Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1898-08-19
EXECUTION OF LOUIS XVI.
The Unhappy King Went to HIS Dean
nravely.

nravely.
II was a dark, misty, January morn
ing. The presence of two soldiers pre-
Guided the possibility OF conversation;
the priest therefore handed his breviary
to the king, and pointed out appropri-
ate psalms, which the king read de-
youtiy and with perfect calmness, to
the evident establishment of the gen
dar1mes. The shops were shut along the
way, and crowds of armed citizens
stood on the pavement as the coach,
preceded and followed by cavalry and
artillery, went slowly through the
streets. where all the windows were
| closed. Lines of troops stood on q
side, while drums beat solemnly, as II
for a military funeral.
AS the coach passed along the boule-
wards 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 tc
flee for their own lives. They were pur-
sued, and several were arrested, with
fatal consequences. The king, abb
sorbed in prayer and religious medita-
ton, had not even perceived the vain at
tempt to effect his d~eliverance.
The coach had at last reached the
Rue Royale and the Place de la Revolu-
ton. where the crowd was immense.
The scaffold stood a little to the left OF
the Place, where the Obelisk nov
stands, but nearer the Champs Elysees'
toward which the guillotine was turned
A mass of troops formed q square
around the fatal spot. The coach
stopped at a distance of q few PAGES
The king, feeling that the motion hat
ceased, looked up from his prayer
book, saying quietly: I'VE have
reached the place, / think"
One of the executioner's assistants
opened the door. The king earnestly
commended the priest who accom-
panied him to the care OF the gen
darmes, and then stepped from thu
coach.
Three men surrounded him and triet
to take off his coat. He calmly pushet
them back and removed it himself
opening his shirt collar and preparing
his neck for the ak. The executioners
who seemed at first disconnected an,
almost awed, then again came aroun'
him, holding a rope.
The king drew back quickly, exclaim
ing:
"What do you want to do?"
ITO tie your hands,"
The king exclaimed, indignantly
"Tie my hands! No, I will not submit
to this. Do your duty, but do not al
tempt to tie me; you shall not do It'll"
The e~xecutioners persisted, and spok
loudly. The king looked toward til
Able Edgeworth, who at once saw til
impossibility of resistance, and sait
gently: "Sire, this last insult will onl
I, provide a fresh point of resemblance
, between your majesty and the Go
who will be your recompense."
The king looked up to Heaven: "a
suredly, His example alone could il
duce me to submit to such an indil
nifty" Then holding out his hands
"Do as you please; l will drink the GU
to the dregs."
: His hands were tied, and, with IL
assistance of his confessor, he ascend,
the steps of the scaffold, which we,
very steep. When he reached the tt
> he broke away from the able, walk,
firmly across the scaffold, silenced ii
drums by a glance of authority, al
o then in q voice SO loud that it was au
II ible on the opposite side of the Place
d ia Revolution, he uttered these word
3 II die innocent of all the crimes il
puted to me. l forgive those who ha
caused my death, and 1 pray God tn
u the blood you are about to shed M
never fall on France"
J There was a shudder that r
through the crowd like a great wa,
q but at the word of command the dru1
y beat a prolonged roll, and the vol
could nc longer be heard. The kir
Q seeing that all further address to t
. crowd would be fruitless, turned
q the guillotine and calmly took his pla
on the fatal plank, to which he "
X fastened. The apparatus turned on
. md the AK fell. 1t was then a quar-
ie past ten o'clock a. m. of the 21st of il
5 larry, 1893. The executioner held up I
q severed head, turning as ne did SO
le the four sides of the Place.
a The king of France was dead.
lie roi est mort!"
ID But no one dared to cry the ira
ditional responses: "Vive lie roll"
"a lie roll" The heir to the once 81
~ ious title vas now a poor little CHI
n weeping bitterly in a prison by the s.
g of the widowed mother.-Anna L. Bi,
nell, in Century.