The Sun.
London, England, 1840-09-07 00:00:00

itql PA sun, LONDON', ivrONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, IR4O

DISTURBANCES IN PARIS.

STRIKE OF THE OPERATIVES.

(From the itioniteur Parisien of Thursday Night.)
In the course of Wednesday numerous attempts
were made to seduce the workmen employed by M.
Pifret, the engineer, in the Avenue Parmentier, to
leave their work ; but they refused till five in the after.
noon; when about 500 or 600 of the dissatisfied work.
men made an invasion upon the premises, and at las:
succeeded in enticing or forcing them away. Three
. .

sergens-de-vine, who-endeavoured to oppose the irrup-
tion, were thrown down, trampled under foot, and
stabbed with knives and poignards. One of them was
mortally wounded, and the two others very seriously
injured. From an early hour yesterday morning, a
great number of workmen were seen proceeding to-
wards the Plain of Pantin, where it was intended to
hold a large meeting. By the middle of the day an
immense number had assembled, variously estimated at
from 10,000 to 20,000, but the former number was
probably nearest the truth. Every precaution was
taken by the police authorities to disperse the as-
semblage, and finding that their repeated summonses
were unattended to, they were at length obliged to
direct a charge to be made on the assembled multitude
by the mounted Municipal Guards and cavalry, who
were io readiness to act if repired, by which about a
dozen were wounded, and a good number arrested. All
the posts at the barriers in that neighbourhood were
considerably strengthened, and a strong party of the
National Guard of La Villette were assembled at the
Mairie in case of need.

(From the Gazette des Tribunaux of Friday.)
The assemblages of the working classes were yester-
day still more numerous and threatening than on the
three preceding days. From five o'clock in the morn-
ing, at the most opposite extremities of Paris, at
Vaugirard, Pantin, Saint Maudi, and at the slaughter
house of Menilmoutant, thousands of individuals be-
longing to different trades were congregating, surround-
ing those who may be considered as the leaders of those
culpable coalitions, listening to those who harangued
by turns, and manifesting a degree of excitement from
which no reasonable result can be anticipated. At the
same time a column of from one thousand to twelve
hundred smiths and wheelwrights bad betaken itself to
the workshops of the different yards of diliciences and
other public carriages, in order to be satisfied that all
labour was suspended. Tne terracemakers, who were
constructing a talus at the extremity of the Champs
Elysees. near the triumphal arch, were compelled to
leave off work, and a considerable number of sawyers
and carpenters having reached the Orleans railroad, pre.
vented the works from being carried on, and replied by
insults and threats to the representations that were
made to them by a justice of the peace, whose authority
they questioned, though he was accompanied by police
agents and invested with the insignia of his functions.

At the same time the cotton weavers were simul-
taneously leaving at the Faubourg Saint Antoine, the
manufactories in which they had had work up to the
present day, and wages which were deemed suffi-
cient. A meeting of seven or eight hundred of those
weavers, investing successively the establishments
of MM. Herelle, Esse de Picpus, Jules Gobert and
Gobert, sine, Rue de Charonne, compelled the wo.k•
men to strike for the purpose of joining them. The
seasonable arrival of the Commissary of Police of the
quarter, M. Jacquemin, who was accompanied by 30
Municipal Guards, prevented them from resorting to
any violence, and was sufficient to cause them to evacu-
ate the Faubourg, and to disperse in another direction.
But a more serious incident was brewing, of which
the Quartier des Quinze Vingt was to be shortly the
scene of action. A gun-maker's manufactory, belong•
ing to the Sieur Pihet, and situated Avenue Parmen-
tier, No. 3, was suddenly invaded by three or four hun-
dred workmen, whose language and attitude evinced
threatening intentions. The Commissary of Police,
M. Thomond, being apprised thereof•, and fearing, no
doubt, that as they entered under the pretext or with
the view of compelling the Sieur Pihet's workmen to
strike, the rioters would take possession of all the ready-
made arms in the establishment, proceeded there with
all possible speed, accompanied by three Police Ser-
geants, Signol, Petit, and Mazy.
The gates of the manufactory were open ; the Com-
missary of Police and the three agents penetrated
therein, but they bad hardly entered when they were
surrounded and assailed by a furious mob. The Com-
missary of Police, who imprudently had not come ac-
companied by a body of about sixty Municipal Guards
who were in reserve at the slaughter-house near at hand,
left in order to require their assistance for the purpose
of extricating the sergens de ville. But though his ab-
sence was but of short duration, and the Municipal
Guards arrived with all possible speed, they were not
in time to prevent the sergens de ville from being the
objects of the most atrocious outrage. Signol, an old
soldier, and the father of five children, was the first who
was assailed by the infuriated mob, who almost all
at once stabbed him in three places with a poignard
knife, which, entering his breast, caused large and deep
wounds.
Petit was almost as soon stabbed four times with a
Lite, two of winch penetrated to his entrails, whilst the
others were inflicted between the sixth and seventh ribs
of the right side. Mazy, who was struck the last, re-
ceived less serious wounds, but ail three of them, when
once on the ground, and weltering in their blood, were
exposed to those atrocious brutalities which invariably
signalise popular commotion.
It is thus that Signol, Petit, and Mazy were a prey
to the most incredible cruelty ; they were kicked about
the body and head with the heels of the boots, and
when the commissary of police and on armed force came
to rescue them from those inhuman wretches they barely
showed symptoms of life.
Let us hasten to announce that there are hopes of
saving the lift of Mazy, who has been conveyed to the
Hospital of St. Louis. Signol, who had been carried
to the said hospital, died from his wounds. With
respect to Petit, who is at the Hospital of St. Antoine,
notwithstanding the very serious nature of his wounds,
there still remains a shadow of hope of saving hint.
Numerous arrests have been effected. One hun-
dred and forty weavers and spinners are at the Prefec-
ture
of Police : other workmen belonging to different
branches of trade, who have also joined the coalition, are
in the hands of the authories. Several have been re-
cognised as having undergone various punishments
either for misdemeanours or crimes.

