Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1852-01-13
CAMDEN. SOUTH. CAROLINA, JANUARY 49, 1852

The Massacre on the Bouiepards.- Thrilling
Scenes in Paris.-Tke following statement re-.
specting the slaughter on the Boulevard Mont.
martre-most interesting from the individual.
ty of its main story-is. given in letter by a
British officer to his brother in London.
"Paris, Dec. 6--You will, of course, see a
good deal about the late emeute in the London
papers, but l suspect there will not be much OF
the truth in them; one must be in Paris to re-.
al,ze the state of this unfortunate city. Of
course the military were completely successful;
armed and halforganized people. But more
cruel, barbarous aud inhuman slaughter, l sup
pose was never committed. | do not allude to
The taking of the barricades, but to the massa-
ere on the Boulevards, Of which there is no
mention in the Partisan papers. At about
o'clock | was in the Boulevard des ltallens,
and saw an immense force-I should think be
tween 10000 or $4,000 men passing up the
Boulevards. accompanied them as far as the
rue Vvienne, to see if l could find my Ameri-
can friend A., whom | think mentioned in my
last letter. | did not know at the time that
the troops were advancing to attack barrioade
at the Port St Dennis. Not being able to find
nv friend, returned up the rue Vivienne. in.
tending to go again on the Boulevards. when
got to the top of the street, | found Gordon
of soldiers across it, who would not allow any
one to come within so yards of them. Just
about this time (halt-past 3 o'clock,} the firing
recommended in the Boulevards Montmartre
and Poissonuiere; and the sentries at the top OF
the rue Vivienne fired deliberately down the
street at US. ..
The rush was tremendous; but got clear
round corner, and departed for my hote: as
soon as possible. went out again afterwards,
and went to the bottom of the boulevards near
the Rue du Helder, to watch the firing. The
regiments of the line fred at the windows OF
the boulevards for several hours, but saw no
fire returned from the windows. then went
home to dinner. "a had not arrived; and we
were hoping that nothing had happened to him,
when a woman rushed in, pale and trembling,
and asked for me. She had brought poor AS
card; he was lying wounded in porter's lodge,
in the Boulevard Montmartre. of course l.
started Immediately for the spot. | had much
difficulty in getting there, as the streets were
all occupied by soldiers, but the officers were
generally civil. When got to the place, the
boulevard was CHASTITY sight. There were
no wounded, but the dead were lying in dozens,
most of them just as they fell; and the pave
ments were slippery with blood They were
almost all bourgeois, and not ouoriers. Two
or three women were arranging some of the
corpses, and placing candles at their heads,
that their friends might recognize them. The
soldiers were standing at ease in the centre OF
the street, very quiet but perfectly unconcern-
ed: there was not living man to be seen ex-
cept them. found poor A. in good spirits, but
badly wounded. He described the whole thing
as wanton massacre. He was walking along
the bouevards in the same direction as the
troops, and when he heard the firing commence
in the Port ST. Dennis, he turned back, think.
ing it was no place for bin.
Almost at that instant the whole of the troops
in the Boulevards Montmartre and Possonniere
fired at the windows and at the people walking
in the streets, who were without arms and ma.
king no resistance. There were crowds OF
people at the windows, but few were hurt, as
they had time to throw themselves back when
they saw the muskets 60 up. But for the
promenaders in the streets there was no escape.
The first bullet struck A. on the left hand,
knocking off the forefnger, he then went down
on one knee, and held up the other hand, no.
ping they would spare him. Another bullet
struck him in the centre of the left shin, smash
ing the larger bone, and dead man fell heavl-
ly across him, As he lay on the ground he
saw one or two officers endeavoring to make
the men fire at the windows, butsome contlnu-
ed to fire at those on the round. He man.
aged toscrawl into porter's lodge, where the
gate was opened, and the woman assisted him.
He described it as perfect storm OF balls
Another bullet struck so close to him on the
wall that it spattered and cut his face like small
shot. As he lay in the lodge the woman had
to leave him and get to a saier place, as the
bullets were coming in there The firing was
kept up almost without ceasing for two or three
hours, although there was no resistance what
ever.
never saw such wanton destruction: the
fronts of the houses were perfectly riddled with
shot. Invent out to endeavor to get assistance,
but the officers resolutey, though politely de-
clined to afford any. asked one captain, in
the name of common humanity, to let me have
three men to carry A. He said, "Look around
you, my dear sir, do you think we have humani
ty enough for all these?" said they are
dead and do not want it )" but he shrugged his
shoulders, and said "Tdnt mieur." think If
had had sufficient command Of language, |
should have lost my temper. | at length got
An abulanca and three workmen, and we car