The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-23
DOmbrOvski Relates His Past
Career and Tells How He rs
to Surprise Versailles.
HIS OPINION OF CLUSERET.
Each House a Fortress, and Garden
Wall an 0utWOrk.
lNvETERATE HATRED AGAINST THEIRS.
How Punishment is Served Out
at Headquarters
THE TROOPS OF TIE Cc1uMuME

THE TROOPS OF TIE Cc1EE1UNE.
The fUnowing letter describing the events Of q
night with the last, and probably the ables OF the
COMMUNE generals, win lose none OF Its interest at
the present Tine, even though Domerowski may pc
. prisoner in the versalnsts camp
PARIS, April 3d. 1871.
This evening directed my way up the avenue de
Neuilly and farming or to The Boulevard lnkerMan
commenced the search fer General Dombrewski's
headquarters. He had invited me to dinner, but
mad also given me warning that might have some
difficulty In finding him. as he changed his quarters
nearly every day, owing to the fact that the bate
ries at Courbevoie shelled him without mercy upon
discovering his whereabouts. When saw him
lew days ago he was occupying large fine house
entirely hidden by trees, Ia the middle OF the gar
den between the rue Perrinet and the Boulevard
ArCensen, which extends TO the rue de Chevy.
When the Versailles artilerymen discovered him
two hours sulced to render the house untenaDe for
any animal larger than rat. Alter considerable
search and inquiry, after rudgng about through the
mud and darkness and rain, which had commenced
falling in gesty torrents, after passing numerous
lines Of sentries and garden walls, through which
breaches had been made and passing under the
dripping branches Of trees that IN some places are
,as plentiful as In the Western forest. arrived at q
large four story building surrounded 10y q garden,
which, like most Of the gardens In Ncuy, was en-
closed by thick, unsighty wall. This honse, as
atterw ards remarked, is in the Rue Perrinet, and
much nearer to the front than l should consider
necessary or even prudent
DoMBRowsKIs HEADQUARTERS.
In through long, broad corridor full OF soldiers,
some on guard, some IN angry discussions, some
asleep the floor, was shown to the inhabited
by the man who Cor the moment has more authority
IN Paris than any other person in France-General
DOmbrowski.
small room on the ground foor, looking neither
on the street nor the garden the side farthest
removed from the exploding sheils-the safest part
OF the house, In fact except the cear-a shell must
traverse three stories and several thick stone walls
before reaching this Sanct,im sancorann Of the
General commanding the forces OF Paris. The floor
was covered with line Brussels carpet there was
grand piano turned upon its side against the
wall-they had music enough without ia sofa half
dozen chairs a writing desk IN one corner and few
fine engravngs on The walls, giving evidence OF the
taste OF the former owners completed the furniture
of the room. The General had not yet returned
IRON his rounds and sat down OH the sofa to await
his arrival. A large shaded lamp placed On the
desk threw a sorened light over the room, and the
paiter Of The ram on skylight in the hall outside
had almost lulled me 10 sleep when
THE GENERAL ENTERED,
with several officers OF MS stan, spashed with mud
and soaked through with the ram, In which they had
been riding for ali hour. He shook hands with me
cordially. and thinking probably, do not know
why, that had come much to eat as to see, told
me we would sit down TO dinner presently, and
commenced giving answers to persons, some OF
whom had been In waiting several hours. Most OF
he WIG N WI ri tn
complete evacuation OF Neuilly by the inhabitants,
which had Just been ordered hy Dombrowshi. Some
wished to stay and live IN their cellars, prelerrng
TO take the risk OF shell reaching them to running
OIL and hunting lodgings IN Paris or elsewhere.
TINS was positively refused by Tie General, who
told them invariably that he could not permit 1t,
two reasons:-First. that It would be very danger
GUS 10 say; that they would probably be Killed aud
buried IN the cellars ia which they hal taken
refuge, as no intended 10 contest the ground inch
by inch, and II compelled 10 retreat TO
DESTROY EVERY HOUSE
behind him, IN order to leave no cover for the enc
my. secondly, because many OF the inhabitants
10 the enemy OF every movement, so that often they
Indication Of their being put into execution, Show
ing that they were regularly and systematically n-
made q Inc Of me @d saS
not distinguish the guilty from the innocent; his
position and the salvation OF the Commune were
benS endangered and he was obliged to take these
rlgorous measures In selidefence lie did It Tie
more readily believing that they wonld be safer ana
OF our friends at Versailles Just We were going
into the next room TO dinner
GRAND MASTER OF THE rREExAsoNs WAS INTRO.
DUCED.
He wore the insignia Of his rank. and bowed
bowed very low, taking of ms KEPT aud expressing
The extreme pleasure he felt IN receiving so dstin
ri that moment trying TO alay the camor Of civil dis
cord and put an end to tne present unhappy strife
81 Soa e ,ce ee n, was very
stated his business, which was To inform General
Dombrowski that In case their mediation failed
tho whole Masonic organization would take up
arms against the government Of Versailles. lie
SID he was commsndant of the 20efh BATTALION and
talon entirely composed OF Freemasons who were
ready to fight for tho Commune. General DOM
nrowssi told him he was very glad to hear it, aud
that If they should como to Neuilly he
Moaid 81 give them sa,o plenty Sa o. work 70 40
-dgnL'' He was a little dried up old man, and Ger.
.tainly did not look much like storming barri.
shoi at Ana So seemed to mink Som a,rcS
and HE officers, for they laughed when he had gone,
h have % @
hlssworf to NJ. Thlers.
we to inc table RsS aiter his departure and
ppAtook Qla rough, but substantial, meal. Roast
bttN, cold ham, boiled beans a meat stew and the
the A was no tableclotn, no Dessert no cheese,
iruits> and ow spoons and forks and knives were
from The table set for about dozen, In small
ROOM. rNch mad been empued Of oil Its furniture
excep IN, table and chairs In actual use, the bare
walls VA uncarpeLed floor giving ample evidence
that Its owners had taken advantage OF the armis-
lice to sNys part at least OF their household goods
THE OFFICERS
Rot saasassd asa
timl supply Of what some would call good, Straight-
forwA RI horse sense, rather THAI anything reSem-
bling heni or genius The most remarkable thing
about IL en- was that they were nearly all woqnned
Ole had ms arm ID sling, another was anits and
inger, and me acting chef Of stan, Colonel Fav,~
was woundad IN the hand. The chief Of star IL
anoualy inItl ed aud confined 10 hte hed ana nor,
rowsKi's 6roh. or wounded In the head by a sand
bag which was II .1rled against It by q shell.
D0ABROwsKL
I have not yet ds'scribed General DombrowskI.
lie Is small man, noe more Than I've feet ak Inches