The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-06-17
TIE MASSACRE OF TIE PRIESTS.
How the Archbishop of Paris and His
Companions Met their Fate.
correspondence of the London Tlmes.l

correspondence u Tie LOuuou llnics-J
A prisoner at La Roquette, N. Evrard, ser.
eeant- major of the lo6th Battalion OF National
Guards, gives the following particulars On
Wednesday, May "a, at 7.30 in the evening,
the director OF the prison, one Latrancais,. a
namesake OF the member of the Commune,
and who himself had spent six years at the
Bagne. assembled at the head OF hfty teqerais
to The gallery where the principal prisoners
were confined. An officer went round TO each
cell. summoning first the Archbishop, and
then in succession NJ. Bonjean. the Able Al
lard, Fathers Ducondray and Clair, and the
Abbe Desuerry, Cure Of the Madeleine. as
the prisoners were summoned they were
marched down the road running round the
prison, on each side of which, as far as ! couid
see, were arranged the National Guard, VINO
received The captives with insults ana eplthets
which I caunut transcribe. My unfortunate
compauions were taken into The courtyard,
facing the inhrmary, where they 1onud mr.
jpu party awaiting Them. MOnselgleur Dar-
boz stepped forward, and addressing MS assas-
sins uttered q few words Of pardon. Two OF
these men approached the Archbishop. ana Ill
face of their companions, knelt before him De-
seeching his forgiveness. The other Federa!s
al once rushed upon them ana drove tnem PACK
with Insulting reproaches, and then. turning
toward the prisoners gave vent to most Vio-
lent expressions. The commander Of the de-
tachmsut felt ashamed Of this, and, ordering
silence, uttered a frightful oath, telling his
men that they were there to shoot.those peo-
pie, and not to bully them. The federais
were sileuced, and upon the orders OF Their
lieutenants loaded their weapons. Father
Allard was placed against the wall aud was the
frsl shot down. Then NJ. Darboy, In his tnrn,
fell. The whole six prisoners were thus shot,
all evinclng the utmost calmness and courage.
NJ. Deguerry alone exhibited q m0mentary
weakness, which was attributable rather to
his state OF health than 10 fear. After this
tragical execution, carried out without any
formal witnesses aud IN the presence only Of
q nu nber Of bandits, the bodies OF the uniOr-
tunate victims were placed in a cart belong
ing to a railway company, which had been
reQuisitioned for the purpose, and were taken
to Pere la Chaise, where they were placed IN
the last trench of the 'fosSe commune Size by
side, without even my attempt to cover Them
with EARTH
The same witness thus describes his "
escape: lon Saturday, Ferre, O member or
the Commune, aud delegate of The public
safety. came 10 the prison, and, summonlng
all those who were under sentence OF penal
serritude, told them that they were oil Fee.
Arms and uniforms were then given to them,
slaughter OF the suspected prisoners, among
whom were &C gendarmes. who were oil killed.
Five other gendarmes In the indrmary es-
capped. About Z o'clock, the newly-armed
guards being either drunk or wearled with
their bloody work, one Of the warderS OF the
prison, LanSevln, opened lhe cell doors and
Invited the prisoners to make q rush 10 save
their lives. Acting upon this advice, ID.
Evrard and many others got through the
gates, and, dispensing Immediately, succeeded
in e~fftctiug their escape"