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One of the warders of the prison, Henrion by name, made some attempt to expostulate with the Vengeurs de Flourens, who had been told off for the execution. "What would you have?" was the answer. "Killing is not at all amusing. We were killing this morning at the Prefecture of Police. But they say this is reprisal. The Versaillais have been killing our generals."
Jourde was a medical student, one of the best men in the Commune, and faithful to his trust as its finance minister. Flourens, the scientist, a genuine enthusiast, we have seen was killed in the first skirmish with the Versaillais. Félix Pyat was an arch conspirator, but a very spirited and agreeable writer. He was elected in 1888 a deputy under the Government of the Third Republic.
"Monsieur," the Frenchman answered, trying to cover his rags with his native cape, "that explains itself easily. I was a medical student in Paris in the days of the Commune. Ah! that beloved Paris how far away it seems now from Boupari! Like all other students I was advanced Republican, Socialist what you will a political enthusiast. When the events took place the events of '70 I espoused with all my heart the cause of the people. You know the rest. The bourgeoisie conquered. I was taken red-handed, as the Versaillais said my pistol in my grasp an open revolutionist. They tried me by court-martial br'r'r no delay guilty, M. le President hard labor to perpetuity. They sent me with that brave Louise Michel and so many other good comrades of the cause to New Caledonia. There, nine years of convict life was more than enough for me. One day I found a canoe on the shore a little Kanaka canoe you know the type a mere shapeless dug-out. Hastily I loaded it with food yam, taro, bread-fruit I pushed it off into the sea I embarked alone I intrusted myself and all my fortunes to the Bon Dieu and the wide Pacific. The Bon Dieu did not wholly justify my confidence. It is a way he has that inscrutable one. Six weeks I floated hither and thither before varying winds. At last one evening I reached this island. I floated ashore. And, enfin, me voil
The Versaillais were already within the walls of Paris, but this we in the centre of the city did not know. The news spread during the day, however, and there was a great panic in the evening. Everybody began to make preparations for flight, the soldiers being anxious to get home and change their uniforms for plain clothes.
The most energetic officer they saw was a stalwart negro lieutenant, possibly the man who, as De Compiègne tells us, had scared some Versaillais in a cellar on the 22d of May. On the night of Thursday, May 25, the Column of July was a remarkable sight. It had been hung with wreaths of immortelles, and those caught fire from an explosive.
The shells of the Versaillais fell on friend and foe alike, on women and on children, on homes, on churches, and on public buildings. Three shots struck the Arch of Triumph, which the Prussians had spared. Such scenes as the following one, related by an American, might be seen daily: "Two National Guards passed me, bearing a litter between them.
"He has poisoned him. Take him before the court martial." "Shoot him right away. He's an assassin; the Versaillais have sent him." "Off with him to the lock-up!" Servien's denials and struggles were in vain. Again and again he protested: "You can see for yourselves he's drunk and asleep!" "Listen to him he is insulting the sovereign people." "Pitch him in the river!" "Swing him on a lamp-post."
It was the Abbé Duguerry, curé of the Madeleine, the first of the so-called hostages arrested in retaliation for the summary execution of General Duval, who had commanded one of the three columns that marched out of Paris the day before to attack the Versaillais. Both the curé of the Madeleine and his vicaire, the Abbé Lamazou, were that night arrested.
Before the siege Paris had contained two million and a quarter of inhabitants: she had not half that number during the Commune, notwithstanding the multitude of small proprietors and peasants who had flocked thither from devastated homes. Monday, May 29, found the city in the hands of the Versaillais. The Provisional Government and its Parliament were victorious.
"We shall be in double danger then," Pierre Leroux put in. "We run the risk of being shot by the Communists for not fighting at the barricades, and if we escape that, we have a chance of being shot by the Versaillais as Communists. It is a horrible position to be placed in." "Well, I should say, Pierre, keep your eyes open and escape if you possibly can before the assault takes place.
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