Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-06-19

General Prlissier. Il will he rccoected by most
If our readers, acquired an infamous celebrity by
the cruel exploit which he performed IN the Dahr
in lslj in suffocafing 300 men, women, aud chill
drrn Of one of the Arab tribe, in cave. We
copy from the Pantheon Papuaire. Of Paris, the
foll1wng rather apol 'gctie account If this af-
fair
The cave had only two entrance, one above
tho other, 10 which an Enclosed foelpath led. \
company of grcnadcrS received orders to follow
this difficult route, aud to arrive a. soon n pos
,he at the retreat II the kaybles; bat the latter
had the advantage of firing, with n certainty of
killing the men engaged in this species Of rayine.
II was found necessary toabandon the attack III
front
An investment of the place rhen thouglt
II Famine would probably have compelled the
Ouled Rhias IL submit, but Colonel Pelis@ler was
in hurry To Join his colleague, IN the other
hand. there was mol troops sufficient 10 take up
permanent encampment on these mountains where
an instruction might nnuihilnte the column; in
short. i siege was not in conformity with the
coancrs Instructions He had directions, at
amy price, IL destroy the prestige attached to the
retreats mt the kantara
- An informal idea borrowed unfortunately
either from civil wars or from the wars of
tlo Sanniafd. in America hhd hern Indicated a.
an extreme measure by the governor general 1t
Wi. IL tcrrify the kabylr. by threatening to suf-
foeate them in their caves by fire 1t was
thought that in theprcsenee of such menace all
resistance would cease. After succeeding,
though not without good deal of difficulty, in
placing himself in communication with the de-
Tenders of the cavern, Colonel Peli-sicr threw out
the throat suggested 10y Marshal ,ugcaud. The
Arabs laughed at it, and one of the French flags
of truce was even killed by them.
a commencement of the prof was madc, in
the idon that their indifference only from
the certainty which they entertained that the
threat would not be put IN execution. Heaps OF
dry wood and straw were thrown from the tops of
kantara in front Of the caves. The kabylcs re-
moved them. according as they were flung down,
but the fire of the French having driven them
bnclI into the caves, these comhustihles after
while made II vast lear. 10 which IT now only re
manned to apply the fire. No si MS of surrender
ON the part OF the Arabs having been made, the
fire was at length thrown Oh the pile. As IT 1t
did not wish to associate itself with the horrors
of this human hatchery, il long refused to com
muncate itself to the comhustible masses piled
by the French Mt the entrance OF the caYerns.-
A lew Arabs escaped, aud went to short dis
lance TO obtain water. 1t expected that
others would follow them, aud that the whole
body would then submit. This Il vain hope
just as the sun began 10 quit its zenith breeze
arose, which blew directly IN the direction OF the
entrance 10 the Dhnr The smoke began to
! whrl aud curl in the air, the flames burst forth
aud were drawn by Che current into the cavcrns.
Many thought that the Arabs had fled by some
secret ISSUE or ut least thot they bad found are
/ rent where tho fire could not reach them. ibis
! state of uncertainty lasted all night.
4" At dayhrcak company composed partly 1T
artillery aud partly of engineers, received or
| ders to penetrate into the caves. melancholy
silence, broken by distant moaus. prevailed there.
! At the entrance the animals, whose heads had
been covered to prevent them from seeing or ma
king noise lay half reduced to cinders. Then
i 10.