The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-07-10
RUssI a--BY AN EYEWITNESS.

of your correspondent by the tragic incident which
this has sent thrill Of horror throughout the civ
ised world assumes that passe condition into which
! fall the sharpest negatives which are daily photo
graphed upon the mind of Festfanqer in Paris / has
ten write account of the attempt made to-day to
assasinate the Emperor Alexander of Russia.
Other and deserved correspondents will pre-
sume give you full details of the great military dis
play which the Emperor Napoleon improyised to-day
for the entertainment Of his august and royal guests,
but doubt if any other knight Of the Pencil" can
boast of being eyewitness of the attempt of Pol
s exile to reek his vengeance upon the person of the
Gar OF the Russias consequently shall confne my
self to what took place before the arrival of Alexan
der IN Paris precautionary to guard against
his assassination, and to minute description Of the
tragic incident which had well nigh resulted in anoth
er French revolution the overthrow Of the rapidly
increasing French party in Russia.
1t is well known that strong influence was, brought
to bear by the Muscovte party upon the Car oppo
sition to his intended visit to Paris. The same class
nUUfd buiiH 4 saif arut111t
Russian Empire, shutting out the rest of the world
raised their cries against the proposed excursion of
the Emperor. Nevertheless he came full of their
liberal sentiments which have characterised his reign
His first public act crossing the frontiers of Poland
whose people erst have had no very strong friends Of
Alexander, was to issue proclamation Of amnesty to
all the exiles Of Siberia and elsewhere which measure
appealing to the mind Of any but the most insane,
should have secured to its noble and liberal minded
author perfect immunty-whch it doubtless in
| tended to obtan-from the bullet Of the assassin
For the perfect security of the life of the En-
peror Alexander expert detectives of the police force
of st. Petersburg preceded and accompanied tie Gar
to Paris. Measures looking to the avoidance OF such
catastrophe as had nearly been consummated, were
taken by the authorities of Paris under the orders Ct
| Napoleon. ltmust be borne in mind that about -
thousand Polish exiles reside permanently in this city.
In response call Of the Prefecture OF Police issued
days before the arrival OF the Gar the leading
Poles assembled, aRd we're then requested, IN view of
the hospitality which The exes have enjoyed in
France, that during the stay of Alexander in Paris,
they would abstain from any manifestation of animos-
ty towards his Majesty. | have it from the best au
thorty that the majority of those present readily
agreed to comply with the request, and the re-
spectacle portion of the class Of Poonnaise have with
drawn from Paris with their families in order to avoid
even the suspicion of completely with any demonstra-
ton which might be made against the life Of Alexai-
der. Notwithstanding all that was done 10 guard
against danssi one IA sh man, acting doubtless in
Junction with others, has taken the. fearful odds OF
life and DEATH and lost the stake III the rash attempt
to enroll his name the scroll OF fame as nlartyrto
his country. He sleeps-if sleep he can-tonight
the cold floor of dungeon, loaded with chains, which
will only be removed at the moment when he lays his
head the block under the keen edged blade of the
guotine.
But before execute the unfortunate nlaa, let Us,
describe the act which eonsgns his To inainy.
The last grand charge of the long line of mounted
Chassenls has been executed in cloud of dust out
|
eur y when there is simultaneous movement of the
great OF men and things, which, while including
many more of human kind than you see on a Derby
day at Epson, is quite different mixture of men and
women, horses and carriages. We have no time to
anayse the chaotic mass; neither we desirous of
undertaking such difficult task SWayed by the ebb-
| ing tide into the outlecs of IHippodrome de Long
Champs, we are carried along to the open space in
front of the grand cascade where the throng hesitate
expecting the passage Of the distinguished witnesses
| of the review.
The packed solid with yoitares of every
description, interminged with which are men in white
and blue bouses and women in white frillea and high
lace caps. All eyes turned iu the direction of the
vineclad wind mill the left of the grand stand and
appears patch of gold the brown field of the
plebean mass. The muddy stream "Opens to the right
and left, while the current of satin and silver
fine polish and bright Jewels, grled trappings and
gay bannerets borne by the sworn attendants of the
beauteous Empress of France dash rapidly ND the avl
enue. They fly past in moment-those splendid
creatures-amid cries of "viTe lImperatrice and
the hustle of the excited multitude. This is the first
diversion Of the populace from the route which he
will eveAtuallT take.
/ Up the steep and solid avenue on the right of the
cascade, second diversion is made for the benefit of
who? Certainly not for Napoleon, whose life is
perfectly secure in the hands of the iereest oppo-
ncHt ofmonarcfy Has he not proclaimed the poHcg
OF the Empire to be peace. And yet, how can he
eonce his grand warlike pageant of day with that
proclamation But are losing our path in the in
trcacies of the Bois de Boulogne and before arc
aware the Emperors of two of the most powerful ma
tons on the face of the globe, will have given the
| slip and gone to Paris without giving sight Of
their august majestes. Up to this moment there 10
the slightest sign Of the distinguished person
ages who figure in this plot
Suddenly catch the glimpse of the tri-coIored
bannerists of the cent guarcs of the Emperor and
confirmed in opinion that his majesty is passing by
the route WHICH we have inst left under the impression
that the rapid advance Of the cavalry merely to
create diversion in favor of safe exit Of their I'M
peral Maesties. ss
Running at full speed through tFc thiokly studded
interval arrived IN person within ten yards Of the
narrow road which Napoleon had selected as the
route. Hundreds were Ieapng and dodglng among
the trees, aiming at the same point as 4fysef and
shouting g Kiue ibnspereur at the top of their bent
it themoment of obtaining full view Of the Impe-
rial cortege, my eyes we're blinded by the fash OF
pistol within few feet Of me. momentary paralys
sis Of sight was dssipated by the sharp crack Of the
report. Aroused looked in the direction Of thn
| spot whence came the shot, and man in tie
garb ofa peasant, his left hand clutcing his right
from the first and second fingers of which tho blood
was streaming momentary glance broken by
a sharp scream of female voice / saw the ocet-
pants Of the Imperial carriage. One Of whom
from his seat, at least he seemed to do so, and dis
tincty heard him shout g Avant! Avant! The out
riders, who had shown momentary disposition to
halt put spurs 10 their horses and the Imperial veh
Gle dashed into the intricate niazes Of the wood. TIE
scene which followed this escapadc begsars dcscin
ton. There sudden rush in the direction OF the
departing tran and there from all sides poured in the
populace, who, taking up the word Of attempt to
assassinate the Emperor-whch Emperor it did not
appear to be then known-never before have seen
such general demonstration of loyalty. On all sides
sang out the cry Long live the Emperor, aud in the
almost entire absence of police, the people attempted
to take the law in their hands. They surrounded
the assassin and struggled to obtain possession Of his
person. A geas darhsse mp and drove his horse
into the centre Of the crowd The people seemed dis
inclined to be robbed of their prey and made dash
to secure the would be assassin.
The brave spirit which has risked itself to secure a
recognition amopg the patriots Of Europe quaed be-
fore the fearful ordeal oa crowd of nfuriated French
men. He falns while his clcles are being from
his body and it is with the greategt difficulty that the
police prevent the popuace from tearing him to
pieces He has failed IN his dabolieal attempt and
awaits trial, judgment, condemnation and exeeli
ton He taken finally from the hands of themad
dened multitude and brought to Paris closely guarded
He confessed thathe Polish soldier at the age
of sixteen and had fought for the liberation of his
country He is twenty today, and has attempted to
take the life Of Alexander. He has failed and wells
/ itfor the world that such is the result.