The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-06-23
THE MASSACRE OF THE PRIESTS.
How the Archbishop Of Paris and His
Companions Met their Fate:

A prisoner at La Roquettc, NJ. Ev-
rard, serseant-major of the looth
Battalion of National Guards, gives
the following particulars: On We'd
ncsday, May "a, at 80 in tho even
ing, the director Of the prison, one
Latrancais, namcsake OF the mem
Der of tho Commune, and who him.
self had spent six years at the Bagne,
asccndcd ut the head Of fifty Fcderals
to the gallery where the principal
prisoners were. confined. An officer
went round to each cell, summon'nS
first the Archbishop, and then in sue
cession NJ. Borjean, the Abbo Allard,
Fathers Ducoudray and Clair, ana
the Able Degacrry, Cure OF the Ma
d ,leine. As the prisoners were sum-
moncd they were marched down the
road running round the prison, on
each side of which, as far us | could
see, were arranged the Maternal
Guard, who received the capt'ves
with insults and erithets which l
cannot trauscribe. My unfortunate
companions were taken into the court
yard, facing the in6rmary, where
they .olnd a firing party awaiting
them. Monscigneur Darboy stepped
forward, and addressing his assassins
uttered few words of pardon. Two
lof these men approached the Arch
bishop. and in face of their compan-
ions, kneIt before him besccching his
forgiveness. The other Fedeials at
once rushed upon them and drove
them back with insulting reproachcs,
and then, turning toward the prison
ers gave vent to most violent cxprcs-
.sions. The commander Of the de-
tachment felt ashamed of this, and;
ordering silence, uttered q triGhtiul
oath, telling his men that they were
there to shoot those people, and not
to bully them. The Federals were
silenced, and upon the orders of their
,,euteuants loaded their weapons.
Faith, Allard was placed against the
wall and was the first shot down.
Then NJ. Darboy, in his turn, fell
The whole six prisoners were thus
shot, all cvincing the utmost calmncss
and courage. N. -Dcguerry alone ex-
hibited a momentary weakness, which
was attributable rather to his state OF
health than to fear. After this tragi-
|cal execution, carried out without
any formal witnesses and in the pres
ence only Of q number Of bandits, the
bodies of the unfortunate victims
were placed in cart belonging to =
railway company, which had been
requisitioned for the purpose, and
were taken to Pere- la Chaise, where
they were placed in the4ast trench Of
the .toyse commane side oy sido, with
out even any attempt to cover them
with earth" .',... ....-
The same witness thus describes
his own escape: "On Saturday, Rrre,
a member of the Commune, and dele
gate of the public safety, came to the
prison, and, summonihg all those who
were under sentence Of penal scrvi-
tude, told them that they were all
free. Arms and uniforms were then
given to them, and Immediately COM
menced scene Of slaughter Of the
suspected prisoners, among whom
we're &c gendarmcs, who were all
killed. Fiv, other gendarmes in the
iafrmary escaped. About, Z o'clock,
the now ly-armed guards being either
drunk Oh wearicd with their bloody
work, one of the wardcrs Of the pris-
on. Langcvn:, opened the cell doors
and invited the prisoners to make u
rush to save theb' lives Acting up
on this advice, NJ. Evrard and: many:
others got through. the gates, and,
dispensing Immediately, succeeded IN
effcctiug their escape" .- ..i. ~''