The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-08 00:00:00

to publish it, ascord ing to custom, in the different quarters
of the town, preceded by three drummer; and accompa-
nied by two ushers in their official uniform, and followed
by a crowd of citizens who fell into procession, leaving the
courts and neighbourhood of the Hotel de Ville completely
deserted. It was then half-past 3 o'clock. The procession
crossed the streets of the Hotel de Ville, the Rue Ver-

daine, &c., reached the Pont des Berguis, and on arriving
at the other end of the bridge turned to the left and entered
the Place Chevelu. During the whole of their course they

were frequently saluted with cries of " Cheneviere for over,"
to which they answered by similar cries. Nowhere where
.. _

they met by any hostile demonstration.
There was nothing, therefore, to prepare this peaceable
procession for the strange spectacle which awaited its ar-
rival on the Place Chevelu. On the right, and rushing from
the bottom of the Rue Cendrier, a dozen men, armed with
muskets, and commanded by a public functionary, made
their appearance and posted themselves at the entrance of
the street. The head of the procession was not more than
five paces from the armed men when one of them lowered
his musket and fired upon the mass which had crowded
into the narrow street. This shot wounded two persons, and
immediately induced the citizens who had been so brutally
attacked to move rapidly forward. They endeavoured to
get hold of the muskets carried by the band who were
running away, and thus reached the Place Chantepoulet,
but on. entering that " Place" they perceived on their left,
drawn up in a line, about 80 individuals armed with mus-
kets, and two cannon were placed so as
.to command the
whole of the street. At this sight, while one portion of the
citizens were reforming themselves in procession behind the
Commissary of Police and the drummers, the greater num-
ber remained scattered over the " Place," viewing with
astonishment an armed body of this description, whose
criminal intentions they could not believe in. Their illu-
sion was of no long duration.
Among those persons of whom the procession was com-
posed, some were of opinion that they should march on, and
not allow themselves to be stopped in the peacable exercise
of their rights as citizens, by the formidable obstacle which
barred their path; others, on the contrary, considered that
what had taken place in the Rue du Cendrier, showed to
what extremities these armed men were determined to go ;
they said to advance would be madness, that, being unarmed,
it would be rushing not to a combat, but to a butchery ; "it

is true we have no arms" replied one of them, "but it is
that which constitutes our strength." The opinion of the
most prudent finally prevailed. It was decided that the
procession should remain where they were, and that the
Commissary of Police alone, with his escort of drummers
and ushers should proceed to meet the armed band, and
summon it to disperse. This was accordingly done. The
Commissary of Police had proceeded half way between the
head of the procession and the top of the street when ono of
the armed men signed him to stand aside. At the same
moment three or four musket shots were fired in the air,
and these were immediately followed by the discharge of
musketry, which, directed from about 150 paces upon the
crowd, scattered in the street and on the "Place," struck
down several citizens, three of whom were mortally wounded.
The armed band then marched down the street directing
their fire on the crowd that was running away, not even
sparing those who were lifting up the victims of one of the
most infamous gtod-a-petut of modern times. It was nearly
four o'clock.
The first shots fired in the Rue du Cendrier had already

determined the retreat of the greater part of the procession

which, after hiving re-crossed the bridge, proceeded rapidly
towards the Motel de Ville. On their way there the noise

of the discharge of musketry in the Rll9 Chantepoulet
reached their ears, and immediately the cry " To Arms I"
arose from this unarmed crowd, in momentary expectation
of being pursued by the assassins who had plundered the
arsenals of the Saccnnex. The last remains of the proces-
sion came up some minutes later, with an account of the
murders which had just been committed. It because urgent
to provide for the public safety, and the gendarmes on
guard at the arsenal of the Hotel do Ville, having refused
to open the gates, ladders were raised against the windows
by the citizens, who by this means penetrated into the
arsenal, and divided among themselves the muskets
that were found there. A few barricades were soon raised in
order to defend the approaches of the Hotel de Ville, but
the citizens who were thus arming to defend themselves
against any fresh attack, lees well provided than their as-
sasins, had not at their disposal the ammunition of the
State ; they were without powder or ball. They had, how-
ever, muskets and bayonets, the alarm bell was rung, the
generale was beat, and they calmly waited to be attacked. The
attack did not, however, take place. The assassins, exult-
ing at their victory, contented themselves with barricading
the bridges, with placing cannon there, and firing musket-
shots from time to time on the passers by.
At a quarter before 6 the battalion of recruits encamped
near the town (which the citizens who were in possession of
the Hotel de Ville had suggested to the Council of State to
call in) made their appearance. The same citizens had
already declared their readiness to destroy the
,barricades
which they had erected, and to lay down their arms, upon
condition that those who occupied the portion of the
town on the right bank of the Rhone would on their side
lay down their arms, and also destroy their barricades.
One of the members of the Council of State, which subse-
quent to the firing had been prevented from leaving the
Hotel de Ville, had proceeded to the bands who occupied
the bridges, and had proposed this simultaneously disarma-
ment, to which they had acceded. The recruits accordingly
occupied, without meeting with any resistance, the post of
the Hotel de Ville, and the citizens were thus relieved, by
the presence of a regular force, from the fear of any fresh
attack, and although not numerous or with much expe-
rience, resolved and prepared to do their duty, they went
home, counting upon the arm of the law to chastise the
crime, and only asking from the magistrates, whose friends
have just assassinated theirs, the application of those laws
without which no society could exist even for an hour.
As regards the assassins who promised to lay down their
arms, during the whole of the night they paraded the
streets, firing their muskets, forming patrols, and mounting
guard upon the theatre of their exploits.
We might add numerous details to this statement. We
could mention the names of some of the men who joined
company with the assassins whom they had provided with
weapons; we could tell you what voice, still more criminal
and more cowardly, urged on miserable fanatics to dishonour
the banner of their party. Bat justice has commenced its
work, and we shall not inflict upon ourselves the sad task of
anticipating its revelations.
For the Independent Committee,
The President, Cu. DAUMAS.
The Secretary, Tlr, RILLIET.
Geneva, Aug. 27.