Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-07-07
THE COMMUNE.
The Massacre of the Priests I'm Ia
ROquette Prison.

The following extract is from private
letter. and the particulars it contains
are based upon information supplied by
J Pere Bazin and the Abbe Petit, who wore
:: prisoners in Mazas and La Roquette:
The Commune, fearing that the regu-
lars would rescue the hostages, trans
ferred them to La Roquette, situated in
Belleyille, the wickedest part Of Paris,
where they expected to hold out the
longest The prisoners were crowded in
carts to make this change. Able Petit
heard his name pronounced in low,
kind voice by another prisoner he did
recognize. 1t was the Archbishop, much
changed by Sickness confinement and
privation. Able Petit was his Secretary
General. AT La Roquette all the priso-
ners we're put together into a common
hall, and the meeting is spoken of with
intense joy and consolation. All went
to confession and received Holy Com
munion for, thanks to Pere Matignon
and pious lady, the blessed Sacrament
had been brought to them in a cream
jug with a false bottom. Each father
had his reserve of consecrated hosts in
a linen bag, worn round his neck, and
at this meeting some who had been
hitherto deprived of this supreme con-
ISOLATION, had the happiness of sharing
it. Monseigneur Surat was one of these.
In his humanity he had not dared to ac-
cept the proposals made to him on the
subject by the nuns of the Sacred Heart,
fearing an exception. He said Oh, if
| had known, what strength l should have
found. The Archbishop was humble,
cordial, like simple priest. All made
generously in the sacrifice of their lives
Pere 0livaint and the other Jesuits
raised their sentiments to a pitch of
heroism. Monsiegneur Surat is spoken
of as the apostle of Divine will. The
next day they again met in their new
cenacle. The Archbishop and Monseig-
neur Surat, whether purposely or not, |
seem. to have been the worst treated |
and were exhausted by want Of food. |
Able Petit got courageous messenger |
to bring a good dinner for them, which |
they divided with the rest. On the Oath
they all prayed to the Blessed Virgin,
as people pray at the hour of death, re-
membering it was on that day she heard
Plus V. That evening the sound as of a
horrible outbreak round the prison thrill
ed them with horror. Soon a name was
called. 1t was that of the first victim.
p. Bazin does not know the name. He
passed out Then the next-it was for
Citizen Darboy lthe Archbishop. The
Archbishop gave his blessing and went
out, too, with peace and dignity which
could only come from God The Able
Duguerry waited, holding his last conse-
Grated host in his hand. His name
was called; he consumed the host and
ended his thanksgiving in heaven.
President Beaujin was one of those
executed that evening He was an
energetic Christian and had been
prejudiced against the Jesuits because
he did not know them until'he saw them
in prison. Then he regretted that he
knew them so late. The next day,
Thursday, the surviving prisoners passed
the afternoon together as usual. Pere
0livant was as cheerful as ever, keeping
up the courage of the others, especially
trying to comfort Monseigneur Surat,
who was terribly shocked and grieved at
the death of his fifth Archbishop, and
suffering from heart disease so that his
color and features were quite changed.
He thanked the fathers for their kind
words with his usual gentleness and
gratitude. The day passed. On the
26th, Friday, they agreed, should any
call be made in any corridor, a white
paper was to be shown at the window.
The prison yard being round they could
all see the opposite windows. In the
afternoon white paper was seen in
window; / forget whose, but think it
was the Able Petit's. He made signs
that sixteen priests names were called
for execution. Pere 0livaint, De Bengy
and Coubert were of the number. The
Able Petit waited with sacred host in
his hand, but, not, hearing Es name
called, put the host back in his little
bag to be his companion to the end. |
Those taken were walked about the :
streets to the sound of internal music,
and then taken to an old cemetery, :
turned into an infamous garden, where
heir pure blood was to wash out some :
Of the iniquities Of the place. The =
Jesuits died offering their lives for the
salvation Of souls. The Dominicans
we're exhorted by their Superior to suffer 5
or the love Of God. On the conclusion +
If the eXecution-which included forty n
,r fifty gendarmes, who had all confessed d
o the tathers-the wretches who had o
murdered them resumed the music and n
lanced like fends round them. Many u
women and children had run to see the :,
light. Can we wonder that Paris is pun N
shed with such wickedness in it? The u
lext day (eve of Pentecost) the jailer y
old the priests who remained that all iG
he thieves we're to be let out by order of o
he Commune, and il they wished to run p
he fearful risk it was they might 60 out d
90. Pere Bazin saw Monseigneur Surat u
ross the court. He was dressed in his rIt
outane and buckled shoes. The fathers nj
allied to him, and represented either by ca
Tords or signs the imprudence of the o'
ostume. But he disappeared and they "a
ever saw him again. He left the prison II
fter changing his soutane-which he Y
arried like bundle under his arm tn
18th another vicar general and the Able I'd
'etit. The state of the streets was fear al
IL. The Able Petit thought the prison OF
and returned to it, and the hi
liler pat him into the infrmary, in nc
ed, disguised as best as he could The 6r
ther two were separated in the confu- lr'
on and firing of barricade. Mon al
eigneur Bayle made his way out of
elleville safely, and next day arrived tn
/ the palace. But poor Monseigneur 6e
urat was recognized and shot on bar iu
cade, probably betrayed by the inhab- IN
ants of house in which he took refuge. III
lis faithful servant found his body, TIC
nd he still had on the pectoral tn
.oss of Monseigneur de Quelen. Pere ai,
azin remained in the prison with some inl
her priests, and numbers of soldiers
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