The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-05-18
The Fall of the Column VendOme.
The ConSummatIon of Paris Van.
dalism.
A Scene of Excitement.
The Mad Antics of the Reds.
The Fallen Statue of the First Ma.
pOleOn Insnlted.
The Grand Assault About to Begin
(Once MOTe.)

PARIS May H.
The Column Vendomo fell in three
pieces The square in which 1t stood will
henceiOrth DO known as "The Place ln-
ternatlonal." " ..
PARIS, May 17-EveniDg.
There was tremendous scene at the
fall Of the Column Vendome this after.
noon. The fall was announced for two
o'clock, and all the balconies in the Place
Vendome were thronged with ladies'
Rues De La Palx and CastigliOnc were
crowded, and three bands Of music ar.
rived while the wOrkmen were engaged
in chipping the base Of the column NJ.
Abodio next arrived and inspected the
windlass. The excitement was intense.
RochefOrt next appeared, and the people
crowded around him giving him loud
cheers.
Soon rs all arrangements were compile.
ted, and the bugles sounded las Il the col
umn, like the walls Of Jericho were to fall
from a blasO the cable stretched and tight.
cned; the column stood firm, the windlass
broke md the pulley flew into the air and
then descended. striking sailor and
wounding him. Afler this accident Abo.
die declared that he needed two hours in
which to repair the tackle. The odds
rose that the column would not fail.
Alta quarter past o'clock Il was given
out that the column would not fall before
! o'clock. A general expression Of dis.
appreciation went through the crowd.
Abodie was accused Of completely with
the Versailles government, and threatened
with the guillotine. At twenty minutes
past five o'clock the cable was again
stretched for the work Of demolition.
Suddenly to the surprise Of the specta.
tors, the vast column moved and swayCd
and next swept magnihcently down,
bursting into fragments as 1t struck the
earth. II fell lengthwlse In tho Rue de
In Paix, exactly on the manure cushion
prepared for II, splintering with a dull
heavy numbering sound, while thick
cloud VI dust and crushed and powdered
masonry rose in the air. ...H
Thecrowd as soon as the column fell,
gave tremendous shouts Of "Yive La Com.
muner and bands played the Marsellaise
hymn. When the dust had cleared away,
there lay The glorious column shattered to
pieces, It's bronzea and masonry in two mass.
es together In the middle, and the statue
of the Emperor several feet from one end
OF the column, with the head knocked oil.
The crowd rushed forward TO collect the
fragments rs relics, and the guards were
unable TO resist the rush.
Next the orators commenced their
speeches, indulging in all sorts OF eXtrava.
giant language, The statue Of the Empcr.
or, was treated as II It was the Emperor
himself The National Guards spat into
It's face and struck 1t with their rifles.
Arter the ceremonies were concluded
the crowd dispersed, and tho soldiers
moved of, waving their red flag and Civ.
ing expression to their Joy by continued
shouting. ...#' ..".
1t is believed that grand assault will
take place in a lew hours, The enemies
of Thlers assert that he Is delaying in or
dering 1t to be made because he Is afraid