The following circumstance deserves to be men-
tioned. Upon several of the individuals who were ar-
rested in those deplorable riots there was found sums of
money which, from their amount, corresponded but
little with their appearance, and with the rate of wages
they had been receiving. Some had as much as 120
francs each, part of which was in gold. There were
also found at the lodgings of some of those who had
taken a prominent part in the disturbances, anti who
were arrested at home, tickets for provisions to be given
to workmen who are seduced away from their work.
Of the workmen who assembled at Pantin, some, when
dispersed, returned to Paris by Romainville, Bagnolet,
and Menilmoutant. Others went to Bondy, hut the
greater number returned by a circuitous route. Some,
who were obstinate, and would not retire, but made a
show of resistance to the cavalry, received some blows
from the flat of the sword. We understand that the
Minister of Justice has given orders for the proceedings
against the offenders who are in custody to be so expe-
dited that they may be brought to trial without delay.
(From the Droll.)
A considerable assemblage of workmen took place
yesterday near Saint Ouen, and a raiment of cavalry
was sent out against them. According to one of the
letters of convocation which was seized, it appears that
they intended to visit the workshops of the railways,
in order to compel the workmen employed there to join
them ; but, we are informed, that, to prevent riot,
these workshops had been closed and all labour sus-
pended. In the evening of yesterday meetings were
held on the Boulevard Saint Denis and the adjrAning
street's. Numerous horse and foot patrols of the
Municipal Guard were on the spot, and several persons
were arrested. It was found necessary to make the
legal sominutions before the workmen would disperse.
Deputations from different branches of the operatives
of Lyons arrived in Paris on Wednesday. They say
that they are not come to join the workmen of Paris, and
make protests in the streets ; but it is said that they are
charged by their comrades at Lyons to demand that
each branch of trade may be represented in the Cham-
ber by a Deputy. The Board of master carpenters
• (Chanibre des Menuis,ers) have published a declaration,
stating that the demands presented in an anonymous
paper circulated by the journeymen carpenters of Paris
does not appear to have emanated from the majority,
but from a small minority of the workmen ; that the
majority of the workmen deplore the disorders excited
by a few agitators, and that the general assembly of
master carpenters feel that they have no authority to
interdict the practice of marchandage, which, what-
ever defects it may have, cannot be abolished with-
out attacking the principle of the liberty of trade.
They add, that they cannot fix the price of day labour
without violating the law against combination, and also
attacking the same principle of freedom ; and conclude
by inviting all master carpenters, conformably with the
wishes of the majority of the workmen, to keep their
workshops open as heretofore.

(From Galignani.)
From an early hour yesterday morning a great
number of workmen were seen proceeding towards the
Piain of Pantin, where it was intended to hold a large
meeting. By the middle of the day an immense number
had assembled, variously estimated at from 10,000 to
20,000, but the former number Was pruhably nearest
the truth, Every precaution wes taken by the police
authorities to disperse the assemblage, and finding that
their repeated summonses were unattended to, they were
at length obliged to direct a charge to be made on the
assembled multitude by the mounted Municipal Guards
and cavalry, who were in readiness to act if required,
by which about a dozen were wounded, and a good
number arrested. All the posts at the barriers in that
peighbourhood were considerably streogtheoeo,
strong party of the Natioa'al Puat'cl of La Tillette
were assembled at the M.irie in case of need. During
the afteroooo the Faubourfs St, Martin, St. Denis,

