with fatal
consequences. The king, absorbed
in prayer and religious meditation,
he'd not even perceived the vain at
tempt to effect his deliv GRANGE.
The coach had at last reached the
Rue Royale and the Place de la Rev
olution, where the crowd was i'm
mepse. The scaffold stood little
to the left of the place, where the
obelisk now stands, but nearer the
Champs Elysees, toward which the
guillotine was turned. A mass of
troops formed a square around the
fatal spot. The coach stopped at a
distance of a few PAGES. The king,
feeling that the motion had ceased,
looked up from his prayer book,
saying quietly, 1--WE have reached
the place, think. "
OneOf the exeCutioner assistants
opened the door. The king earnest
ly commended the priest who &C
companied him to the care of the
and then stepped from
the coach.
Three men surrounded him and
tried to take off his coat. He calm
ly pushed them back and removed |
it himself, opening his shirt collar
and preparing his neck for the ak.
The exeCutiOners, who seemed at |
first disconnected and almost awed,
then again came around him, hold
ing rope.
The king drew back quickly, ex-
claiming:
What do you want to dor"
ITO tie your hands. "
The king exclaimed Indignantly: |
Tie my hands, No, l will not sub
nit to this. Do your duty, but do
not attempt to tie me; you shall not
do it!" The eXeCutioners persisted |
and spoke loudly. The king looked |
toward the Able Edgeworth, whe
IT once saw the impossibility of re
5lstance, and said gently, Sire, this
last insult viii only provide a fresh
point of resemblance between your
majesty and the God who will be
your recompense."
The king looked up to heaven.
'Assuredly, his example alone could
induce me to submit to such an in
dignity" Then holding out his
hands: do as you please. 1 will
rink the cup to the dIegs."
His hands were tied, and with the
assistance of his confessor he as
'ended the steps of the scaffold,
which were very steep. When he
cached the top, he broke away from
he able, walked firmly across the
silenCed the drums by
glance of authority, and then in a
'olce 50 loud that it was audible on
he opposite side of the Place de la
revolution, he uttered these words: l
II die innocent of all the crimes
imputed to me. / forgive those who &
ave caused my death, and l pray S
Tod that the blood you are about I
0 shed may never fall ON France"
There was a shudder that ran ,
trough the crowd Ikea great wave,
ut at the word Of command the
runs beat prolonged roll, and
he voice could no longer be heard.
he king, seeing that all further adj !
ress to the crowd would be fruit
9ss, turned to the guillotine and
almly took his place on the fatal 9
lank, to which be was fastened. |
he apparatus turned over, and the s
fell. 1t was then a quarter past Q
D o'clock a. IN. of the 21st of Janu- n
ry, 1898. The executioner held up q
le severed head, turning as he did
to the four sides of the place.
The king of France was dead.
lie roi est mort!" But no one
,nnl 10 l. A..o 7. 4 | ~