Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-05-18

the Place vendome were thronged with ladies.
Rues de la Paix and Castiglion were crowded.
Three bands of music arrived while the work
men were chipping the base of the column. M.
Rochefort next appeared and the people crowded
around him, giving him loud cheers. Soon all
arrangements were completed and the Dugles
sounded as If the column, like the walls OF Jerl'
cho, were to fall from blast, The cables were
stretched and frightened. The column stood
firm. The windlass broke, and the pulley flew
into the air, and then descended, striking
sailor and wounding him. After this accident
NJ. Abadie declared that he needed two hours in
which to repair the tackle. Odds rose that the
column would not fall. AT quarter past five
O'Clock twas given out that the column would
not fall before seven O'Clock. general ex-
preston of disapprobation went through the
crowd. Abadie was accused of completely with
the Versailles government, and was threatened
with the guillotine.
At twenty minutes past five O'Clock the cable
was again stretched. Suddenly, to the surprise
of the spectators, the vast column moved and
swayed. 1t next swept magniicenty down,
bursting into fragments as it struck the earth.
1t fell lengthwise in the Rue de la Paix, exactly
on the manure cushion they had prepared Tor
it, splintering with a dull, heavy, numbering
sound, while thick cloud Of dust and crushed
and powdered masonry rose in the air. The
crowd, as soon as the column fell, gave tremen-
dous shouts of " ViUe Ia COnlnaneP and the
DanuS played the MuTSellhlSC. w ueu Iu6 uust
cleared away, there lay the glorious column
shattered to pieces, its bronze and masonry in
two masses together in the middle, and the
statue of the emperor several feet from one end
of the column, with the head knocked off. The
crowd rushed forward TO collect fragments as
relics, and The guards were unable to resist the
rush. Next the orators commenced their
speeches, indulging in all sorts of eXtravagant
language. The statue of the emperor was
treated as if it was the emperor himself. The
national guards spat into its face and struck it
with their rifles. After the ceremony was con-
cluded, the crowd dispersed, and the soldiers
moved off, waving the red flag and giving ex-
preston to their joy by continual shouting.
The excitement was tremendous, and is even
now high.
VERSAILLES, May 16.-The tradesmen of
Paris, who escaped yesterday, say that thou
sands of men of the order in that city demand
fearful revenge on the red republicans when
the forces of the Theirs government enter the
city. The reds have made them fight the Yer
sailles troops against their will. The soldiers
belonging to the Versailles government, when
taken prisoners by the insurgents, are tortured
to death. In Fort Vanyres, before the capture
of that place, captain of McMahon's army
was taken by them and Immediately shot. The
troops are indignant and swear vengence. 1t is
believed that grand assault will take place in
a few hours. The enemies of NJ. Theirs assert
that he is delaying having it made because he is
afraid that the end of his power will arrive
when the army captures Paris.