and the neighbouring thoroughfares were thickly
carded with an avis from the Prefect of Police, which
will be found below.
The Wowing, notice from the Prefect of Police was
posted up yesterday throughout Paris :
" For several days the workmen of different trades
have assembled in great numbers in public places, to
deliberate among themselves on conditions they wish to
impose upon the builders or chiefs of various establish-
ments in trade. They have attempted to seduce, and
even to constrain by violence, such of their comrades
as were unwilling to join their coalitions. The Pre-
fect of Police feels it to be his duty to remind
them that these meetings are contrary to order
and injurious to their own interests, as they have
for their objects acts and deliberations punishable
by the laws, and may lead them into serious offences,
and sometimes into actual crimes. The Prefect of
Police again further reminds them that every conven-
tion between master and workmen ought to he founded
on mutually free assent ; that no workman has a right
to contract for another, nor impose upon him terms on
which he is to work. The right of every one, main-
tained by the law, is to treat for himself alone. The
workmen may be assured that in such assemblages and
deliberations in common the influence of bad men pre-
dominates over those who are sensible and industrious,
and that the good are always the dupes of those who
are either debauched or incapable—the able pay-
ing for those who are not. In fine, a suspension
of work is a great misfortune to them and to their fa-
milies, and an irreparable evil to all. Therefore let all
honest and discreet workmen separate themselves im-
mediately from all these coalitions, which are expressly
forbidden by the laws ; let them return to their work,
and take care not to leave it. Let them be assured that
the magistrates will watch over them, and will defend
them against those who may threaten or attempt to se-
duce them. They will be protected in the freedom of
their work. As to those who may, after this present
warning, continue to assemble, let them know that they
will expose themselves to be treated with all the seve-
rity which justice and the law command. They will,
wherever they may appear, find the armed force ready to
disperse their assemblages ; those who may resist the
commands of the authorities will be arrested and brought
to trial. Measures will also be taken against all those
who have no known domicile, or regular papers. Every
workman convicted of attempting to seduce any of his
comrades will be excluded from being employed in any
of the public works. Whoever shall have attempted to
prevent another from working, or shall enter any work-
shop,'with the intent of carrying away by force any of
his comrades, will be delivered over to the tribunals.
Every disorder will be severely put down.

" G. DELESSERT.
A deputation of the syndical chamber of contractors
for mason's work, appointed at a general meeting of the
trade, was received yesterday morning by the Prefect of
Police, and presented to him the draft of an address
which they had drawn up for the journeymen masons.
This document, in its first portion, argues with the men
upon the injustice they do themselves when they de-
mand an uniform price for the good as well as the in-
different workmen, and upon the disadvantages they
would labour under if the piece system were changed for
constant journeywork. It assures the men that they do
not understand their true interests in demanding that
the tachei ons, or middle men, should be removed from
between them and their masters ; and it terminates with
the following sensible advice :

" Become not the instruments of your own ruin—no
longer lend your ears to perfidious councils and sugges-
tions. Follow the dictates of your own good sense and
reason, of your own conscientious convictions, and
of your interest, which is that you should have
what your work deserves. Think of your families,
the first virtue of a man of honour, who with your-
selves will be the victims of the course into which
it is wished to lead you. Workmen, you have already
lost time—the season for work is passing away fast. Only
a few months remain ; therefore take advantage of what
you have left ; for winter will come upon you but too
soon. Calculate the savings you have made since your
sagacious counsellors, your pretended comrades have
drawn you into a wrong direction. Calculate those
which you may make during the short time which re-
mains for your having a full day's work. Examine and
form a just opinion of those who, for the last fortnight,
have been your guides ; consider what is their connec-
tion with you, what they have in common with you, the
sentiments and interests which dictate the advice they
give you ; ascertain whether they are the original au.
hors of it, or whether they have received it from others
and are only intermediaries. Examine and judge of
those councils which we, who know you, and whom you
know, are now giving. Choose between us, follow your
own sense and reason, and your own conscientious con-
victions."

