The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1870-09-15

heard him ask one of the officers near by
to help him IN putting an end TO the fire,
such being the Emperor's wish. At length
white flag was hoisted on the citadel
The cannonade ceased suddenly about hall
past four. Eager as we are to know the
cause we cannot leave the house, for the
street is simpassable, and we have to be
content with learning the mere facts of tie
surrender. As night drew on the crowd
was little diminished, and by some effort
1t was possible TO make one S way about
town. The spectacle it offered a few hours
before was more horrible than ever. Dead
were lying everywhere, civilians and sol
diers mingled in the same slaughter. In
one place counted more than fifty bodies
Of peasants and bourgeois; a few women
among them, and one child. The ground
was strewn with sp!lnters OF shells. Starv
ing soldiers were cutting dead horses to
cook and eat, for provisions had again
failed, as everything has failed since the
campaign began. | was glad to get away
from the sight of or disaster, and lose
their memory IN few bours' sleep.
The next day we were told the Emperor
had gone to the Kings headquarters 20
treat tor surrender. At ii O'Clock his
household and carriage left town. and we
IL
more. About the same hour there was
posted IN the streets nonderous pr0cla
nation from Gen. Wimpffen, saying that
Notwithstanding prodlgleS of courage, the
army found itself unable to respond 70 the
summons of its chief and fight its way to
Nor Gied,. That baing surrounded he
hat made the best conditions he could
conditions such as would inf1ict no humiii-
Of . ba ,,.,o
be the surrender OF the whole army, not less
than 100, 900 men, as prisoners of war, with
all their arms, baggage, horses, standards
and guns. The officers who sign an agree.
sneat not to fight against Prussia during
the war may return to their homes the
remainder to be seut to garrison town in
Germany. Many officers refuse to sign.
preterrlhg TO share the captivity of their
men. On Saturday the whole force laid
down their arms. Not few soldiers 10
their rage broke rather than give UP their
arms, and the streets were Uttered with
fragments OF ali kinds of weapons. Broken
swords, rifles, pistols, ances, helmets,
culrasses and even mitrailleurs covered the
ground, and in one place where the
Meuse runs through town, the heaps of
such fragments choked the stream and
arose above the surface. The mud Of the
streets was black with gunpowder. The
horses had been tied to houses and gun
carriages, but nobody remembered to feed
or water them, and in the frenzy of hunger
and thirst they broke loose and ran wild
through town. Whoever liked might have
horse even officers horses, which were
private proDsrtv- for the trnnhle of caich>
ing them. When the Germao, vau,o iutu
the town they were very sore AMI angry al
the sight of all this destruction and waste,
what must have pleased them still less
was the state in which they found the mill
tary. As soon as surrender was resolved OF
French officers were told to make out best
accounts they could, present them inme
dately, and receive payment. Naturally
sufficient to empty the treasury. | know
Of Off GERS who demanded and received pay
ment for horses that were not killed aud bag
gage which had not been lost. DemoraIiza-
tons PANIED itself in every way. Even stan
dards were burned or buried An act of bad
faith not to be paIliated even by the grief
and rage of a beaten army.