The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-07


Upon their answer, perhaps, the Presidential
election Of 1872 may turn.
The subjusation or tho Communicable
Destruction In Paris.
We publish in this mornings issue full
and graphic account from one Of the HERALD 8
correspondents in Paris Of the entry of the
Versailles soldiers into the capital, and the
details of the first three days fighting in the
streets. The approach to the city, the cross
ing of the enceinte and entrance were
accomplished with comparative ease. 1t
was not until the insurgents discovered
that the armies of MacMahon were hurled
upon them and were actually within the walls
that the real struggle commenced, which
resulted in conflict unparalleled in the his
tory Of any city in the world Streets torn
up, barbados hastily erected and swarmlng
with eager defenders armed to the teeth,
windows bristling with bayonets, every crevice
from which gun could be pointed served as
loophole for q musket, the housetops
even being used as positions from which to
diers of the republic-these were among the
scenes which everywhere throughout the city
met the eye on the first days fight within the
walls. The presence Of the tricolor seemed
to infuriate the wretches who had turned the
gayest and most beautiful city of Europe into
battle field for strife which has terminated
with the destruction of great portion of the
capital. The work which was commenced with
such comparative ease grew more and more
intense as the rebels were thrown back upon
themselves and their efforts concentrated into
smaller compass. Then they became furi-
ous. From the description which the HERALD
correspondent gives of the scenes at Mont
martre the conflict there must have been truly
terrible. Even the women defended the
barbados and fell fighting in the
streets, by the side Of their husbands,
brothers or lovers. This will enable
our readers to form some idea of the despe-
rate earnestness with which the rebels fought
for that freedom which they believed would be
secured to them by the triumph of the Com
mune. The battle of the boulevards our cor
respondent describes in glowing colors. 1t is
the description of an eye witness, and the
scenes which were enacted on that terri
BILE day, the second, in which the
army Of the republic were within the
city limits, are described as awful
Worse, if possible, than the fighting, was the
attempted destruction of the city by fire. We
are told that men, women and even little chill
dren were caught in the act Of feeding the
flames with petroleum and other infammable
substances. After being made prison.
srs they were shot down by the SOL
diers. 1t is almost impossible to imagine
anything more dreadful than the scenes
which everywhere were visible. 1t seemed at
one time as if the whole city was in flames.
Churches and palaces and private dwellings
were fired by incendiary hands Men, women
and children hurried to and fro in the streets,
daring death to rob them of life. The
musketry and the leaden showers of
shot from the mitrailleuses added to
the horrors of the hour. Dreadful explosions,
terrific yelling and the noise of falling build
ings, all conduced to transform Paris into
perfect pandemonium. II was amid such
scenes as these that the last hours of the
Paris Commune we're spent--scenes which are
wildly described by our Paris correspondent
letter, which we publish in this mornings
HERALD.