Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-12-08
The Ruin in Strasbourg,

gentleman who, after several years
residence in the United States, has gone
into business in Strashonrg, and has
passed through the phases of its resent
siege by the Prussians. No comment is
necessary-it speaks all for itself:
SrRAsBoURo, Oct. 20.-Not intending
to dwell on the unfortunate events tina
have taken place In France since the
date OF my last letter, as they are un-
doubtedly sufficiently known to yor
through the columns of the Sun, will
try TO give true account of the terrible
bombardment our unhappy city had to
undergo. 1t was the 10th or 18th
of August when the Prussian and Baden
soldiers commenced their firing against
the ramparts, leniently in the be-
ginning, but increasing every day in
measure as they could bring up their
heavy seige guns. But ON the nights OF
the 9th and 18th of August, bombs
filed with ignitible material-some say
petroleum-were thrown into the place.
Whatever it may have been, it had the
desired effect, which was disastrous to
the Alsatian metropolis. A sheet of
flames seemed to be spread over it
from -ampart to rampant, while bombs
and bullets were raining down as thick
as hailstones.
The screams of women and children
flying from their burning homes, the
noise produced by the falling of the
houses and the bursting of shells, the
cries of the helpless wounded and dy-
ing, are sounds shall never forget dur
ing my lifetime. The fire was of such
| ayfovf That ~ on,,l1 he
in the round, as I am informed by in
habitants of the country on both sides
of the Rhine. Thus we were treated by
men whose nationality our ancestors be-
longed to.
They think it an easy task to convert
French patriots into submissive subjects
of King Grapeshooter. The future will
show how far they are mistaken. Our
sympathies viii always gravitate toward
the great and generous nation which is
splitting her last heart-blood for the pre-
servation of our independence. Ger
mans who were Boosting to fight for
freedom and the integrity of the father
land trample to-day on .he first and
most essential principle OF iberty-the
viii of the people of Alsace and Lor-
raine. The most beautiful metropolis
on the globe may perhaps be destroyed,
because France refuses to give up for
ever her truest children to the oppres-
sion of man who has always disregard
ed popular suffrage.
Returning to the siege, there remains
little more. to be said. Thousands of
people were hiding themselves in the
''egouls" of the Broglie and the Rue des
Tanneurs. Salt provisions and bread
were our subsistence. After seven long
weeks of deprivation and constant fear
for the lives. of those dear to us, we had
to surrender in order to save the city
from utter destruction. On the 18th of
September our spike-helmeted friends
entered the fortress to view their work.
About one-third of the city is heap of
ruins.
Two thousand civilians are killed or
wounded, and ten thousand inhabitants
are without home Prussifcation has
already commenced by translating the
French names of streets into German.
For the present all our hopes copcen-
trate in the expectation of again seeing,
sooner or later, wave from the ancient
cathedral the glorious tri-color instead
of the detested black, white and red.
A letter from Versailles in the Stats
Anzeiger describes a fete chdmpetre re-
Gently got up by the officers Stationed
at Arnouville, in Count Choisevl's pic
tIresque park. A theatre was erected
in the open air, and patriotic plays were
performed, spiced with political allu-l
sions to the present war. Napoleon
was introduced as paying his addresses
to the Virgin Germanis, q damsel six
feet high. Before she could reply TO
his offer two grenadeS were launched
etom sf. D5a.s AM. 1R,oded near the
got, pat everybody being accustomed
70 such interruptions the piece proceed
ed, and the officers and privates enjoyed
an agreeable afternoon.