Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-06-15

tured from the insurgents. The barricades
everywhere remain. The fires are still rag
ing in Rue Royale. The ministry of finance
is completely consumed, with every record
and paper, a loss that is utterly incalculable.
The insurgents having been driven beyond the
Place Bastile, was able to go much farther
than l went yesterday. l passed up the Rue
de Rivoli by the smoking ruins of the Tuiler-
les, and had the nexpressible pleasure of see
ing for myself that the Louvre, with all its
noble and incalculable treasures, had been
preserved. AS continued up the street 1t
seemed as if | were following in the track OF
an army. Reaching the Hotel de Vile,
| found the neighborhood had all the appear
ance of an intrenched camp. Immense bar
rcades were on every street leading into the
square, but am told that the insurgents
abandoned it without fight, finding them
selves upon the point of being hemmed in.
But before leaving they applied the torch to
that pile interviewer with the history of
Paris and of France, and the pride of French
men for centuries gone by. Now there was
nothing but mass of smouldering ruins.
Two squares of magnificent buildings on the
lower side of the "Place de lHotel de Vile"
had also been destroyed. 1t was indeed sad
sight to behold. There was regiment of the
troops of the line on the quay, but scarcely
another soul was ito be seen in the entire
surgents, partially consumed by fire, lay on
the ground right in front of what what was the
main entrance into the building, and present
the most horrible appearance and sad sights
everywhere. At the Place del'Opera | saw
some five hundred prisoners, women and
children, who were being driven to Versailles.
There was squad of cavalry marching in
front and in rear of them and foot soldiers
marching on either side. l must say they
%l,a, -
persons l ever saw in the whole course of my
life. The sight of the prisoners excited the
people to the highest pitch of Indignation and
every opprobrious epthet was heaped upon
them, and the escort alone prevented death
from being inflicted upon the spot An officer
told me this afternoon that the order was to
shoot every man taken in arms against the gov
eminent. | do not vouch for the truth of what
he told me, but do know that large numbers
of the national guard and many others caught
in some criminal act have been summarily cx-
ecuted.
have had great fears that the Prussian
embassy might be burned. / learned to-day
that suspicious persons were lurking about
the premises, and / Immediately addressed a
note to Marshal Mcmahon, advising him of
my apprehensions, and asking him to detail a
guard to protect the building. He answered
me promptly that my request had been COM
piled with.
1t is with no small degree of satisfaction
that | am able to inform you that during all
these horrible excuses in Paris for the past
ten weeks no material damage has been done
to the property of the Americans neither to
the property of the Germans, with whose in
terest still continue to be charged. Some
few Americans have been arrested but all
were Immediately released on my application.
AS have written you before. the number of
| Germans and Alsacians, whose release from
prison have obtained, is quite large. Among
the last prisoners to be released, were eleven
German nuns who had been seized at the con-
vent Pichus. After being set at liberty they
came to the legation in body, to thank me
| for my efforts in their behalf. What feared
most was the robbery of our countrymen I'M
der the pretext of taxes. Many demands for
| payment of taxes to the Commune had been
made upon Americans, but as l have before
advised you, told all who consulted me on
the subject not to pay, but take the chances.
However, the machinery for collecting taxes
, had just been got ready, and the day of the
25th instant the time it was to be put into
operation. Armed with mandates from the
committee of public safely, the national
guards would have gone everywhere, and de-
manded the payment of certain sum as
tax upon all apartments, houses, business es-
tablishments, &C. If the amount were not
paid by the proprietor, or in his absence by
his agent or the concierge, the most valuable
things would have been seized and carried
off. You see, therefore, that the entry of the
Versailles troops on the 22d, was just in time
to prevent this organized pillage.
The only newspaper have been able to get
since the entry of the troops is the ''Verite,"
two copies of which l send you. The last
copy appeared yesterday morning, although
dated to-day. No paper has appeared to-day
as far as l can learn, except a little sheet
called the Constitution, which is out this even
ing. There is not an omnibus running in the
? whole city, and scarcely cab to be found.
No person except such as have diplomatic
character, or their bearers of dispatches, are
permitted to leave Paris
l have not time now to speak more fully of
the scenes of the carnage, fire, and blood, of
which Paris has been the theatre for the past
four days. They are without parallel in its
history. What took place on the days of Ju-
ly, 1880, when Charles the Tenth was over
thrown, the days of February 1913, when
Louis Philippe was chased from the throne,
and the subsequent days of the instruction in
June of the same year, was mere childs play
as compared with the events of the present
week.
The fighting has been long, desperate and
persistent The insurrectionists have fought
at every step with the fury of despair. Even
as write at the present hour of midnight the
contest is not yet ended, for l hear the boom
, ing of the cannon beyond the Place de la Bias
tile.
The government troops have displayed
great bravery, and have never for moment
i recoied before the formidable and deadly
ba rricades of the insurgents. They have
8 shown the spirit of the old French army.
FRIDAY Noon, May %, 1870
: The fighting is still going on this forenoon
= in the remote parts of the city, and new fires
: have broken out. l have no news of the fate
of the archbishop of Paris, but the general
: belief is that all the hostages have been shot,
The Prussian embassy is all safe and intact.
My messenger for London is waiting, and
5 | must close this despatch.
i | have the honor to be,
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
T.. b. WAsHBURNE.