The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-12-15
LAST OF THE COMMUNE.
THEE SHOOTING OF ROSSEL, FERRE
AND BOURGEOIS.

THE SHOOTING OF RUSSELL, FEhicE
AND BOURGEOIS.
| m. Thfers's Precepts and Practice-The
Death-Sentence on RosseI-The Day OF
tho ExecutIon-A Fathers Grief
Scene at Sertory.:
correspondence OF the New York Tlmes.l
IS PARIS, Wednesday, November 20.
| A few days ago NJ. Theirs received the Chi.
nese Embassy, sent to apologize for the muir
| ders OF Tien-tsin, and began his reply as 1ol-
| lows: ssYou tell me,n said he 10 the chief am-
| bassador, "Of the numerous punishments In
lIcted on the guilty. The French nation is loo
humane to take pleasure In the shedding OF
blood. It demands only that security which is
necessary to restrain the wicked, and 1t be-
lleves that to rigorous measures others OF
| very different character must be added. 1t
| Ia the duty Of governments. while repress-
| ing the excesses Of the populace, TO calm
| its passions, to dispel It's prejudlces, and 10
bring it to the voice OF reason ana humanity.
A few hours alter this sharp lecture to the as-
tonished Celestials, NJ Thicrs signed The deal H.
alr4nt of Rossel and Felre. The friends OF
the President have frequently circulated the
report that he used all his influence 10 save
Rosspl, but very few will believe this tale, for
no one can forget that the rsnt OF PARDON
| legitinatey belongs 10 the sovereign or TO
| The executive, and that 1t was OF his own de-
mand that o commission was appointed to
lake the responsibility. When 1t Is shown that
N. Theirs has failed to have his own way IN
any one small point, or failed to carry any
measure he desired, We can nave lClle more
patience in listening 10 BIS friends wnen tney
| try to relieve him from all blame in tne mat
Ter. Such Is The view taken ID prtVsate as eoa, u
vprsation, but the journals do not dare 10
criticise. Another Journal has been added to
the list of supprrssions, and there is very
general fear, which Is very plainly, almost
ludicrousy, seen from day to day. But In
irving their romantic and touching accounts
of the execution, they have doue the govern
ment more harm than If they Criticised open
ly. Everywhere that / have visited to-day
have found women In tears, and even men
are not ashamed 10 show their emotion at The
death of Rossel. There is something horrible
In The idea of keeping these men waiting for
death for near six months Time, and then
shooting them In cold blood. for, If any Of
them were 10 be shot, 1t should nave been
done promptly, aud without an hours delay.
Rossel was found in precisely me case OF Ar
mand Carrel, who joined The Republicans in
Spain, leaving the French army for the pur-
pose. Carrel was acquitted. he two men
were similar In many respects, bnt Rossel had
nlore military genius. Had they not killed
him, have no. .doubt that he would have been
one of the most distinguished officers oil the
French army. His two volumes, written when
In prison, upon army organizalloh, remain 70
show what Kind of man he was. But Rossel
chose the wrong side, like many officers who
loiued the ConlrderaLes, and for this fault he
was Yesterday shot TO death, In company with
Ferre and a sergeant OF the line named Bour-
geois.
THE PRISONERS NOTIFIED.
It was not until Monday, after his return
from Rouen. that NJ. Theirs signed the death
warrants. Twenty-four houIs must eapse
before the execution, but the prisoners are not
informed llnlll the morning. About O'CLOCK
crazy meu in O cell adjoining Rossel's set up
fearful cry, arcusins the prisoners, ,and bring
ing aii of the guardians OF the prison. When
the Adyocat Jolly entered the cell he found
Rossel sleeping, and tonched him lightly upon
tho shoulder.
"Ah N he said, recognizing NJ. Jolly, and
raising himself upon his elbow, "then IL Is Tor
this morning :"
IYes,n replied NJ. Jolly.
"At what hour?"
"They will come for you at six o'clock"
@For-m
"For seven O'clock"
sWhut so short time! And what o'clock
Is IL now?'
"Halr-past four"
"Ah you promised TO notify me sooner
Well"
Seeing the emotion of NJ. Jolly, Rossel tried
to comfort him. Soon after the pastor, Passa,
entered.
There was an affecting scene between them,
Rossel, always colin, reproaching them for
their tears. He related the alarm Uf the morn
Ing:
s'You thought it was for Ferre?'
ssYes, and for me; dressed myself"
ROssel had no hope; his sisters were hopeful
even the evening before. Wishing to be alone
to say his devOtiOns, koSsel asked the COM
pany 10 leave him, but the guardian refused.
Rossel complained u little since he was 50 soon
to die. but soon recognized that the man was
only obeyng orders. >He prayed for some lime
at the Side OF his bed, then rose 10 arrange his
papers, and to give 10 the pastor The last direc-
tions concerning his books, his manuscripts
and letters 10 his parents, his sisters and his
betrothed. The pastor then administered the
communion. Colonel Rossel, the father, Is a
Puritan. The mother Is y Scotch wOman-a
Campbe,l-and The family has many relatives
now living in Scotland. Throughout this try
Ing moruiug Rossel was calm and resigned to
his fate, and all oil his remarks are manly and
touching. l cannot give all Of the prison
scenes.
THE DAY~OF EXECUTION.
IL WAS D COllls uNNS INOfCuloSi
heavy fOg obscGring everything at g., and
the street lamps were still lighted During
this time Ferre had dressed himself with un
usual care. putting pommade upon his hair,
and spending a long lime in brushing his
clothes. A priest came to see him. Ferre was
smoking, ard replied to the priests offer to
pray with him, "Wait bit, can't you, there is
no hurry;" but afier time he took the cigar
from his lips, and said: mo matera'ist l
have lived, and materialist will die" He
wrote O. letter TO his sister reiteraling this
phrase. Bourgeois rose jaunlily from his bed,
made his ablulIons like soldier, then listened
to the consolation of the priest. After this he
lighted cigar, and went out jauntiy, with
light military ireaii, and with his Kept cooked
upon one ear. He was COOL but there was no
bravado about him, while Frrre seemed To be
constantly searching lor effect. Before o
o'clock large detachInents Of troops were I'M
der arms, and occupying the camp of Sartory
and It's approaches. Tue three condemned
were carried In ambulance wagons, but very
Slowly, it being still dark, aud the horses
feet slipplug often upsn tho frosty road.
Gendalmes were stationed UPON the route to
turn back the crowd, and 10 stop all passage
after the wagons.
4 FATHERS GRIEF.
A few moments after the wagons had passed,
q tall, straight, so!dierfy old gentleman, wear
ing the rOsette of The Legion d'Honneur,
asked leave to pass and was refused. 1t was
the father of ROsSe who then knew al. Turn
ing in his tracks, he seized the arm of friend