The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-12-15
| calmly before the platoon awaiting the signal
RossEL's COMPANIONS.

Meantime Bourgeois had marched gaiy TO
his post, saluting the troops as he passed, and,
In q business-like way, threw down his cigar,
threw open his coat, and stood in an easy posi-
tion awaiting the word. Ferre was poseuT
TO the last. A number OF times he changed
his position, looking at his legs and then at
the few spectators, but no position seemed 70
satisfy him. He then cast rapid glance TO-
ward Bourgeois, and Immediately sLruck the
soldiers attitude. Seeing that Sergeant Bour-
eeois had thrown down his KEPT, Ferre took
off his tall, stove-pipe hat, and held IL In MS
hand, and only took the cigar from lis mouth
at the moment of the report.
THE SENTENCE CARRIED OUT.
The firing party were diretsd. by motions Of
the adiutant's sword, and as he let 10 fall he
three platoons fired together. Rossel fell dead
and almost Without motion, with two balls
through his heart, one through the chin, and
both arms were said to have been broken.
Bourgeois fell, but, breathing still, sprgeant
gave MIN the coup de grace. Ferre was SILL
standing. As the sergeant approached ne was
shocked OF the idea OF firing thus upon living
man standing upright before him, and his hand
taltered, but ut that moment another gun was
fred and Ferre fell to the ground. II was then
only the sergeant had the heart to lire ball
into his head, against which the muzzle OIL tle
gun was placed. 1t was o CHASTITY scene. AS
The sergeant turned two white dogs burst
through the line, and, bounding by the bodies
of Rossel and Bourgeois, pounced upon Ferre
and beusn to lick the blood from his face. 1t
was with the greatest difficulty they could be
driven away.
AFTER THE EXECUTION. go
The drums were then beaten, and the defle
of the troops began. As the noise died away,
the Pastor Passa called Colonel Merlin's name
in q loud tome aud as that officer responded,
l. l,Tt L
should tell you that he felt you did only your
duty. 1t was that he desired to tell you lliln-
sell" WPduure qarCon - said the good Colo
mel, Merlin, raising his cap, and putting him
self at the head of his troops. By eight O'CLOCK
the detachm ants had entered the town, Lllt
very strong force was kept under arms
during the day. In the evening there were
rumOls of an an emeute In Paris, ana Inc
troops were called out there, but no disturb
anoe took place, yet the emotion OF me pso-
ple was very great II. Theirs was generally
blamed. During The evening several men
went the ROUNDS of the cafes 10 say that the
people ought to demand the names OF this
s.Commiitee of Pardous" or "0f Murder" In
order to know who c0nld be held responsible.
and all recalled the fact that 1t was the hrst
time any ruler had given up the right OF par
don. Yet In no quarter was there any out
break.
AN ERROR IN POLICY.
For my own part, think the government
did very unwise and impolilic thing In Kill
ling Rossel, and lear IL will yet lead 10
trouble. In private life, even the most bitter
enemies Of The Empire say that there was
nothing under 1t approaching this execution;
and In the evening saw horrible drawing,
which, of course, cannot be publ shed heic.
II represents the well-known picture. of the
death of Ney, or Of the Due D'Enghlen, the
dead man lying upon his face beside wall,
and squad OF gendarmes marcnlng away.
In this parody upon 1t The dead man Is Rossel,
The head of NJ. Thiers Is seen looking over the
wall, and beside him Saint- Hil'are. "Cest
bien tait," he says aside 10 the latter, while
he cries 10 the squad, "Dcnt forget, sergeant,
| did all / could to prevent 1t. You'll tell the
good people, You know"