Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-05-06
scene of the Mnrder of Generals
I'econte and Clement Thomas.

scene OF che Murder OF Generals
Lecomte and Clement Thomhs.
A writer in the Soir gives the following
eraphic account of visit to the garden
IN the Rue des Rosters, which was the
scene of the murder OF Generals he-
comte and Clement Thomas;
eThe street of the rosebushesl You
may in vain trust to the names OF streets
and 10 their peaceful aspect. When,
having climbed over barricades and mi
trailleuses. arrived up there, behind
Tho mills of Montmartre, and saw this
little street, with its pebbly road, its gar
dens and houses with but few stories,
fancied myself in the country, in one OF
those quiet suburbs where the town
spreads out and dwindles to disappear
at the edge Of the fields. . As one
advances the street widens, becomes
more animated. There are tents in
lines, cannon, guns in stacks; then to.
the left large portico, before which
National Guards smoke their pipes
The house stands back, and is not
seen from the road. After some
hesitation the sentry allowed me to
90 in. It is two-storied house, between
a courtyard and garden, with nothing
tragic about it. 1t belongs to the heirs
of M. Scribe. This cut-throat-den is born
of vaudeville. The rooms of the ground
floor open on the passage which leads
from the little paved yard to the garden.
They are light, airy, and papered with
ilowery patterns. There the late Central
Committee held its meetings.; 1t was
there that on the afternoon of the 18TH,
the two generals were brought, and that
they felt the anguish of the last hour,
while the crowd stood in heaps IN the
Garden. and the linesmen leant their
hideous heads against the window panes,
scentinc blood like wolves; there, at last
the two corpses, riddled with balls, were
brought. and there they remained ex-
nosed for two days. | descend withea |
heavy heart the three steps which lead
to the garden, true suburban garden,
in which each dweller has his corner OF
gooseberry bushes and clematis separated
5y green irellis work, with gates to which |
bells are attached, The |
anger of a crowd had been there. The
Enclosures were down, the borders torn
IN; nothing was standing but some
twenty lime trees, recently topped, leaf
Iess and raising their hard gray branches
in the air like YHltures' claws. An
iron railing ran behind them as Q
wall. and showed the valley in the
distance, immense, mournful, where the
long factory chimneys smoke. Things
soften down as do living beings. Here
/ am on the seena Of the drama, and
find it difficult 20 feel its power, The
weather is mild, tho sky clear. The sol
diers of Montmartre who surround me
look kindly enough. They sing, they
play of corks. The officers walk up and
down laughing, Bnt a great black wall,
pierced by balls, and the crest Of which
is crumbling, rises Eke a witness and re-
lates the crime. 1t ID against this wall
that they we're shot. Ii seems that at
the last moment General Lecomte, TIL
then dignified and resolute, felt his
courage fail. He tried to struggle, to
ay: he ran several steps in the garden
then. instantly retaken, shaken, dragged,
hustled, he fell on his knees and spoke
of his children. Il have fvel said he,
,obbing. The fathers heart burst
through the soldiers tnnic. There were
'athers in that crowd, and some VOICES
.eplied with emotion TO this heart
stirring appeal; but the implacable lines {
men would not hear a word If we do :
iot shoot him to-day he will have us
hot tomorrow. He was pushed against
he wall. A sergeant OF. the line almost
Immediately advanced toward him.
General, said he, if you promise -.
Suddenly changing his mind, he stepped
.wo PAGES back, and discharged his
Chassepot full ia the Generals chest.
The others had only to finish the deed.
Clement Thomas never showed a mo
nents weakness. His back against the
anne wall as Lecomte, but two PAGES
rom his corpse, he made head against j
leath to the end, and spoke very harshly.
When the guns were lowered, he, by an ,
instructive gesture, placed his left arm
,efore his face; and this old Republican {
lied in the attitude of Caesar Above
he place where they fell against that
vail, sad and naked as the mark in a
shooting gallery. some branches Of peach
IRE still trained, and an early flower
,looms in wilderness, which the bullets
AVE spared and the powder failed to
,lacken."