(From the Gazette des Tribunaux of Saturday.)
Yesterday was signalized by no fresh disturbances,
though at a very early hour of the morning considerable
numbers of the working classes congregated at Pantin,
upon the heights of St. Chaumont, at the fort of Ro-
inaitiville, and other points. It is stated that the ma-
sons returned to work, and there is reason to hope that
the other branches of trade will not be long in following
so laudable an exa,tiple.
Last night thirty individuals, either syndics or dele-
gates from the coalition of stonecutters, were arrested
by a judge's order, and a seizure effected at their habi-
tations of the subscription lists,enrolments,and circulars.
The three sergens de ville who were so dangerously
wounded at M. Pthet's establishment are not yet dead ;
hopes are even entertained of saving them, but the very
serious nature of their condition is such that M. Des-
tnortiers Deterville has not been able to submit them to%
any interrogatory. nor to confront them with the indi-
viduals who are signalised as being the instigators of the
wounds which place their lives in danger.
When we made mention in our number of Wednes-
day last of some disturbances which were the sequel to
the reform banquet at Chatillon, and of those at the re

turn to Paris of the numerous guests, we had a motive
for concealing a fact which took place at the round
point of the Barriere d'Eller, in the hopes that it
would not be attended with any serious consequences.
As we have already stated, it there happened that, at
the very moment when a detachment of Municipal
Guards wished to intercept the column, a collision took
place, after which the meeting continued its progress.
An individual, dressed in the uniform of the National
Guards, after having insulted the Municipal Guards
and made use of threatening language to them, drew
his se‘ord, and inflicted upon one of them two blows.
The companions of the latter throwing themselves upon
the assailant, seized him, but the orders of their chiefs
were sufficient to prevent them attempting any reprisals.
Soon afterwards a posse of National Guards, surround-
ing the Municipal Guards on all sides, succeeded in res-
cuing their comrade, who returned in the midst of them
to Paris.

The wounded man, who was immediately conveyed
to Val de Grace, received all the attention and assist-
ance that his position demanded ; but every effort of
human art was useless, and last night the unfortunate
Municipal Guard, who belongs to the 10th company,
which is in barracks in the quartier of the Faubourg
St. Martin, breathed his last.

(From the Droll.)
On Thursday evening 500 persons were arrested on
the Boulevard, near the Porte Saint Denis and in the
adjacent streets. They were all taken to the Concier-
genie, but before twelve o'clock most of them were dis-
charged. The Prefecture was so crowded with pri-
soners that all the public women who were in confine-
ment for various offences have been removed. The ac-
counts given of sums of money being found in the pos-
session of some of the prisoners, whose dress indicated
poverty,
receiving
are incorrect,
meals
at
t certain
at
ihn houses.eyhad on
nothing
tickets
for
true, was yesterday morning found with a great number
of those tickets for distribution, and had at the
prisone
ers
time the disposal of a considerable sum. In the course
of yesterday, the commissary of the quarter of the Porte
Saint Martin, having summoned a crowd of journey-
men, and others collected from idle curiosity, to dis-
perse, but without effect, called up a detachment of
Municipal Guards, who made 600 of them
and secured them in the barracks of the Faubourg Saint
Martin.

published
generally
(From Galiguani of Saturday.)
Yesterday there was a lint.: improvement
apparent
in the dispositions of the workmen, and the last av i 8 of
seems to have produced some little effect, for althoughthe Prefect of Police which was so
there were still a great number of those who had joined
the " strike" to be seen sauntering about, yet the as-
semblages were by no means so tumultuous or numerous
as on previous days. Many of the masons and house
3'. .
carpenters had resumed work yesterday, i 0 the
morn-
ing, however, there was a considerable number col-
lected at the top of Rue Miromenil, near the plains of
Monceaux, to disperse whom it vas found necessary to
call in the aid of a body of infantry from the neigh-
bouring posts, and, in the collison which ensued, we
regret to say that one of the soldiers was very severely
wounded in the side by a stab from one of those formi-
dable weapons, a poignard knife. Several of the
ringleaders were arrested and marched off to the
Prefecture. The neighbourhoods of Vaugirard and
Pantin, where the meetings have hitherto taken
place, were very quiet, although a number of
workmen were to be seen in the streets ; and
from the appearance of the wine-shops and other
places of refreshment, there seemed to be no lack of
money amongst them. Towards dusk a great number
of persons were collected about the Portes St. Martin
and St. Denis, which number was evidently considerably
increased by those drawn there from curiosity. Strong
detachments of etvalry were patrolling the Boulevards,
and about eight o'clock the Corps de Garde in that
neighbourhood were strongly reinforced. These pre-
cautions, however, fortunately turned out unnecessary,
as nothing occurred to disturb the public peace, and by
half-past ten the Boulevards were perfectly quiet, and
all demonstrations of the armecl fo=vea removed.
• ° the
The
.National, in !lancing statement that several
workmen, on being apprehended, had been found with
sums of gold and silver in their possession, amounting
sometimes to 100 f. or 110', explains the circums!aace
by the men being accustomed to carry their earnings

about them, and commonly in gold, for the sake of por-
tability and security. The workmen generally lodge d
la chanzbrce, that is, from six to twenty in the same
room, and, as they do cot always know each other, and
have no furniture, they are obliged to keep their earn-
ings about their person.