The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-03-04 00:00:00

A HORRIBLE SCENE.

The I) bats of Monday givre an acc•uint of the
popular demonstration on the previous day, which wee
marked by a fearful crime—
Since Friday last—the anniverury of the revolution of 1848
—great crowds of people had assembled at the Place de la
basalile, where a perpetual parade of National Guard.
defiling in front ci the Column of July wan in progress.
From six olc`oek on the morning of Sanday until evening de-
tachments 'marched up to the casino n, the ornamental
noires around which were covered with crape, and owes
eh-cal addle.* to praise of the Bermbite were delivered.
Towards the afternoon • body at some SOO or 300 men
wore seen emerging from V. Eno 81. Ahtaine, no
or rather iireargbag, a well.dressed man, who, berelootelid,
was held by the wallan by two Caaasin r .lipled. Loud cries
of "To the Wear "lie is an informer, • et y of ('feint'.!"
were heard, • hile other voices exclaimed, •• Th. y want to
mature their bludgeon days. No pity; away with spies F'
it wee stated that this person had been seen, pencil in
hand, noting down the numbers of the battalion wlal breed.
their appearance upon the EACO. Upon being questioned by
the two soldiers, be replied that it was no business of theirs,
and It was asserted that he struck at them with a cerise tete,
lie was then seized, se/welted. and upon him were found a re-
volver and papers proving that he balonged to the police.
This disc avery exasperated the crowd, and the unhappy man
was dragged toward. the canal, Into which he was es ant to
be case, when eome hetteudtsposed persons thrust blot Inn
the guard-Mom, and the ['Ler commanding the pact
ordered the gates to be closed.

The quoys were thronged with an excited and lindens
crowd, who demanded She surrender a the prisoner, and
the execution of the popular sentence. the oniser climbed
upon the railings and explained to the mob that It wos his
duty to retain the prisoner in order that he might be con-
veyed to the Prefecture, and besought them to los calm. 114
exhortation was not lietened to. Cries of' they Want to Ist
him escape ! " " (live him up to us " drowned his vAce.
Some Foot Chasseurs not over the ratlines and were followed
by many of the crowd and re captured the rem. wet. h, whom
the fist:anal Guards on duty math, no tfl..rt to save. Blows
felt th.ckly open hie; he was hustled and kicked and arpsared
almost dead.

There were at that time about 21,00 persons collected on
the Place to is Boerne, but althorgh Ott, cc who called for
the death of their olctim only numbered 00 or 5'.0, f whom
• great proportion were mere fleMi7lll. no attempt *AM
made to prevent the now nthoc of their bboodsbiroty
decree. The prisoner was dragged towards the ii m'evard
Bourdon ; he begging to !be allowed to shoot Masonlf.
Toe Chosouta set o ho d him put him upon a beach, and
submitted the coos:ion to the crowd, •• Wi 1 you allow
the prisoner to blow out his brains with his own revolver?'
"No!" was the response, followed by cam of " I'o the
sealer with Mel !" A move ma then made towards the
Qusi Henri IV., awl there, clouMing whether their
vicAm West be able to mein, tiny took the precaution of
tying Lie arms and logs, and in that con Mon carrel as •
more 1 undle onto. barge, whence they flung bin into the
five-. The current ifinnedistely bra away the helpie's mate,
at which showtrs of stones were hotly!. 8 0111 F melt being'
tog to r.v., SIC amers attempted to c St life buoys to toe
drowning men, but they were driven cif by the furious execra-
tions of the mob and ult,mately deoliod. The body drifted
undo, the piling at the point of the ray Saint Louis and was
110 more MIL

'nese horrible scenes lasted for upwards or two holm
Upon the q isi Ilthri IV, two pasons who ventured to ra-
cism against toes, brutal proceedings were themselves
/Mailed s s police spies and threatened with death. Other
pewons were similar:), treated, and barely saved themselvts
by optortune ii gill. In the meantime the Place de is Bas-
tille cJitt Wood to he thronged, and the cab's and wale shops
drove a it mutishlbg trade.