Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-06-21
PARIS SCENES WILDLY PICTURED.
Minister Washburn's Dispatches Detailing
History OF Commune.


The New York Times gives detailed
connected history of the last days of the
Commune from Minister Washburns Off
cial dispatches to the State Department,
one of which is so interesting and graphic
that we give it in full
His dispatch is dated Thursday, May
18th
When / closed my dispatch last night it
was fire and battle. 1t is the same this
morning. There were frightful burnings
all night. TIE great Hotel de Vile with
all Ets traditions and souveniers of history
exists no Ioager. The Cour DIES Camptes,
the Court of Cessation, the Prefecture of
Police, and the celebrated old prison of the
Conciergerie have shared the same fate.
All has been the work of organized incen-
darism, and the insurrectionists have done
everything ia their power to destroy Paris.
If the entry of the troops had been delay
ed much knger they would certainly have
succeeded. The Commune had already
made "perquisitions'i for all the petroleum
in the city, and prepared petroleum boxes
and other means of firing the place. Bands
of men, women and children were organ
lied to do this diabolical work. During
the past two days immense numbers of
these persons have been detected in dis
tributing these boxes, and in every case
the most summary vengeance has been in
flicted upon them, without regard to age,
sex, or condition. An employe of this le-
cation counted this afternoon on the Az
enue d'Autin the dead bodies of eight chill
dren, the oldest not more than IA years of
age, who had been seized while distribut-
ing their incendiary boxes, and shot on
the spot. The state of feeling now existing
in Paris is fearful beyond description.
L. L. n.
ulation opposed to the Commune with
horror and rage. Arrests are made by
wholesale of the innocent as well as the
guilty Last night four Americans, two
ladies andtwo gentlemen, innocent as your
self all completely with the insurrection,
were seized while dining at a restaurant
and marched through the streets to one of
the military posts. They sent word to me
& as soon as possible of their arrest, and /
lost otime in going to their relief. | adj
dressed myself to Gen. Donal, who, upon
my statement, Immediately ordered their
release. He expressed much regret at what
had happened. a ea. 70 aa r'r lrsss
/ went down in the city this afternoon
tosee for myself what was the progress of
events Very little had been done toward
putting matters into shape in the parts al
ready captured from the insurgents. The
barbados everywhere remain. The fire
was still raging in Rue Royale. The Min
l9ei VI HiiAe'hOV 70 I'm PieeSiy OohSttiiiou'
with every record and paper, loss that is
utterly incaleulaple, The insurgents hay-
ing been driven beyond the Place Bastlle,
was able to go much further than went
yesterday. l passed at the Kue de Riyoli
by the smoking ruins OF the Tuilleries, and
had the 1nexpressible pleasure of seeing for
myself that the Louvre, with all its noble
land lncalcuiabie treasures had been pre-
served; AS l continued up the street it
seemed as II 1 Were following IN the track
OF an army. Reaching the Hotel de Vile,
j found the neighborhood had all the APP
pearance OF an 1ntrenched camp, I'M
mense barricades. We're on every street
leading the square. But L am told
the insurgents abandoned 1t without q
hight, hndlng themselves upon the point
OF being hemmed IN, But before leaving
they appiisedl the loren 70 I'd PIE solnter-
woven 81 with the history OF Paris and OF
france, aild the pride OF Ffenchmen Tor
centuries gone Now There was moth
ing but.a nlassiof smoldering ruins. Two
squares of magnificent buildings on the
lower side of the Place de Hotel de Vile
had also been destroyed. 1t was indeed q
sad sight tobefoid.s Fiferewas regiment
OF the troops OF the line ON the quay, but
scarcely another soul was 10 be seen IN the
enure neighborhood.7 Eight dead bodies
OF the insurgents partially consumed by
hre, lay on the agroufdHrght in front OF
what. was the main entrance, into the
building, and presenting the most horrible
appearance, ana SAD sights everywhere.