The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-29
The Bravest, Best and Most Honest
Han Of the Com mune.
Not Accessible to Million-A Herald Corre-
spondent Authorized to Sound Him-Trus to
tho Last-Incidents in His Life-Traits Of
Character Disguised with the Com
mune-How He Died-His Last
Nomenclature Unto Death
PARIS, June 5, 1871.

the matter OF sufficient importance, is doubtful
question. There have been SO many reports with
regard to Cluseret, Pyat Courbet Gourmet Bergeret
La Cecilia and Wolieski-they have been killed SO
many times and In so many different ways-that we
have grown incredulous about the whole matter.
and would not be IN the least surprised II they
should all turn up, sooner or later. In England or
tho United States.
TIE BEST MAN OF THEM ALL
was Dombrowski, and he Is almost the only one
whose death Is certain Young and rich, OF good
family, with wife and children TO mourn for MIN,
with much to lose and little to gain, If the Com
mune had succeeded, he was
NO MERE ADvENTURER
seeking In the confusion and disorder OF civil war
TO enrich himself by the misfortunes OF an unhappy
people; but a true enthusiast. moved only by the
highest principles OF justice and right as he under
stood them.
lie was probably the only one OF all the leaders of
the Commune Who was not at one time another
suspected OF treason the only In whose sincerity
those fierce and suspicious men had full and entire
confidence to the last. He alone OF all their self
styled generals succeeded IN achieving any import
ant success In prevailing upon the undlscipllned
and rebellious troops OF the Commune TO do any
serious fighting until tue struggle became one for
life.
WHEN FIRST WE MET.
My first meeting with him took place under very
characteristic circumstances. 1t was shortly after
Bergerets disastrous sorte, when the National
Guards had been driven back like flock OF fright
ened sheep before the
SAVAGE ROAR
OF the guns OF Mont Valerien. DombrOwssl had
taken command, and was at the moment rode up
at the head OF two Beevile battallons near the
Binevre gate, trying to get them to march out and
occupy the lost positions In Neuilly. They refused
TOWARDS.
"You are parcel OF cowards,' exclaimed the
General in passion. "Will you march?,
NO. they shouted. "NOus somntes Tendus, nous
son,nsss transsn I'VE have no more confidence IN
'Then repeat II, you are base, ignoble cowards,"
said the General.
.sWhat yon. q stranger-You dare TO come here
and insult us TO our faces. we will tear you 10
pleces.n howled they and they gathered around
MN WIN scowNng faces anu threatening gestures.
affair, for they were smartlng under the nunll aEon
OF defeat and disgrace, and would only been too
glad TO una some one, and especially foreigner,
whom to wreak their vengeance. They were boiling
over with Indignation and rage, but DombrowsM
..Will you march'n
and been betrayed. Wen march no more.n
'.ihen," replied lie, ana his voice rang out clear
ana loud VI repeat IL, you are aparcel OF base and
"Tlrow down your arms,
SNEAK BACK TO YOUR HOMES,
teil your wives ana cnlldren that foreigner came
hundreds OF miles To defend tlen 10 tight for them
10 sheu MS OlOou 10 ue Tor them, and you not only
refused TO follow him TO the trout, but shot nm
down for his pains like the cowardy dogs you are
VIII you marchY' added he after pause.
1T WAS AN EXCITING MOMENT.
Ee had heapei insult after insult upon them. and
On point on which Frenchmen are supposed to be
most sensitive; he was one man against 1000, anu q
Stranger An uncertain sort or murmur rose
the sea OF savage, upturned faces then, after
moment they threw up their hats and shouted,
eyre Donsoo, c'est stlt brace gdreonw ave
will march Lead us on lead Us on"
"EH GrdlV' then SAID the General; and they
marched and commenced the lmDaCaDIe
warfare which ended In
THE REoccUpATIoN OF NeUIhLY,
and made the preaching OF the Maillot gate and
Smelling OF the Avenue de la Grande Armee utterly
useless 1t being Impossible for an attacking column
10 advance 10 tie assault with this enemy their
rear. met MN almost constantly aller this, either
in the Place Nendome or the
BULLET-HAUNTED STREETS
or Neuliy, and was greatly struck nv his personal
bravery and MS manner OF managing has men. ii @
exposed himself, as many thought needlessly; but he
had purpose III doing so-that or encouraging the
unsteady troops az his command and inducing them
to show something OF bold front 10 the enemy. lie
hoped by MS own example to inlusc into them
spirit OF personal courage ana daring that would
IN some measure replace their want OF discipline
and knowledge OF the arr OF war. lie exposed HIM
sell with this design IN the most reckless manner
He climbed ND one day on barrcade behind which
company OF national guards were croucAng IN
terror, ana
DRANK A GLASS OF WINE
IN full view OF the enemy, TO show them how little
danger there was. Another day saw hlm ride out
on white horse, at the Porte Malllot and two hum
dred yards up the Avenue de Neuilly right lin face
or the uourbevoe battery. under shower Of shot
ana shell that were falling about the gate and IN the
Avenue de la Grandc Arnlee, ana resirn uninjured.
He had SIX or seven horses shot under HIM during
the two months he was IN command, and his CLOAK
was riddcd with bullet holes. In fact, h had so
many narrow escapes, aud was 80 continually al
tAe post OF danger, that the soldiers began to be-
leye az last nc bore charmed LIE, and that he
could not be Killed. Poor fellow he had 10 die at
last, IN spite OF the unseen hand that seemed
aside shell and ball so often.
He so far succeeded in his purpose as to get his
men TO fight wen under cover oil garden walls,
houses and barsicades, but he confessed that he
and stand lire. Indeed he seemed TO deceive
himseI-as ala Bergeret and most OF The leaders OF
He acknowledged tina. they were very poor soldiers.
although he said they ala sometimes light exceed
pssSe Se aSJ but Ts sy S %as n. a be
among the so-called of1caf3 81 the Communist
OF pnttlnght down. Whenever any one came to INN
with big words about his own Personal bravery.
DomSrowski aways promoed hi MIN o9 upen the soe
and put him In the most dangerous position he could
find ON the whole line II che applicant was !
his position or getting killed In the attempt he
was coward he ran away and held his tongue,
and Dombrowsk was bothered no more about pro-
motion. present one day at his headquarters |
at Ncuilly. IN the Rue PeTnet, when captain
came In complaining loudly or his colonel who he
said. was not brave man aud not worthy OF being
"iou think you are brave man. no doubt" said
HSH Srf mon Gensra',r "give me command and
you shall see. have company that formed my |
SELF who are willing to march TO death II necessary
under my lead. We will
LEAVE OUR DEAD BODIES
upon the field rather than give an inch to these |
dastardly .versalleuX.' y
s.very good my iriend," said the General "you
shall have trial." and, turning TO MS secretary he
dictated an order putting the bold-spoken captain
In command OF the barrcade IN the Rue Borghesc.
.'lf you hold this barricade week you shall have |
two ga,0ns upon your slecve II you lose 1t you
shall be concentrated and shot," continued Dom
browsky, handing MIN the order.
"7.es 6ien, mon General" said the captain look
Ing rather blank at this unexpected prcferment and
he went ont with rucful look upon his face show
ing 1t was quite as disagreeabc as unexpected.
"The position q dangerous one but NOT very I'M
portant,u said he. turning to inc with smile.
s.You think he Is q coward remarked.
III am sure OF it, he replied. II have seen too |
much OF this Dragging among Frenchmen to not un-
derstand It,"
took the pains q few days after to inquire about
the